UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14A Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant ☒ Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐ Check the appropriate box: ☐ Preliminary Proxy Statement ☐ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) ☒ Definitive Proxy Statement ☐ Definitive Additional Materials ☐ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 CoreCivic, Inc. (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): ☒ No fee required. ☐ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. (1) Title of each Class of securities to which transaction applies: (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: (5) Total fee paid: ☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. ☐ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: (3) Filing Party: (4) Date Filed: March 30, 2021 To our Stockholders: We invite you to attend the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of CoreCivic, Inc. (the “Company”) to be held at 10:00 a.m., Central Time, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. This year’s Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting of stockholders to be held over the internet via webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CXW2021. The Company determined to host the Annual Meeting virtually due to the continuing public health impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and to support the health and well-being of our stockholders, employees and directors. We believe that the use of the internet to host the virtual Annual Meeting will enable us to communicate with our stockholders in an effective manner and allow for expanded stockholder attendance and participation during these unprecedented conditions. An audio broadcast of the virtual Annual Meeting will also be available to stockholders by telephone at 1-877-328-2502 (toll-free) or 1-412-317-5419 (international). Please note that listening to the telephonic audio broadcast will not be deemed attending the virtual Annual Meeting, and you cannot vote or participate in the virtual Annual Meeting from such telephonic audio broadcast. You will be able to attend the virtual Annual Meeting and to vote and submit questions during the virtual Annual Meeting via a live webcast by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CXW2021 and entering the 16-digit control number included in your notice of internet availability of your proxy materials, your proxy card or voter instruction form. As in the past, prior to the virtual Annual Meeting you will be able to authorize a proxy to vote your shares on the matters submitted for stockholder approval at the virtual Annual Meeting by registering with and submitting certain information to www.proxyvote.com and we encourage you to do so. The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, both of which accompany this letter, provide details regarding the business to be conducted at the meeting, as well as other important information about the Company. Following the formal matters to be addressed at the virtual Annual Meeting, stockholders will have the opportunity to ask questions about the Company. Along with the other members of the Board of Directors and management, we encourage you to attend our virtual Annual Meeting via webcast. Sincerely, Mark A. Emkes Chairman of the Board of Directors Damon T. Hininger President and Chief Executive Officer ii CORECIVIC, INC. NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021 The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of CoreCivic, Inc. (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held at 10:00 a.m., Central Time, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. This year’s Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting of stockholders to be held over the internet via webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CXW2021. The Company determined to host the Annual Meeting virtually due to the continuing public health impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and to support the health and well-being of our stockholders, employees and directors. We believe that the use of the internet to host the virtual Annual Meeting will enable us to communicate with our stockholders in an effective manner and allow for expanded stockholder attendance and participation during these unprecedented conditions. At the virtual Annual Meeting, stockholders will consider and act on the following items of business: (1) The election of the 11 nominees named in the accompanying Proxy Statement to serve on our Board of Directors. The nominees are Damon T. Hininger, Donna M. Alvarado, Robert J. Dennis, Mark A. Emkes, Stacia A. Hylton, Harley G. Lappin, Anne L. Mariucci, Thurgood Marshall, Jr., Devin I. Murphy, Charles L. Overby and John R. Prann, Jr. (2) The non‑binding ratification of the appointment by our Audit Committee of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. (3) An advisory vote to approve the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. (4) Such other matters as may properly come before the virtual Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. We are pleased to take advantage of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules that allow issuers to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders over the internet. We believe these rules allow us to provide our stockholders with the information they need in a timely and convenient manner, while lowering the costs of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of the virtual Annual Meeting. Our Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Stockholders (including our Letter to Stockholders and 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K) are available on our website at www.corecivic.com. Additionally, and in accordance with SEC rules, you may access our proxy materials at http://materials.proxyvote.com/21871N. You may request copies of the proxy materials, including our Proxy Statement, without charge by sending a written request to CoreCivic, Attention: Cameron Hopewell, Managing Director of Investor Relations, 5501 Virginia Way, Suite 110, Brentwood, TN 37027, or by calling Cameron Hopewell at (615) 263-3000. Your vote is important. You may vote by internet or toll-free telephone. If you receive a copy of our Proxy Statement and proxy card by mail, you may vote by completing, signing and returning the proxy card in the accompanying postage-paid envelope. Please refer to the proxy card and the accompanying Proxy Statement for additional information regarding your voting options. Even if you plan to attend the virtual Annual Meeting via webcast, please take advantage of one of the advance voting options to ensure your shares are represented at the virtual Annual Meeting. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by following the procedures described in the accompanying Proxy Statement. An audio broadcast of the virtual Annual Meeting will also be available to stockholders by telephone at 1-877-328-2502 (toll-free) or 1-412-317- 5419 (international). Please note that listening to the telephonic audio broadcast will not be deemed attending the virtual Annual Meeting, and you cannot vote or participate in the virtual Annual Meeting from such telephonic audio broadcast. You will be able to attend the virtual Annual Meeting and to vote and submit questions during the virtual Annual Meeting via a live webcast by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CXW2021 and entering the 16- digit control number included in your notice of internet availability of your proxy materials, your proxy card or voter instruction form. If you wish to attend the virtual Annual Meeting via webcast at a location provided by the Company, the Company will air the webcast at the offices of the Company’s Maryland counsel, Miles & Stockbridge P.C., located at 100 Light Street, 5th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Please note that no members of management or the Board of Directors will attend at this location. In addition, you must bring a valid, government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport to Miles & Stockbridge’s office to be admitted by building iii security. Further, in order to view the virtual Annual Meeting via webcast at Miles & Stockbridge’s office, you will be required to comply with any COVID-19 related policies imposed by Miles & Stockbridge on the date of the virtual Annual Meeting, including, but not limited to, temperature checks, and wearing a mask. If you wish to view the virtual Annual Meeting via webcast at Miles & Stockbridge’s office, please follow the directions for doing so set forth under the heading What do I need to attend the virtual Annual Meeting? in this Proxy Statement. Stockholders of record at the close of business on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 are entitled to vote at the virtual Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements