Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total Revenues	$ 583,530	$ 566,759	$ 1,731,956	$ 1,694,443
Operating expenses	434,806	423,134	1,299,312	1,276,286
Depreciation and amortization	31,297	31,649	94,536	92,464
General and administrative expenses	47,647	49,074	136,927	143,866
Operating income	69,780	62,902	201,181	181,827
Interest income	8,428	14,648	26,194	38,971
Interest expense	(37,991)	(38,719)	(110,779)	(109,702)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	40,217	38,831	116,596	111,096
Provision for income taxes	3,723	1,720	12,193	5,590
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $200, $77, $636 and $1,785, respectively	2,735	1,342	7,071	4,255
Net income	39,229	38,453	111,474	109,761
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	60	36	223	123
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 39,289	$ 38,489	$ 111,697	$ 109,884
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	119,681	122,251	120,567	119,356
Diluted (in shares)	120,302	122,887	121,055	120,114
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.33	$ 0.31	$ 0.93	$ 0.92
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.33	0.31	0.92	0.91
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.47	$ 1.41	$ 1.41