Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ 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
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [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
Income tax provision	4,532		3,715		9,372	8,470
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,821		2,341		4,417	4,336
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	41,836		37,325		82,485	72,245
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0		0		0	0
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
Net income	41,836	$ 40,649	37,325	$ 34,920	82,485	72,245
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	4,654		(2,158)	$ 1,362	6,902	(796)
Total comprehensive income	46,490		35,167		89,387	71,449
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	73		117		129	176
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	46,563		35,284		89,516	71,625
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	233,539		202,186		461,921	397,816
Operating expenses	189,310		161,122		360,826	312,944
Depreciation and amortization	7,299		6,564		14,718	13,024
General and administrative expenses	17,813		16,281		35,013	30,622
Operating income	19,117		18,219		51,364	41,226
Interest income	3,497		3,406		6,975	7,583
Interest expense	(23,127)		(19,073)		(46,423)	(37,695)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(486)		(574)		(486)	(574)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	(999)		1,978		11,430	10,540
Income tax provision	239		716		528	893
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0		0		0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	(1,238)		1,262		10,902	9,647
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	43,074		36,063		71,583	62,598
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	41,836		37,325		82,485	72,245
Net income	41,836		37,325		82,485	72,245
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	0		0		0	0
Total comprehensive income	41,836		37,325		82,485	72,245
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	41,836		37,325		82,485	72,245
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	498,406		474,966		993,296	933,694
Operating expenses	392,023		381,040		804,477	759,006
Depreciation and amortization	24,208		23,695		48,392	48,138
General and administrative expenses	24,752		25,738		48,781	48,185
Operating income	57,423		44,493		91,646	78,365
Interest income	2,180		1,447		3,515	2,864
Interest expense	(14,703)		(13,959)		(28,551)	(28,419)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(790)		0		(790)	0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	44,110		31,981		65,820	52,810
Income tax provision	3,550		1,442		5,929	3,742
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0		0		0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	40,560		30,539		59,891	49,068
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0		0		0	0
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	40,560		30,539		59,891	49,068
Net income	40,560		30,539		59,891	49,068
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	42		625		(605)	730
Total comprehensive income	40,602		31,164		59,286	49,798
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	40,602		31,164		59,286	49,798
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	61,639		67,256		130,607	136,062
Operating expenses	51,453		56,534		106,053	111,702
Depreciation and amortization	845		1,054		1,711	2,077
General and administrative expenses	4,706		5,429		9,901	10,473
Operating income	4,635		4,239		12,942	11,810
Interest income	7,716		8,908		15,915	18,292
Interest expense	(6,450)		(8,407)		(14,202)	(17,073)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(4,465)		0		(4,465)	0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	1,436		4,740		10,190	13,029
Income tax provision	743		1,557		2,915	3,835
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,821		2,341		4,417	4,336
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	2,514		5,524		11,692	13,530
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0		0		0	0
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	78		96		134	163
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	2,592		5,620		11,826	13,693
Net income	2,514		5,524		11,692	13,530
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	4,612		(2,783)		7,507	(1,526)
Total comprehensive income	7,126		2,741		19,199	12,004
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	73		117		129	176
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	7,199		2,858		19,328	12,180
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(179,618)		(160,899)		(361,191)	(319,146)
Operating expenses	(179,618)		(160,899)		(361,191)	(319,146)
Depreciation and amortization	0		0		0	0
General and administrative expenses	0		0		0	0
Operating income	0		0		0	0
Interest income	(5,348)		(5,094)		(9,964)	(10,973)
Interest expense	5,348		5,094		9,964	10,973
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0		0		0	0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	0		0		0	0
Income tax provision	0		0		0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0		0		0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	0		0		0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(43,074)		(36,063)		(71,583)	(62,598)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(43,074)		(36,063)		(71,583)	(62,598)
Net income	(43,074)		(36,063)		(71,583)	(62,598)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	0		0		0	0
Total comprehensive income	(43,074)		(36,063)		(71,583)	(62,598)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (43,074)		$ (36,063)		$ (71,583)	$ (62,598)