Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 54,030		$ 31,255	$ 66,007
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	33,536		51,678
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	377,984		445,526
Contract receivable, current portion	8,193		15,535
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	43,856		57,768
Total current assets	517,599		601,762
Restricted Cash and Investments	33,728		22,431
Property and Equipment, Net	2,155,498		2,158,610
Assets Held for Sale	3,761		2,634
Contract Receivable	353,010		368,178
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	125,718
Intercompany Receivable	0		0
Deferred Income Tax Assets	29,924		29,924
Goodwill	776,341		776,359
Intangible Assets, Net	215,607		232,360
Investment in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Non-Current Assets	71,693		65,860
Total Assets	4,282,879		4,258,118
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	96,263		93,032
Accrued payroll and related taxes	57,774		76,009
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	202,356		204,170
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	28,795
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	23,417		332,027
Total current liabilities	408,605		705,238
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	13,681		13,681
Intercompany Payable	0		0
Other Non-Current Liabilities	88,159		82,481
Operating Lease Liabilities	99,271
Finance Lease Liabilities	3,403
Finance Lease Liabilities			4,570
Long-Term Debt	2,355,724		2,397,227
Non-Recourse Debt	307,032		15,017
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders' Equity:
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	1,007,794		1,040,503
Noncontrolling interests	(790)		(599)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,007,004	$ 1,021,538	1,039,904	$ 1,080,412	$ 1,092,937	$ 1,198,919
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	4,282,879		4,258,118
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group, Inc.
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	26,150		4,468
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	0		2,854
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	145,803		190,594
Contract receivable, current portion			0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,235		2,011
Total current assets	173,188		199,927
Restricted Cash and Investments	0		0
Property and Equipment, Net	847,996		845,291
Assets Held for Sale	705		705
Contract Receivable	0		0
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	23,359
Intercompany Receivable	976,826		990,365
Deferred Income Tax Assets	798		798
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible Assets, Net	0		0
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,465,543		1,503,841
Other Non-Current Assets	10,445		9,541
Total Assets	3,498,860		3,550,468
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	15,451		13,566
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	41,156		23,565
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	5,151
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	8,000		8,000
Total current liabilities	69,758		45,131
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0		0
Intercompany Payable	108,182		142,055
Other Non-Current Liabilities	3,677		1,395
Operating Lease Liabilities	18,764
Finance Lease Liabilities	0
Finance Lease Liabilities			0
Long-Term Debt	2,290,685		2,321,384
Non-Recourse Debt	0		0
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders' Equity:
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	1,007,794		1,040,503
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,007,794		1,040,503
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,498,860		3,550,468
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	6,364		7,873
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	189,421		221,957
Contract receivable, current portion	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	35,796		50,482
Total current assets	231,581		280,312
Restricted Cash and Investments	26,500		21,009
Property and Equipment, Net	1,223,695		1,227,223
Assets Held for Sale	3,056		1,929
Contract Receivable	0		0
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	101,652
Intercompany Receivable	236,081		150,710
Deferred Income Tax Assets	27,928		27,928
Goodwill	775,954		775,955
Intangible Assets, Net	215,112		231,787
Investment in Subsidiaries	573,816		458,229
Other Non-Current Assets	119,925		115,695
Total Assets	3,535,300		3,290,777
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	76,226		72,128
Accrued payroll and related taxes	40,297		56,543
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	134,948		168,231
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	23,282
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	2,560		2,017
Total current liabilities	277,313		298,919
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0		0
Intercompany Payable	1,094,114		989,856
Other Non-Current Liabilities	156,904		152,815
Operating Lease Liabilities	80,162
Finance Lease Liabilities	3,403
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	1,923,404		1,844,617
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,923,404		1,844,617
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,535,300		3,290,777
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	21,516		18,914
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	33,536		48,824
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	39,641		44,377
Contract receivable, current portion	8,193		15,535
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,829		7,114
Total current assets	111,715		134,764
Restricted Cash and Investments	7,228		1,422
Property and Equipment, Net	83,807		86,096
Assets Held for Sale	0		0
Contract Receivable	353,010		368,178
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	707
Intercompany Receivable	9,718		22,407
Deferred Income Tax Assets	1,198		1,198
Goodwill	387		404
Intangible Assets, Net	495		573
Investment in Subsidiaries	2,190		2,190
Other Non-Current Assets	19,368		19,334
Total Assets	589,823		636,566
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	4,586		7,338
Accrued payroll and related taxes	17,477		19,466
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	26,560		25,615
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	362
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	12,857		322,010
Total current liabilities	61,842		374,429
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	13,681		13,681
Intercompany Payable	18,906		31,571
Other Non-Current Liabilities	5,623		6,981
Operating Lease Liabilities	345
Finance Lease Liabilities	0
Finance Lease Liabilities			0
Long-Term Debt	65,039		75,843
Non-Recourse Debt	307,032		15,017
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders' Equity:
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	118,145		119,643
Noncontrolling interests	(790)		(599)
Total shareholders’ equity	117,355		119,044
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	589,823		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	(2,004)		(1,839)
Total current assets	1,115		(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	(1,222,625)		(1,163,482)
Deferred Income Tax Assets	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible Assets, Net	0		0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(2,041,549)		(1,964,260)
Other Non-Current Assets	(78,045)		(78,710)
Total Assets	(3,341,104)		(3,219,693)
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(308)		(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	(308)		(13,241)
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0		0
Intercompany Payable	(1,221,202)		(1,163,482)
Other Non-Current Liabilities	(78,045)		(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	(2,041,549)		(1,964,260)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	(2,041,549)		(1,964,260)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ (3,341,104)		$ (3,219,693)