Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 16,385	$ 82,022
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	90	71
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	16,475	82,093
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	94,434	94,787
Stock-based compensation	12,322	12,052
Loss on extinguishment of debt	85,298	1,845
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest	6,597	8,963
Provision for doubtful accounts		412
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	(1,671)	(3,121)
Dividends received from unconsolidated joint ventures	4,586	2,283
Realized/unrealized gain on investments	(7,586)	(2,644)
Gain on sale/disposal of property and equipment, net	(581)	(724)
Gain on assets held for sale		(1,274)
Loss on asset divestitures/impairment	2,907
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets	7,349	45,059
Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	3,642	(9,655)
Net cash provided by operating activities	223,772	230,076
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		2,690
Proceeds from sale of real estate and other assets		15,109
Purchases of marketable securities	(31,747)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities	9,399
Capital expenditures	(57,909)	(53,569)
Net cash used in investing activities	(80,257)	(35,770)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(1,873,874)	(131,359)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,720,500
Proceeds from borrowings on revolver	40,000
Payments for call premiums	(35,558)
Proceeds from sale of treasury shares		5,750
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(7,464)	(3,442)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	115	117
Debt issuance costs	(30,621)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	785	85
Net cash used in financing activities	(186,117)	(128,849)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,138	(3,116)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(41,464)	62,341
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	159,867	143,843
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	118,403	206,184
Non-cash Investing and Financing activities:
Right-of-use assets obtained from operating lease liabilities	6,038	32,768
Debt issuance costs in accrued expenses	5,127	3,850
Capital expenditures in accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 4,922	$ 2,409