Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 616,683	$ 557,277	$ 1,756,045	$ 1,699,073
Operating expenses	436,210	399,900	1,233,162	1,233,060
Depreciation and amortization	32,330	32,883	100,284	100,306
General and administrative expenses	50,022	50,475	147,878	153,642
Operating income	98,121	74,019	274,721	212,065
Interest income	5,111	5,990	16,301	18,177
Interest expense	(46,537)	(32,525)	(111,383)	(96,422)
(Loss) Gain on extinguishment of debt	(37,487)		(37,487)	4,693
Gain (loss) on asset divestitures	29,279	(6,088)	32,332	4,291
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	48,487	41,396	174,484	142,804
Provision for income taxes	11,246	8,395	48,106	21,394
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $189, $291, $464 and $848 respectively	1,071	1,640	3,786	5,647
Net income	38,312	34,641	130,164	127,057
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	25	69	119	157
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 38,337	$ 34,710	$ 130,283	$ 127,214
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	121,154	120,525	120,998	120,326
Diluted	122,426	120,872	121,907	120,583
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic	$ 0.26	$ 0.24	$ 0.89	$ 0.94
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted	$ 0.26	$ 0.24	$ 0.89	0.94
Dividends declared per share				$ 0.25