Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 24,503	$ 38,312	$ 82,022	$ 130,164
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	16	25	71	119
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities	(4,159)	(6,543)	(13,944)	(22,259)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders	$ 20,360	$ 31,794	$ 68,149	$ 108,024
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	122,066	121,154	121,850	120,998
Per share amount	$ 0.17	$ 0.26	$ 0.56	$ 0.89
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	122,066	121,154	121,850	120,998
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans	1,367	1,272	1,629	909
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	123,433	122,426	123,479	121,907
Per share amount	$ 0.16	$ 0.26	$ 0.55	$ 0.89