Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 57,519	$ 91,852
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	55	94
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	57,574	91,946
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	63,614	67,954
Stock-based compensation	8,935	9,869
Loss on extinguishment of debt	1,754
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest	5,805	3,755
Provision for doubtful accounts		76
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	(2,412)	(2,715)
Dividends received from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,807	2,441
Loss on sale/disposal of property and equipment, net	1,701	1,847
Gain on asset divestitures	(2,175)	(3,053)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets	32,365	2,690
Changes in contract receivable		3,288
Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(56,018)	(6,119)
Net cash provided by operating activities	112,950	171,979
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		37
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	2,791	15,812
Change in restricted investments	(3,503)	895
Capital expenditures	(31,614)	(36,060)
Net cash used in investing activities	(32,326)	(19,316)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(106,094)	(54,318)
Payments on non-recourse debt		(4,343)
Proceeds from sale of treasury shares	5,750
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(3,445)	(1,302)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	80	103
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	81
Net cash used in financing activities	(103,628)	(59,860)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(2,050)	(4,331)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(25,054)	88,472
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	143,843	548,322
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	118,789	636,794
Non-cash Investing and Financing activities:
Right-of-use assets obtained from operating lease liabilities	31,289	4,284
Debt issuance costs in accrued expenses	3,850
Capital expenditures in accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 2,552	$ 6,429