Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 610,667	$ 564,917
Operating expenses	456,997	426,709
Depreciation and amortization	32,469	31,926
General and administrative expenses	46,424	41,832
Operating income	74,777	64,450
Interest income	8,396	9,099
Interest expense	(40,280)	(35,869)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	42,893	37,680
Income tax provision	4,840	4,755
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	2,596	1,995
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	40,649	34,920
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	40,649	34,920
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	56	67
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	40,705	34,987
Net income	40,649	34,920
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	2,252	1,362
Total comprehensive income	42,901	36,282
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	56	59
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	42,957	36,341
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	228,382	195,630
Operating expenses	171,516	151,822
Depreciation and amortization	7,419	6,460
General and administrative expenses	17,200	14,341
Operating income	32,247	23,007
Interest income	3,478	4,177
Interest expense	(23,296)	(18,622)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	12,429	8,562
Income tax provision	289	177
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	12,140	8,385
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	28,509	26,535
Net income	40,649	34,920
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	40,649	34,920
Net income	40,649	34,920
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income	40,649	34,920
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	40,649	34,920
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	494,890	458,728
Operating expenses	412,453	377,966
Depreciation and amortization	24,185	24,443
General and administrative expenses	24,030	22,447
Operating income	34,222	33,872
Interest income	1,335	1,417
Interest expense	(13,847)	(14,460)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	21,710	20,829
Income tax provision	2,379	2,300
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	19,331	18,529
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	19,331	18,529
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	19,331	18,529
Net income	19,331	18,529
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(648)	105
Total comprehensive income	18,683	18,634
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	18,683	18,634
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	68,968	68,806
Operating expenses	54,601	55,168
Depreciation and amortization	865	1,023
General and administrative expenses	5,194	5,044
Operating income	8,308	7,571
Interest income	8,198	9,384
Interest expense	(7,752)	(8,666)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	8,754	8,289
Income tax provision	2,172	2,278
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	2,596	1,995
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	9,178	8,006
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	9,178	8,006
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	56	67
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	9,234	8,073
Net income	9,178	8,006
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	2,900	1,257
Total comprehensive income	12,078	9,263
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	56	59
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	12,134	9,322
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(181,573)	(158,247)
Operating expenses	(181,573)	(158,247)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0
Operating income	0	0
Interest income	(4,615)	(5,879)
Interest expense	4,615	5,879
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0
Income tax provision	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(28,509)	(26,535)
Net income	(28,509)	(26,535)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(28,509)	(26,535)
Net income	(28,509)	(26,535)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(28,509)	(26,535)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (28,509)	$ (26,535)