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] |
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Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax |
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$ 2,477,922
|
$ 2,331,386
|
$ 2,263,420
|
Operating expenses |
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1,860,758
|
1,755,772
|
1,700,495
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Depreciation and amortization |
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130,825
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126,434
|
124,297
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General and administrative expenses |
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185,926
|
184,515
|
190,343
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Operating income |
$ 66,302
|
$ 78,159
|
$ 81,175
|
$ 74,777
|
$ 63,484
|
$ 69,780
|
$ 66,951
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$ 64,450
|
300,413
|
264,665
|
248,285
|
Interest Income |
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28,934
|
34,755
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51,676
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Interest Expense |
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(151,024)
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(150,103)
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(148,024)
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Loss on extinguishment of debt |
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(4,795)
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0
|
0
|
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates |
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173,528
|
149,317
|
151,937
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Provision for Income Taxes |
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16,648
|
14,117
|
17,958
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Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision |
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9,532
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9,627
|
12,045
|
Income from operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries |
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166,412
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144,827
|
146,024
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Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision |
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0
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0
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0
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Net Income |
38,042
|
45,885
|
41,836
|
40,649
|
33,353
|
39,229
|
37,325
|
34,920
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166,412
|
144,827
|
146,024
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Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
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191
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262
|
217
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Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. |
$ 38,052
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$ 45,932
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$ 41,914
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$ 40,705
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$ 33,392
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$ 39,289
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$ 37,421
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$ 34,987
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166,603
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145,089
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146,241
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Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |
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3,291
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813
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6,373
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Total comprehensive income |
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169,703
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145,640
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152,397
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Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
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183
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277
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211
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Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. |
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169,886
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145,917
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152,608
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Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group Inc. |
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Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract] |
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Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax |
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941,117
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827,473
|
711,013
|
Operating expenses |
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755,443
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664,354
|
568,061
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Depreciation and amortization |
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29,688
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27,036
|
24,580
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General and administrative expenses |
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69,969
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64,852
|
59,194
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Operating income |
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86,017
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71,231
|
59,178
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Interest Income |
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13,956
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14,702
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16,200
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Interest Expense |
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(90,127)
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(81,456)
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(69,969)
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Loss on extinguishment of debt |
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(486)
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Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates |
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9,360
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4,477
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5,409
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Provision for Income Taxes |
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1,472
|
972
|
1,103
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Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision |
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0
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0
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0
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Income from operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries |
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7,888
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3,505
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4,306
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Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision |
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158,524
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141,322
|
141,718
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Net Income |
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166,412
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144,827
|
146,024
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Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
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0
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0
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0
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Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. |
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166,412
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144,827
|
146,024
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Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |
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(1,476)
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0
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0
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Total comprehensive income |
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164,936
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144,827
|
146,024
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Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
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0
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0
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0
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Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. |
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164,936
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144,827
|
146,024
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Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors |
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Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract] |
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Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax |
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2,010,561
|
1,905,243
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1,810,262
|
Operating expenses |
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1,628,470
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1,539,343
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1,441,884
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Depreciation and amortization |
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97,259
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95,504
|
96,051
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General and administrative expenses |
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95,689
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98,601
|
104,373
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Operating income |
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189,143
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171,795
|
167,954
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Interest Income |
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7,293
|
5,494
|
4,294
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Interest Expense |
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(57,005)
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(56,194)
|
(55,080)
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Loss on extinguishment of debt |
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|
155
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Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates |
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139,586
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121,095
|
117,168
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Provision for Income Taxes |
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9,595
|
7,424
|
9,608
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Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision |
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0
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0
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0
|
Income from operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries |
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129,991
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113,671
|
107,560
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Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision |
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0
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0
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0
|
Net Income |
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129,991
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113,671
|
107,560
|
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
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0
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0
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0
|
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. |
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129,991
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113,671
|
107,560
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Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |
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(3,247)
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1,785
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(1,420)
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Total comprehensive income |
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126,744
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115,456
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106,140
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Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
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0
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0
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0
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Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. |
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126,744
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115,456
|
106,140
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Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries |
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Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract] |
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Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax |
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|
272,613
|
268,723
|
321,612
|
Operating expenses |
|
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|
223,214
|
222,128
|
270,017
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
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|
3,878
|
3,894
|
3,666
|
General and administrative expenses |
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|
20,268
|
21,062
|
26,776
|
Operating income |
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25,253
|
21,639
|
21,153
|
Interest Income |
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
27,270
|
35,501
|
52,069
|
Interest Expense |
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
(23,477)
|
(33,395)
|
(43,862)
|
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
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|
|
|
|
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|
(4,464)
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|
|
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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 |
|
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|
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract] |
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|
|
|
|
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|
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)
|