Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
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
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)									119,097,000	120,241,000	120,095,000
Per share amount (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.39	$ 0.35	$ 0.34	$ 0.28	$ 0.33	$ 0.31	$ 0.29	$ 1.40	$ 1.21	$ 1.22
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)									119,097,000	120,241,000	120,095,000
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans (in shares)									214,000	506,000	719,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution (in shares)									119,311,000	120,747,000	120,814,000
Per share amount - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.39	$ 0.35	$ 0.34	$ 0.28	$ 0.33	$ 0.31	$ 0.29	$ 1.40	$ 1.20	$ 1.21
Stock Options
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share									1,495,210	931,473	617,025
Restricted Stock Award
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share									1,514,177	680,062	719,204