Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 613,966	$ 583,509	$ 1,224,633	$ 1,148,426
Operating expenses	453,168	437,797	910,165	864,506
Depreciation and amortization	32,352	31,313	64,821	63,239
General and administrative expenses	47,271	47,448	93,695	89,280
Operating income	81,175	66,951	155,952	131,401
Interest income	8,045	8,667	16,441	17,766
Interest expense	(38,932)	(36,345)	(79,212)	(72,214)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(5,741)	(574)	(5,741)	(574)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	44,547	38,699	87,440	76,379
Provision for income taxes	4,532	3,715	9,372	8,470
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision (benefit) of $357, $(269), $716 and $436, respectively	1,821	2,341	4,417	4,336
Net income	41,836	37,325	82,485	72,245
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	78	96	134	163
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 41,914	$ 37,421	$ 82,619	$ 72,408
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	119,168	120,274	118,972	121,017
Diluted (in shares)	119,544	120,659	119,517	121,461
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.31	$ 0.69	$ 0.60
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.35	0.31	0.69	0.60
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.47	$ 0.96	$ 0.94