Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 27,994	$ 38,179
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	9	40
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities	(4,770)	(6,542)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders	$ 23,233	$ 31,677
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	121,432	120,714
Per share amount	$ 0.19	$ 0.26
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	121,432	120,714
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans	2,220	680
Dilutive effect of exchangeable notes	1,487
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	125,139	121,394
Per share amount	$ 0.19	$ 0.26