- Earnings Per Share Calculation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
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
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	119,209	119,681	119,052	120,567
Per share amount (USD per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.33	$ 1.08	$ 0.93
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	119,209	119,681	119,052	120,567
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans (in shares)	73	621	262	488
Weighted average shares assuming dilution (in shares)	119,282	120,302	119,314	121,055
Per share amount (USD per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.33	$ 1.08	$ 0.92