Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 605,017	$ 610,667
Operating expenses	461,322	456,997
Depreciation and amortization	33,327	32,469
General and administrative expenses	53,782	46,424
Operating income	56,586	74,777
Interest income	5,438	8,396
Interest expense	(34,180)	(40,280)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	1,563	0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	29,407	42,893
Income tax provision	6,546	4,840
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision	2,260	2,596
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	25,121	40,649
Net income	25,121	40,649
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	60	56
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	25,181	40,705
Net income	25,121	40,649
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(13,212)	2,252
Total comprehensive income	11,909	42,901
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	108	56
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	12,017	42,957
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	238,715	228,382
Operating expenses	187,566	171,516
Depreciation and amortization	7,816	7,419
General and administrative expenses	21,021	17,200
Operating income	22,312	32,247
Interest income	3,358	3,478
Interest expense	(20,738)	(23,296)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	4,932	12,429
Income tax provision	198	289
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	4,734	12,140
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	20,387	28,509
Net income	25,121	40,649
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	25,121	40,649
Net income	25,121	40,649
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(4,512)
Total comprehensive income	20,609	40,649
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	20,609	40,649
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	492,774	494,890
Operating expenses	414,639	412,453
Depreciation and amortization	24,574	24,185
General and administrative expenses	27,027	24,030
Operating income	26,534	34,222
Interest income	1,372	1,335
Interest expense	(13,616)	(13,847)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	1,563
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	15,853	21,710
Income tax provision	4,034	2,379
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	11,819	19,331
Net income	11,819	19,331
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	11,819	19,331
Net income	11,819	19,331
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	107	(648)
Total comprehensive income	11,926	18,683
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	11,926	18,683
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	65,111	68,968
Operating expenses	50,700	54,601
Depreciation and amortization	937	865
General and administrative expenses	5,734	5,194
Operating income	7,740	8,308
Interest income	5,005	8,198
Interest expense	(4,123)	(7,752)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	8,622	8,754
Income tax provision	2,314	2,172
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision	2,260	2,596
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	8,568	9,178
Net income	8,568	9,178
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	60	56
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	8,628	9,234
Net income	8,568	9,178
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(8,807)	2,900
Total comprehensive income	(239)	12,078
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	108	56
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(131)	12,134
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	(191,583)	(181,573)
Operating expenses	(191,583)	(181,573)
Interest income	(4,297)	(4,615)
Interest expense	4,297	4,615
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(20,387)	(28,509)
Net income	(20,387)	(28,509)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(20,387)	(28,509)
Net income	(20,387)	(28,509)
Total comprehensive income	(20,387)	(28,509)
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (20,387)	$ (28,509)