Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 217,067	$ 180,253
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0	3,797
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	10,761	4,036
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	304	1,717
Change in restricted investments	(4,816)	(1,490)
Capital expenditures	(55,410)	(107,064)
Net cash used in investing activities	(49,161)	(99,004)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	170,000	245,000
Payments on long-term debt	(213,926)	(134,000)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(326,942)	(7,490)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	326,127	0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,177)	(4,391)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	252	264
Debt issuance costs	(9,937)	(990)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	1,077	1,372
Payment for repurchases of common stock	0	(70,446)
Dividends paid	(116,122)	(115,017)
Net cash used in financing activities	(173,648)	(85,698)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	824	(1,881)
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(4,918)	(6,330)
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	79,554	127,215
The GEO Group, Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	130,455	118,354
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(12,002)	(68,607)
Net cash used in investing activities	(12,002)	(68,607)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	170,000	245,000
Payments on long-term debt	(213,926)	(134,000)
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,177)	(4,391)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	252	264
Debt issuance costs	(4,656)	(990)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	1,077	1,372
Payment for repurchases of common stock		(70,446)
Dividends paid	(116,122)	(115,017)
Net cash used in financing activities	(167,552)	(78,208)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(49,099)	(28,461)
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	5,567	26,205
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	31,924	37,087
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		3,797
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	10,761	4,036
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	112	0
Change in restricted investments	(4,816)	(1,490)
Capital expenditures	(42,804)	(36,998)
Net cash used in investing activities	(36,747)	(30,655)
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
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	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	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Payment for repurchases of common stock		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 Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(4,823)	6,432
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	0	11,384
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	54,688	24,812
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	192	1,717
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(604)	(1,459)
Net cash used in investing activities	(412)	258
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	(326,942)	(7,490)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	326,127
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	(5,281)	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Payment for repurchases of common stock		0
Dividends paid	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(6,096)	(7,490)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	824	(1,881)
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	49,004	15,699
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	$ 73,987	$ 89,626