v3.26.1
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands, shares in Millions
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Jun. 30, 2025
Jun. 30, 2026
Jun. 30, 2025
Dec. 31, 2025
Aug. 04, 2026
Nov. 10, 2025
May 15, 2025
May 16, 2024
Aug. 02, 2022
May 12, 2022
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Purchase additional share $ 1,200,000   $ 1,200,000       $ 200,000 $ 150,000 $ 125,000 $ 75,000 $ 150,000
Subsequent Event                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Purchase additional share           $ 500,000          
Restricted stock based awards                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Fair value of restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic to certain of its employees and non-employee directors     25,600   $ 23,900            
Allocated share-based compensation expense $ 6,000 $ 7,400 $ 12,500 $ 14,000              
Restricted common stock units remained outstanding and subject to vesting 2.4   2.4                
Restricted stock based awards | Minimum [Member]                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Increase Decrease in vesting percentage based on performance relative to annual performance criteria     0.00%                
Increase Decrease in vesting percentage based on shareholder return relative to peer group     80.00%                
Restricted stock based awards | Maximum [Member]                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Increase Decrease in vesting percentage based on performance relative to annual performance criteria     150.00%                
Increase Decrease in vesting percentage based on shareholder return relative to peer group     120.00%                
Restricted stock based awards | General And Administrative Expense                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Allocated share-based compensation expense $ 5,600 7,200 $ 11,800 13,400              
Restricted stock based awards | Operating Expenses                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Allocated share-based compensation expense $ 400 $ 200 $ 700 $ 600              
Restricted stock based awards | Employees And Non Employee Directors                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic     1.3   1.2            
Restricted stock based awards | Employees And Non Employee Directors | General And Administrative Expense                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic     1.2   1.1            
Restricted stock based awards | Employee | Operating Expenses                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic     0.1   0.1            
Restricted stock based awards | Officers And Executive Officers                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Vesting period     3 years                
Vesting description     CoreCivic has established performance-based vesting conditions on a portion of the RSUs awarded to its officers and executive officers that, unless earlier vested under the terms of the agreements, are subject to vesting over a three-year period based upon the satisfaction of certain annual performance criteria. The RSUs awarded to officers and executive officers in 2024, 2025 and 2026 consist of a combination of awards with performance-based conditions and time-based conditions. Unless earlier vested under the terms of the RSU agreements, the RSUs with time-based vesting conditions vest in equal amounts over three years on the later of (i) the anniversary date of the grant or (ii) the delivery of the audited financial statements by the Company's independent registered public accountant for the applicable fiscal year. The RSUs with performance-based vesting conditions are divided into one-third increments, each of which is subject to vesting based upon satisfaction of certain annual performance criteria established at the beginning of the fiscal years ending December 31, 2024, 2025, and 2026 for the 2024 awards, December 31, 2025, 2026, and 2027 for the 2025 awards, and December 31, 2026, 2027, and 2028 for the 2026 awards, and which can be increased up to 150% or decreased to 0% based on performance relative to the annual performance criteria, and further increased or decreased using a modifier of 80% to 120% based on CoreCivic's total shareholder return relative to a peer group. Because the performance criteria for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2027 and 2028 have not yet been established, the values of the third RSU increment of the 2025 awards and of the second and third increments of the 2026 awards for financial reporting purposes will not be determined until such criteria are established                
Restricted stock based awards | Non Employee Directors                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Vesting period     1 year                
Restricted stock based awards | Other Employees                      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]                      
Vesting description     Time-based RSUs issued to other employees, unless earlier vested under the terms of the agreements, generally vest in equal amounts over three years on the later of (i) the anniversary date of the grant or (ii) the delivery of the audited financial statements by the Company's independent registered public accountant for the applicable fiscal year. RSUs issued to non-employee directors generally vest one year from the date of award