Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 322,958	$ 220,223
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	823	3,797
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	17,389	5,998
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	402	2,061
Change in restricted investments	(5,449)	(2,413)
Capital expenditures	(90,787)	(161,490)
Net cash used in investing activities	(77,622)	(152,047)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	274,370	372,000
Payments on long-term debt	(310,616)	(186,033)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(332,717)	(9,636)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	322,906	0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,177)	(4,452)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	400	404
Debt issuance costs	(9,885)	(990)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	1,259	1,781
Payment for repurchases of common stock	0	(70,446)
Dividends paid	(174,332)	(172,256)
Net cash used in financing activities	(232,792)	(69,628)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(2,063)	(5,392)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	10,481	(6,844)
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	94,953	126,701
The GEO Group, Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	212,177	112,599
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(22,941)	(95,461)
Net cash used in investing activities	(22,941)	(95,461)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	274,370	372,000
Payments on long-term debt	(310,616)	(183,000)
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)	(4,452)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	400	404
Debt issuance costs	(4,656)	(990)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	1,259	1,781
Payment for repurchases of common stock		(70,446)
Dividends paid	(174,332)	(172,256)
Net cash used in financing activities	(217,752)	(56,959)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(28,516)	(39,821)
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	26,150	14,845
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	55,258	70,040
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	823	3,797
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	17,389	5,998
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	402	0
Change in restricted investments	(5,449)	(2,413)
Capital expenditures	(66,723)	(64,015)
Net cash used in investing activities	(53,558)	(56,633)
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 Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,700	13,407
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	6,523	18,359
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	55,523	37,584
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	2,061
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(1,123)	(2,014)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,123)	47
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	(3,033)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(332,717)	(9,636)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	322,906
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	(5,229)	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	(15,040)	(12,669)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(2,063)	(5,392)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	37,297	19,570
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	$ 62,280	$ 93,497