Schedule of Revenue and Net Operating Income for Each of the Three Segments and a Reconciliation to CoreCivic's Operating Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,862,616	$ 1,905,485	$ 1,980,689
Operating expenses	1,337,065	1,406,376	1,422,769
General and administrative	(135,770)	(124,338)	(127,078)
Depreciation and amortization	(134,738)	(150,861)	(144,572)
Contingent consideration for acquisition of businesses		(620)
Shareholder litigation expense	(54,295)
Asset impairments	(11,378)	(60,628)	(4,706)
Interest expense, net	(85,542)	(83,299)	(84,401)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(56,279)	(7,141)	(602)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate assets, net	(38,766)	13,023	(287)
Other income (expense)	(212)	525	(123)
Income before income taxes	86,103	59,724	196,725
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,862,337	1,905,320	1,980,530
Operating expenses	1,336,703	1,405,969	1,422,083
Operating income	525,634	499,351	558,447
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Safety segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,693,968	1,706,232	1,779,958
Operating expenses	1,236,938	1,288,938	1,304,121
Operating income	457,030	417,294	475,837
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	99,435	105,990	123,265
Operating expenses	81,610	88,903	95,159
Operating income	17,825	17,087	28,106
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	68,934	93,098	77,307
Operating expenses	18,155	28,128	22,803
Operating income	50,779	64,970	54,504
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(362)	(407)	(686)
General and administrative	(135,770)	(124,338)	(127,078)
Depreciation and amortization	(134,738)	(150,861)	(144,572)
Contingent consideration for acquisition of businesses		(620)
Shareholder litigation expense	(54,295)
Asset impairments	(11,378)	(60,628)	(4,706)
Interest expense, net	(85,542)	(83,299)	(84,401)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(56,279)	(7,141)	(602)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate assets, net	38,766	(13,023)	287
Other income (expense)	(212)	525	(123)
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 279	$ 165	$ 159