Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 82,022	$ 130,164
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	71	119
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	82,093	130,283
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	94,787	100,284
Stock-based compensation	12,052	13,010
Loss on extinguishment of debt	1,845	37,487
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest	8,963	6,211
Provision for doubtful accounts	412	133
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	(3,121)	(3,786)
Dividends received from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,283	2,706
Gain on sale/disposal of property and equipment, net	(724)	(1,101)
Gain on assets held for sale	(1,274)
Gain on asset divestitures, net		(32,332)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets	45,059	(34,407)
Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(9,655)	9,064
Net cash provided by operating activities	232,720	227,552
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,690	1,647
Proceeds from sale of real estate and other assets	15,109	99,812
Change in restricted investments	(2,644)	(5,544)
Capital expenditures	(53,569)	(72,233)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(38,414)	23,682
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt		50,000
Payments on long-term debt	(131,359)	(676,114)
Payments on non-recourse debt		(1,302)
Proceeds from sale of treasury shares	5,750
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(3,442)	(1,301)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	117	150
Debt issuance costs		(41,536)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	85
Net cash used in financing activities	(128,849)	(670,103)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(3,116)	(8,080)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	62,341	(426,949)
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	206,184	121,373
Non-cash Investing and Financing activities:
Right-of-use assets obtained from operating lease liabilities upon adoption of new lease standard	32,768	8,924
Principal Exchanges of Debt		1,620,318
Debt issuance costs in accrued expenses	3,850	11,245
Capital expenditures in accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 2,409	$ 4,842