Debt instrument maturity year.

No definition available.

Name:	geo_DebtInstrumentMaturityYear
Namespace Prefix:	geo_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in YYYY-MM-DD format.

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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt discount.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, excluding unamortized premium (discount) and debt issuance cost, of long-term debt. Excludes lease obligation.

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+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=geo_SixPercentSeniorNotesDue2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=geo_NinePointFiveZeroZeroPercentPrivateSecondLienNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyEightMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt (6.000% Senior Notes due 2026) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Debt (6.000% Senior Notes due 2026) (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Aug. 19, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain on extinguishment of debt	$ (37,487,000)	$ (37,487,000)	$ 4,693,000
6.00% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	239,100,000	$ 239,100,000
Debt instrument maturity year		2026
Debt instrument, fair value	215,700,000	$ 215,700,000
Debt instrument, discount	$ 23,400,000	23,400,000
Gain on extinguishment of debt		$ 21,600,000
Stated interest rate	6.00%	6.00%		6.00%	6.00%
Long-term debt	$ 110,900,000	$ 110,900,000
9.500% Private Second Lien Notes due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 239,100,000	$ 239,100,000
Debt instrument, maturity date		Dec. 31, 2028
Stated interest rate	9.50%	9.50%