Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 130,164	$ 127,057
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	119	157
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	130,283	127,214
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	100,284	100,306
Stock-based compensation	13,010	15,755
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt	37,487	(4,693)
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest	6,211	5,559
Provision for doubtful accounts	133
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	(3,786)	(5,647)
Dividends received from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,706	5,186
Gain on sale/disposal of property and equipment, net	(1,101)	7,111
Gain on assets held for sale	(3,053)
Gain on asset divestitures, net	(29,279)	(4,291)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets	49,593	44,339
Changes in contract receivable		4,734
Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	9,064	(6,096)
Net cash provided by operating activities	311,552	289,477
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Insurance proceeds - damaged property		1,027
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,647	4,118
Proceeds from sales of real estate		18,581
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	15,812
Change in restricted investments	(5,544)	(6,807)
Capital expenditures	(72,233)	(57,382)
Net cash used in investing activities	(60,318)	(40,463)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	50,000	435,000
Payments on long-term debt	(676,114)	(359,638)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(1,302)	(5,081)
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(1,301)	(2,091)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	150	252
Debt issuance costs	(41,536)	(9,587)
Cash dividends paid		(30,487)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(670,103)	28,368
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(8,080)	(3,788)
Net Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(426,949)	273,594
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	548,322	311,853
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	121,373	585,447
Non-cash Investing and Financing activities:
Right-of-use assets obtained from operating lease liabilities	8,924	2,103
Principal Exchanges of Debt	1,620,318
Dividends paid in treasury shares		153
Conversion of shares of common stock to pension liability		3,600
Debt issuance costs in accrued expenses	11,245
Capital expenditures in accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 4,842	$ 7,795