- Earnings Per Share Calculation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Net income	$ 41,836	$ 40,649	$ 37,325	$ 34,920	$ 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
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	119,168		120,274		118,972	121,017
Per share amount (USD per share)	$ 0.35		$ 0.31		$ 0.69	$ 0.60
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	119,168		120,274		118,972	121,017
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans (in shares)	376		385		545	444
Weighted average shares assuming dilution (in shares)	119,544		120,659		119,517	121,461
Per share amount (USD per share)	$ 0.35		$ 0.31		$ 0.69	$ 0.60