Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 602,785	$ 616,683	$ 1,804,885	$ 1,756,045
Operating expenses	440,667	436,210	1,302,287	1,233,162
Depreciation and amortization	31,173	32,330	94,787	100,284
General and administrative expenses	47,356	50,022	139,182	147,878
Operating income	83,589	98,121	268,629	274,721
Interest income	1,320	5,111	3,785	16,301
Interest expense	(55,777)	(46,537)	(165,081)	(111,383)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(91)	(37,487)	(1,845)	(37,487)
Gain on asset divestitures	1,274	29,279	3,449	32,332
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	30,315	48,487	108,937	174,484
Provision for income taxes	6,521	11,246	30,036	48,106
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $67, $189, $581 and $464, respectively	709	1,071	3,121	3,786
Net income	24,503	38,312	82,022	130,164
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	16	25	71	119
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 24,519	$ 38,337	$ 82,093	$ 130,283
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	122,066	121,154	121,850	120,998
Diluted	123,433	122,426	123,479	121,907
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.-basic	$ 0.17	$ 0.26	$ 0.56	$ 0.89
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.-diluted	$ 0.16	$ 0.26	$ 0.55	$ 0.89