SEGMENT REPORTING - Schedule of Revenue and Facility Net Operating Income for Each of the Three Segments and a Reconciliation to CoreCivic's Operating Income Before Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 491,558	$ 483,705	$ 1,482,353	$ 1,405,389
Operating expenses	370,818	377,323	1,124,656	1,093,868
General and administrative	41,162	33,927	111,537	99,218
Depreciation and amortization	32,240	32,526	96,115	95,183
Asset impairments	3,108	2,710	3,108	2,710
Interest expense, net	(15,998)	(17,886)	(51,721)	(55,305)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	0	100	31,316	326
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net	1,181	368	1,749	343
Other income (expense)	767	(74)	1,153	(43)
Income before income taxes	30,180	19,527	66,802	59,079
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	491,558	483,592	1,482,334	1,405,174
Operating expenses	370,799	377,281	1,124,593	1,093,710
Operating income	120,759	106,311	357,741	311,464
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	459,270	443,324	1,372,389	1,282,717
Operating expenses	343,423	350,946	1,041,642	1,015,070
Operating income	115,847	92,378	330,747	267,647
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	28,203	29,791	88,405	84,569
Operating expenses	24,613	23,268	72,891	68,888
Operating income	3,590	6,523	15,514	15,681
Operating Segments | Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	4,085	10,477	21,540	37,888
Operating expenses	2,763	3,067	10,060	9,752
Operating income	1,322	7,410	11,480	28,136
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	113	19	215
Other operating expense	(19)	(42)	(63)	(158)
General and administrative	(41,162)	(33,927)	(111,537)	(99,218)
Depreciation and amortization	(32,240)	(32,526)	(96,115)	(95,183)
Asset impairments	(3,108)	(2,710)	(3,108)	(2,710)
Interest expense, net	(15,998)	(17,886)	(51,721)	(55,305)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	0	(100)	(31,316)	(326)
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net	1,181	368	1,749	343
Other income (expense)	$ 767	$ (74)	$ 1,153	$ (43)