Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 599,430	$ 583,530	$ 583,509	$ 564,917	$ 568,977	$ 566,759	$ 577,070	$ 550,614	$ 2,331,386	$ 2,263,420	$ 2,179,490
Operating Expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)									1,755,772	1,700,495	1,650,281
Depreciation and Amortization									126,434	124,297	114,916
General and administrative expenses									184,515	190,343	148,709
Operating Income	63,484	69,780	66,951	64,450	66,458	62,902	54,553	64,372	264,665	248,285	265,584
Interest Income									34,755	51,676	28,496
Interest Expense									(150,103)	(148,024)	(128,718)
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt									0	0	(15,885)
Income Before Income Taxes and Equity in Earnings of Affiliates									149,317	151,937	149,477
Provision for Income Taxes									14,117	17,958	7,904
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates, net of income tax (benefit) provision of $888, $(3,699) and $2,341									9,627	12,045	6,925
Net Income	33,353	39,229	37,325	34,920	36,263	38,453	30,942	40,366	144,827	146,024	148,498
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									262	217	217
Net Income Attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 33,392	$ 39,289	$ 37,421	$ 34,987	$ 36,357	$ 38,489	$ 30,992	$ 40,403	$ 145,089	$ 146,241	$ 148,715
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)									120,241	120,095	111,065
Diluted (in shares)									120,747	120,814	111,485
Basic earnings per share
Net income per share — basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.33	$ 0.31	$ 0.29	$ 0.30	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.36	$ 1.21	$ 1.22	$ 1.34
Diluted:
Net income per share — diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.33	$ 0.31	$ 0.29	$ 0.30	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.35	1.20	1.21	1.33
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)									$ 1.88	$ 1.88	$ 1.73