Contract Receivable	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Receivables [Abstract]
Contract Receivable	Contract Receivable On September 16, 2014, GEO's wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Ravenhall Pty. Ltd., in its capacity as trustee of another wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Ravenhall Trust ("Project Co"), signed the Ravenhall Prison Project Agreement ("Ravenhall Contract") with the State of Victoria (the "State") for the development and operation of a new 1,300-bed facility in Ravenhall, a locality near Melbourne, Australia under a public-private partnership financing structure. The design and construction phase ("D&C Phase") of the agreement began in September 2014 and was completed in November 2017. Project Co was the primary developer during the D&C Phase and subcontracted with a bonded international design and build contractor to design and construct the facility. GEO's wholly-owned subsidiary, the GEO Group Australasia Pty. Ltd. ("GEO Australia") is currently operating the facility under a 25-year management contract ("Operating Phase"). During the D&C Phase, GEO Australia provided construction management and consultant services to the State. The cost of the project during the D&C Phase was funded by debt financing along with a capital contribution by GEO in the amount of AUD 115 million, or $81.1 million based on exchange rates at December 31, 2018, which was contributed in January 2017 (Refer to Note 13 - Debt). Another wholly-owned subsidiary of GEO, Ravenhall Finance Co Pty. Limited ("Finance Co"), entered into a syndicated facility agreement with National Australia Bank Limited to provide the debt financing for the project. In order to fix the interest rate on this variable non-recourse debt, Finance Co entered into interest rate swap agreements. Refer to Note 8 - Derivative Financial Instruments. Upon completion and commercial acceptance of the facility in November 2017, in accordance with the Ravenhall Contract, the State made a lump sum payment of AUD 310 million, or $218.7 million based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2018, towards a portion of the outstanding balance. The remaining balance will be paid over the life of the 25-year management contract. During the D&C Phase, the Company recognized revenue as earned on a percentage of completion basis measured by the percentage of costs incurred to date as compared to the estimated total costs for the design and construction of the facility. Costs incurred and estimated earnings in excess of billings are classified as Contract Receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The total balance of the Contract Receivable at December 31, 2018 is $383.7 million which is recorded at net present value based on the timing of expected future settlement. Interest income is recorded as earned using an effective interest rate of 8.97%. As the primary contractor, Project Co was exposed to the various risks associated with the D&C Phase. Accordingly, the Company recorded construction revenue on a gross basis and included the related costs of construction activities in operating expenses within the Facility Design & Construction segment. Reimbursable pass through costs were excluded from revenues and expenses.

Contract Receivable

On September 16, 2014, GEO's wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Ravenhall Pty. Ltd., in its capacity as trustee of another wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Ravenhall Trust ("Project Co"), signed the Ravenhall Prison Project Agreement ("Ravenhall Contract") with the State of Victoria (the "State") for the development and operation of a new 1,300-bed facility in Ravenhall, a locality near Melbourne, Australia under a public-private partnership financing structure. The design and construction phase ("D&C Phase") of the agreement began in September 2014 and was completed in November 2017. Project Co was the primary developer during the D&C Phase and subcontracted with a bonded international design and build contractor to design and construct the facility. GEO's wholly-owned subsidiary, the GEO Group Australasia Pty. Ltd. ("GEO Australia") is currently operating the facility under a 25-year management contract ("Operating Phase"). During the D&C Phase, GEO Australia provided construction management and consultant services to the State.

The cost of the project during the D&C Phase was funded by debt financing along with a capital contribution by GEO in the amount of AUD 115 million, or $81.1 million based on exchange rates at December 31, 2018, which was contributed in January 2017 (Refer to Note 13 - Debt). Another wholly-owned subsidiary of GEO, Ravenhall Finance Co Pty. Limited ("Finance Co"), entered into a syndicated facility agreement with National Australia Bank Limited to provide the debt financing for the project. In order to fix the interest rate on this variable non-recourse debt, Finance Co entered into interest rate swap agreements. Refer to Note 8 - Derivative Financial Instruments. Upon completion and commercial acceptance of the facility in November 2017, in accordance with the Ravenhall Contract, the State made a lump sum payment of AUD 310 million, or $218.7 million based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2018, towards a portion of the outstanding balance. The remaining balance will be paid over the life of the 25-year management contract.

During the D&C Phase, the Company recognized revenue as earned on a percentage of completion basis measured by the percentage of costs incurred to date as compared to the estimated total costs for the design and construction of the facility. Costs incurred and estimated earnings in excess of billings are classified as Contract Receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The total balance of the Contract Receivable at December 31, 2018 is $383.7 million which is recorded at net present value based on the timing of expected future settlement. Interest income is recorded as earned using an effective interest rate of 8.97%. As the primary contractor, Project Co was exposed to the various risks associated with the D&C Phase. Accordingly, the Company recorded construction revenue on a gross basis and included the related costs of construction activities in operating expenses within the Facility Design & Construction segment. Reimbursable pass through costs were excluded from revenues and expenses.