Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 21,561		$ 31,255	$ 65,451
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	56,343		51,678
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	394,720		445,526
Contract receivable, current portion	13,944		15,535
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	46,316		57,768
Total current assets	532,884		601,762
Restricted Cash and Investments	27,358		22,431
Property and Equipment, Net	2,148,225		2,158,610
Assets Held for Sale	4,607		2,634
Contract Receivable	365,208		368,178
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	132,016
Intercompany Receivable	0		0
Deferred Income Tax Assets	29,924		29,924
Goodwill	776,357		776,359
Intangible Assets, Net	221,222		232,360
Investment in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Non-Current Assets	70,337		65,860
Total Assets	4,308,138		4,258,118
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	91,257		93,032
Accrued payroll and related taxes	71,369		76,009
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	189,083		204,170
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	32,077
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	25,866		332,027
Total current liabilities	409,652		705,238
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	13,681		13,681
Intercompany Payable	0		0
Other Non-Current Liabilities	81,812		82,481
Operating Lease Liabilities	102,844
Finance Lease Liabilities	3,779
Finance Lease Liabilities			4,570
Long-Term Debt	2,354,526		2,397,227
Non-Recourse Debt	320,306		15,017
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders' Equity:
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	1,022,266		1,040,503
Noncontrolling interests	(728)		(599)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,021,538	$ 1,026,904	1,039,904	$ 1,092,937	$ 1,138,572	$ 1,198,919
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	4,308,138		4,258,118
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group, Inc.
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	4,716		4,468
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	851		2,854
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	163,184		190,594
Contract receivable, current portion	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,019		2,011
Total current assets	169,770		199,927
Restricted Cash and Investments	0		0
Property and Equipment, Net	841,260		845,291
Assets Held for Sale	705		705
Contract Receivable	0		0
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	24,754
Intercompany Receivable	965,511		990,365
Deferred Income Tax Assets	798		798
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible Assets, Net	0		0
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,479,372		1,503,841
Other Non-Current Assets	11,361		9,541
Total Assets	3,493,531		3,550,468
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	18,083		13,566
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	28,829		23,565
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	5,108
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	8,000		8,000
Total current liabilities	60,020		45,131
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0		0
Intercompany Payable	106,062		142,055
Other Non-Current Liabilities	2,362		1,395
Operating Lease Liabilities	20,199
Finance Lease Liabilities	0
Finance Lease Liabilities			0
Long-Term Debt	2,282,622		2,321,384
Non-Recourse Debt	0		0
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders' Equity:
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	1,022,266		1,040,503
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,022,266		1,040,503
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,493,531		3,550,468
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0		7,873
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	186,592		221,957
Contract receivable, current portion	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	37,478		50,482
Total current assets	224,070		280,312
Restricted Cash and Investments	25,708		21,009
Property and Equipment, Net	1,222,261		1,227,223
Assets Held for Sale	3,902		1,929
Contract Receivable	0		0
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	106,526
Intercompany Receivable	238,050		150,710
Deferred Income Tax Assets	27,928		27,928
Goodwill	775,954		775,955
Intangible Assets, Net	220,670		231,787
Investment in Subsidiaries	573,816		458,229
Other Non-Current Assets	116,819		115,695
Total Assets	3,535,704		3,290,777
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	67,982		72,128
Accrued payroll and related taxes	53,505		56,543
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	132,868		168,231
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	26,622
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	1,550		2,017
Total current liabilities	282,527		298,919
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0		0
Intercompany Payable	1,086,737		989,856
Other Non-Current Liabilities	153,949		152,815
Operating Lease Liabilities	82,256
Finance Lease Liabilities	3,779
Finance Lease Liabilities			4,570
Long-Term Debt	0		0
Non-Recourse Debt	0		0
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders' Equity:
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	1,926,456		1,844,617
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,926,456		1,844,617
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,535,704		3,290,777
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	16,845		18,914
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	55,492		48,824
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	41,825		44,377
Contract receivable, current portion	13,944		15,535
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	9,768		7,114
Total current assets	137,874		134,764
Restricted Cash and Investments	1,650		1,422
Property and Equipment, Net	84,704		86,096
Assets Held for Sale	0		0
Contract Receivable	365,208		368,178
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	736
Intercompany Receivable	25,732		22,407
Deferred Income Tax Assets	1,198		1,198
Goodwill	403		404
Intangible Assets, Net	552		573
Investment in Subsidiaries	2,189		2,190
Other Non-Current Assets	20,424		19,334
Total Assets	640,670		636,566
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	5,192		7,338
Accrued payroll and related taxes	17,864		19,466
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	27,639		25,615
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	347
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	16,316		322,010
Total current liabilities	67,358		374,429
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	13,681		13,681
Intercompany Payable	35,070		31,571
Other Non-Current Liabilities	3,768		6,981
Operating Lease Liabilities	389
Finance Lease Liabilities	0
Finance Lease Liabilities			0
Long-Term Debt	71,904		75,843
Non-Recourse Debt	320,306		15,017
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders' Equity:
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	128,922		119,643
Noncontrolling interests	(728)		(599)
Total shareholders’ equity	128,194		119,044
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	640,670		636,566
Eliminations
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	3,119		(11,402)
Contract receivable, current portion	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,949)		(1,839)
Total current assets	1,170		(13,241)
Restricted Cash and Investments	0		0
Property and Equipment, Net	0		0
Assets Held for Sale	0		0
Contract Receivable	0
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	0
Intercompany Receivable	(1,229,293)		(1,163,482)
Deferred Income Tax Assets	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible Assets, Net	0		0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(2,055,377)		(1,964,260)
Other Non-Current Assets	(78,267)		(78,710)
Total Assets	(3,361,767)		(3,219,693)
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(253)		(13,241)
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	0
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	0		0
Total current liabilities	(253)		(13,241)
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0		0
Intercompany Payable	(1,227,869)		(1,163,482)
Other Non-Current Liabilities	(78,267)		(78,710)
Operating Lease Liabilities	0
Finance Lease Liabilities	0
Finance Lease Liabilities			0
Long-Term Debt	0		0
Non-Recourse Debt	0		0
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders' Equity:
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	(2,055,378)		(1,964,260)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	(2,055,378)		(1,964,260)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ (3,361,767)		$ (3,219,693)