Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

Dividends Declared

During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, GEO declared and paid the following regular cash distributions to its stockholders which were treated for federal income taxes as follows (retroactively adjusted to reflect the effects of the Company's 3-for-2 stock split):

					Ordinary Dividends
Declaration Date	Payment Date	Record Date	Distribution Per Share		Qualified (1)		Non-Qualified		Nondividend Distributions (2)		Aggregate Payment Amount (millions)
February 6, 2017	February 27, 2017	February 17, 2017	0.47		$	0.0175622	$	0.2468402	$	0.2025975	$	52.5
April 25, 2017	May 19, 2017	May 9, 2017	$	0.47	$	0.0176751	$	0.2484259	$	0.2038990	$	58.4
July 10, 2017	July 28, 2017	July 21, 2017	0.47		$	0.0176751	$	0.2484259	$	0.2038990	$	58.3
October 12, 2017	October 30, 2017	October 23, 2017	$	0.47	$	0.0176751	$	0.2484259	$	0.2038990	$	58.3
February 5, 2018	February 27, 2018	February 16, 2018	$	0.47	$	0.0461171	$	0.2090220	$	0.2148609	$	58.3
April 11, 2018	May 3, 2018	April 23, 2018	$	0.47	$	0.0461171	$	0.2090220	$	0.2148609	$	57.4
July 10, 2018	July 27, 2018	July 20, 2018	$	0.47	$	0.0461171	$	0.2090220	$	0.2148609	$	57.2
October 15, 2018	November 2, 2018	October 26, 2018	$	0.47	$	0.0461171	$	0.2090220	$	0.2148609	$	57.2
February 4, 2019	February 22, 2019	February 15, 2019	$	0.48	$	—	$	0.2759699	$	0.2040301	$	57.9
April 3, 2019	April 22, 2019	April 15, 2019	$	0.48	$	—	$	0.2759699	$	0.2040301	$	58.2
July 9, 2019	July 26, 2019	July 19, 2019	$	0.48	$	—	$	0.2759699	$	0.2040301	$	58.2
October 14, 2019	November 1, 2019	October 25, 2019	$	0.48	$	—	$	0.2759699	$	0.2040301	$	58.2

(1) For 2019, there are no Qualified Dividends. Qualified Dividends represents the portion of Total Ordinary Dividends which constitutes a "Qualified Dividend", as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.

(2) The amount constitutes a "Return of Capital", as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.