Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income) (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
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax									$ 2,477,922	$ 2,331,386	$ 2,263,420
Operating expenses									1,860,758	1,755,772	1,700,495
Depreciation and amortization									130,825	126,434	124,297
General and administrative expenses									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
Interest Income									28,934	34,755	51,676
Interest Expense									(151,024)	(150,103)	(148,024)
Loss on extinguishment of debt									(4,795)	0	0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates									173,528	149,317	151,937
Provision for Income Taxes									16,648	14,117	17,958
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision									9,532	9,627	12,045
Income from operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries									166,412	144,827	146,024
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Net Income	38,042	45,885	41,836	40,649	33,353	39,229	37,325	34,920	166,412	144,827	146,024
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									191	262	217
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 38,052	$ 45,932	$ 41,914	$ 40,705	$ 33,392	$ 39,289	$ 37,421	$ 34,987	166,603	145,089	146,241
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									3,291	813	6,373
Total comprehensive income									169,703	145,640	152,397
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									183	277	211
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									169,886	145,917	152,608
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax									941,117	827,473	711,013
Operating expenses									755,443	664,354	568,061
Depreciation and amortization									29,688	27,036	24,580
General and administrative expenses									69,969	64,852	59,194
Operating income									86,017	71,231	59,178
Interest Income									13,956	14,702	16,200
Interest Expense									(90,127)	(81,456)	(69,969)
Loss on extinguishment of debt									(486)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates									9,360	4,477	5,409
Provision for Income Taxes									1,472	972	1,103
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Income from operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries									7,888	3,505	4,306
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									158,524	141,322	141,718
Net Income									166,412	144,827	146,024
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									166,412	144,827	146,024
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(1,476)	0	0
Total comprehensive income									164,936	144,827	146,024
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									164,936	144,827	146,024
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax									2,010,561	1,905,243	1,810,262
Operating expenses									1,628,470	1,539,343	1,441,884
Depreciation and amortization									97,259	95,504	96,051
General and administrative expenses									95,689	98,601	104,373
Operating income									189,143	171,795	167,954
Interest Income									7,293	5,494	4,294
Interest Expense									(57,005)	(56,194)	(55,080)
Loss on extinguishment of debt									155
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates									139,586	121,095	117,168
Provision for Income Taxes									9,595	7,424	9,608
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Income from operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries									129,991	113,671	107,560
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Net Income									129,991	113,671	107,560
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									129,991	113,671	107,560
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(3,247)	1,785	(1,420)
Total comprehensive income									126,744	115,456	106,140
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									126,744	115,456	106,140
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax									272,613	268,723	321,612
Operating expenses									223,214	222,128	270,017
Depreciation and amortization									3,878	3,894	3,666
General and administrative expenses									20,268	21,062	26,776
Operating income									25,253	21,639	21,153
Interest Income									27,270	35,501	52,069
Interest Expense									(23,477)	(33,395)	(43,862)
Loss on extinguishment of debt									(4,464)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates									24,582	23,745	29,360
Provision for Income Taxes									5,581	5,721	7,247
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision									9,532	9,627	12,045
Income from operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries									28,533	27,651	34,158
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Net Income									28,533	27,651	34,158
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									191	262	217
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									28,724	27,913	34,375
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									8,014	(972)	7,793
Total comprehensive income									36,547	26,679	41,951
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									183	277	211
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									36,730	26,956	42,162
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax									(746,369)	(670,053)	(579,467)
Operating expenses									(746,369)	(670,053)	(579,467)
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
General and administrative expenses									0	0	0
Operating income									0	0	0
Interest Income									(19,585)	(20,942)	(20,887)
Interest Expense									19,585	20,942	20,887
Loss on extinguishment of debt									0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates									0	0	0
Provision for Income Taxes									0	0	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Income from operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries									0	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									(158,524)	(141,322)	(141,718)
Net Income									(158,524)	(141,322)	(141,718)
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									(158,524)	(141,322)	(141,718)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									0	0	0
Total comprehensive income									(158,524)	(141,322)	(141,718)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									$ (158,524)	$ (141,322)	$ (141,718)