Business Segments and Geographic Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 621,710	$ 631,579	$ 613,966	$ 610,667	$ 599,430	$ 583,530	$ 583,509	$ 564,917	$ 2,477,922	$ 2,331,386	$ 2,263,420
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization									130,825	126,434	124,297
Operating Income:
Operating income from segments									486,339	449,180	438,628
General and administrative expense									(185,926)	(184,515)	(190,343)
Operating Income	$ 66,302	$ 78,159	$ 81,175	$ 74,777	$ 63,484	$ 69,780	$ 66,951	$ 64,450	300,413	264,665	248,285
U.S. Secure Services
Revenues:
Revenues									1,601,679	1,492,973	1,438,044
GEO Care
Revenues:
Revenues									614,249	580,313	514,166
International Services
Revenues:
Revenues									232,016	253,874	195,806
Facility Construction and Design
Revenues:
Revenues									29,978	4,226	115,404
Operating Segments
Revenues:
Revenues									2,477,922	2,331,386	2,263,420
Capital Expenditures									115,542	195,666	148,406
Operating Income:
Operating income from segments									486,339	449,180	438,628
Operating Segments | U.S. Secure Services
Revenues:
Revenues									1,601,679	1,492,973	1,438,044
Capital Expenditures									69,074	163,208	117,186
Operating Income:
Operating income from segments									322,506	297,453	302,488
Operating Segments | GEO Care
Revenues:
Revenues									614,249	580,313	514,166
Capital Expenditures									45,000	30,136	24,263
Operating Income:
Operating income from segments									147,036	138,911	123,525
Operating Segments | International Services
Revenues:
Revenues									232,016	253,874	195,806
Capital Expenditures									1,468	2,322	6,957
Operating Income:
Operating income from segments									16,723	12,816	14,235
Operating Segments | Facility Construction and Design
Revenues:
Revenues									29,978	4,226	115,404
Operating Income:
Operating income from segments									74	0	(1,620)
Segment Reconciling Items
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization									130,825	126,434	124,297
Operating Income:
General and administrative expense									(185,926)	(184,515)	(190,343)
Segment Reconciling Items | U.S. Secure Services
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization									78,974	76,801	75,276
Segment Reconciling Items | GEO Care
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization									49,781	47,546	47,103
Segment Reconciling Items | International Services
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization									$ 2,070	$ 2,087	$ 1,918