Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 99,011	$ 69,686
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	2,503	4,504
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	274	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0	3,797
Change in restricted investments	(4,062)	(505)
Capital expenditures	(28,084)	(52,147)
Net cash used in investing activities	(29,369)	(44,351)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	130,000	102,000
Payments on long-term debt	(96,926)	(43,000)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(2,089)	(5,600)
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,172)	(4,356)
Payment for repurchases of common stock	0	(40,182)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	124	140
Debt issuance costs		(40,182)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	333	260
Dividends paid	(57,945)	(58,238)
Net cash used in financing activities	(30,675)	(48,976)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	366	(655)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	39,333	(24,296)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	84,472	133,545
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	123,805	109,249
The GEO Group, Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	14,354	39,888
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		0
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(6,608)	(34,360)
Net cash used in investing activities	(6,608)	(34,360)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	130,000	102,000
Payments on long-term debt	(96,926)	(43,000)
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,172)	(4,356)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	124	140
Debt issuance costs		(40,182)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	333	260
Dividends paid	(57,945)	(58,238)
Net cash used in financing activities	(28,586)	(43,376)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(20,840)	(37,848)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	54,666	54,666
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	33,826	16,818
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	20,879	17,614
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	2,503	4,504
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	274
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		3,797
Change in restricted investments	(4,062)	(505)
Capital expenditures	(21,452)	(16,654)
Net cash used in investing activities	(22,737)	(8,858)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	0
Debt issuance costs		0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	0	0
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(1,858)	8,756
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	4,823	4,952
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	2,965	13,708
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	63,778	12,184
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(24)	(1,133)
Net cash used in investing activities	(24)	(1,133)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	(2,089)	(5,600)
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	0
Debt issuance costs		0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(2,089)	(5,600)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	366	(655)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	62,031	4,796
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	24,983	73,927
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 87,014	$ 78,723