Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details Textual) $ in Thousands, £ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 GBP (£) property facility bed detainee person Bed	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) property facility bed detainee person Bed	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Summary of Business Organization
Number of beds | bed	95,000	95,000
Correctional, detention and residential treatment facilities including projects under development | facility	129	129
Provision of monitoring services tracking offenders (more than 139,000 offenders) | person	210,000	210,000
Provision of monitoring services tracking offenders using technology products | detainee	100,000	100,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 32,463	$ 31,255	$ 81,377
Accounts Receivable
Minimum period for payment receivable in arrears for services	30 days
Maximum period for payment receivable in arrears for services	60 days
Notes Receivable
Federal and state income tax overpayments		3,300	$ 6,100
Property and Equipment
Assets held for sale, number of properties | property			2
Assets held for sale		6,059	$ 2,634
Asset Impairments
Property and equipment, net		$ 2,144,722	2,158,610	$ 2,078,123
Number of vacant beds at its idle facilities | bed	400	400
Number of marketed idle facilities | facility	1	1
Carrying values of idle facilities		$ 12,000
Debt Issuance Costs
Deferred debt issuance cost, accumulated amortization		50,800	65,700
Debt issuance costs included in other non-current assets		30,500	31,100
Capitalized computer software, net		14,200	16,300
Facility management contracts
Other Intangible Assets
Amortization period	16 years 3 months 18 days
Foreign Subsidiaries
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 20,600	$ 18,900
GEO Amey
Summary of Business Organization
Ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%
Notes Receivable
Line of credit, amount outstanding | £	£ 12.0
Minimum | Facility management contracts
Other Intangible Assets
Amortization period	3 years
Minimum | Technology
Other Intangible Assets
Amortization period	7 years
Maximum | Facility management contracts
Other Intangible Assets
Amortization period	21 years
Maximum | Technology
Other Intangible Assets
Amortization period	8 years
Building and Building Improvements | Minimum
Property and Equipment
Useful life	2 years
Building and Building Improvements | Maximum
Property and Equipment
Useful life	50 years
Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures | Minimum
Property and Equipment
Useful life	3 years
Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures | Maximum
Property and Equipment
Useful life	10 years
Youth Facility
Property and Equipment
Assets held for sale, number of properties | property	1	1
Parcel Of Undeveloped Land
Property and Equipment
Assets held for sale, number of properties | property	1	1	1
Assets held for sale		$ 6,100
Idle Reentry Facility
Property and Equipment
Assets held for sale, number of properties | property	2	2	1
LIBOR | GEO Amey
Notes Receivable
Principal amount and accrued interest at LIBOR	0.50%
Cornell Companies, Inc.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable one year past due and still accruing	1 year
Other Noncurrent Assets
Accounts Receivable
Trade receivables		$ 400	$ 2,300
The GEO Group Australia | Ravenhall
Notes Receivable
Facility, number of beds | Bed	1,300	1,300
GEO Care
Property and Equipment
Assets held for sale, number of properties | property	4	4
Asset Impairments
Number of marketed idle facilities | bed	700	700
Carrying values of idle facilities		$ 9,000