Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 29,525	$ 53,673	$ 57,519	$ 91,852
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	46	54	55	94
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities	(5,016)	(9,171)	(9,787)	(15,717)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders	$ 24,555	$ 44,556	$ 47,787	$ 76,229
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	122,045	121,119	121,740	120,918
Per share amount	$ 0.20	$ 0.37	$ 0.39	$ 0.63
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	122,045	121,119	121,740	120,918
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans	1,233	762	1,756	732
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	123,278	121,881	123,496	121,650
Per share amount	$ 0.20	$ 0.37	$ 0.39	$ 0.63