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	12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2024		Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue			$ 1,961,646		$ 1,896,635	$ 1,845,329
Operating expenses:			1,493,357		1,462,430	1,413,792
General and administrative			152,081		136,084	127,700
Depreciation and amortization			128,011		127,316	127,906
Shareholder litigation expense			0		0	1,900
Asset impairments		$ 3,500	3,108		2,710	4,392
Interest expense, net			67,415		72,960	84,974
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions			31,316		686	8,077
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net			3,262		798	87,728
Other income			2,343		576	986
Income before income taxes			91,963		95,823	165,302
Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating expenses:			1,382,520		1,356,496	1,313,567
Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating expenses:			96,932		91,895	86,016
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue			1,961,591		1,896,364	1,845,171
Operating expenses:	[1]		1,493,275		1,462,220	1,413,265
Facility net operating income			468,316		434,144	431,906
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue			1,816,850		1,731,421	1,684,035
Operating expenses:	[1]		1,382,520		1,356,496	1,313,567
Facility net operating income			434,330		374,925	370,468
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue			118,656		115,068	103,263
Operating expenses:	[1]		96,932		91,895	86,016
Facility net operating income			21,724		23,173	17,247
Operating Segments | Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue			26,085		49,875	57,873
Operating expenses:			13,823	[1]	13,829	13,682	[1]
Facility net operating income			12,262		36,046	44,191
Material Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue			55		271	158
Other operating expense			(82)		(210)	(527)
General and administrative			(152,081)		(136,084)	(127,700)
Depreciation and amortization			(128,011)		(127,316)	(127,906)
Shareholder litigation expense			0		0	(1,900)
Asset impairments			(3,108)		(2,710)	(4,392)
Interest expense, net			(67,415)		(72,960)	(84,974)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions			(31,316)		(686)	(8,077)
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net			3,262		798	87,728
Other income			$ 2,343		$ 576	$ 986

[1] Salaries and benefits expense is the only significant reportable segment expense regularly reviewed by the CODM for both the Safety and Community segments and represents the majority of segment-level operating expenses given that substantial staff are required to operate the facilities and is the primary factor that drives operating expenses and profitability. Conversely, the Properties segment does not have a significant segment expense given the fact that those properties are operated by government agencies.