Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 583,509	$ 577,070	$ 1,148,426	$ 1,127,684
Operating expenses	437,797	438,445	864,506	853,152
Depreciation and amortization	31,313	31,866	63,239	60,815
General and administrative expenses	47,448	52,206	89,280	94,792
Operating income	66,951	54,553	131,401	118,925
Interest income	8,667	12,346	17,766	24,323
Interest expense	(36,919)	(35,983)	(72,788)	(70,983)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	38,699	30,916	76,379	72,265
Provision for income taxes	3,715	1,400	8,470	3,870
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision (benefit) of $(269), $597, $436 and $1,208, respectively	2,341	1,426	4,336	2,913
Net income	37,325	30,942	72,245	71,308
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	96	50	163	87
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 37,421	$ 30,992	$ 72,408	$ 71,395
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	120,274	122,125	121,017	117,885
Diluted (in shares)	120,659	122,895	121,461	118,702
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.60	$ 0.61
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.31	0.25	0.60	0.60
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.47	$ 0.94	$ 0.94