Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 631,579	$ 583,530	$ 1,856,212	$ 1,731,956
Operating expenses	472,513	434,806	1,382,678	1,299,312
Depreciation and amortization	32,419	31,297	97,240	94,536
General and administrative expenses	48,488	47,647	142,183	136,927
Operating income	78,159	69,780	234,111	201,181
Interest income	6,686	8,428	23,127	26,194
Interest expense	(36,645)	(37,991)	(115,857)	(110,205)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	594	0	(5,147)	(574)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	48,794	40,217	136,234	116,596
Provision for income taxes	5,137	3,723	14,509	12,193
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $456, $200, $1,171 and $636, respectively	2,228	2,735	6,645	7,071
Net income	45,885	39,229	128,370	111,474
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	47	60	181	223
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 45,932	$ 39,289	$ 128,551	$ 111,697
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	119,209	119,681	119,052	120,567
Diluted (in shares)	119,282	120,302	119,314	121,055
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.33	$ 1.08	$ 0.93
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.39	0.33	1.08	0.92
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.47	$ 1.44	$ 1.41