Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 32,414	$ 32,463	$ 67,728
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	27,865	32,418
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	375,453	430,982
Contract receivable, current portion	4,686	11,199
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	36,108	40,716
Total current assets	476,526	547,778
Restricted Cash and Investments	27,271	30,923	27,282
Property and Equipment, Net	2,142,530	2,144,722
Assets Held for Sale	4,405	6,059
Contract Receivable	319,819	360,647
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	123,465	121,527
Deferred Income Tax Assets	36,278	36,278
Goodwill	776,306	776,356
Intangible Assets, Net	204,387	210,070
Other Non-Current Assets	76,860	83,174
Total Assets	4,187,847	4,317,534
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	92,887	99,232
Accrued payroll and related taxes	63,005	54,672
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	178,834	191,608
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	26,968	26,208
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	23,625	24,208
Total current liabilities	385,319	395,928
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	19,254	19,254
Other Non-Current Liabilities	82,591	88,526
Operating Lease Liabilities	99,314	97,291
Finance Lease Liabilities	2,563	2,954
Long-Term Debt	2,370,890	2,408,297
Non-Recourse Debt	270,460	309,236
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders’ Equity
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	958,346	996,830
Noncontrolling interests	(890)	(782)
Total shareholders’ equity	957,456	996,048	$ 1,026,904	$ 1,039,904
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	4,187,847	4,317,534
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	8,673	9,840
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	152,001	167,769
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,667	1,273
Total current assets	162,341	178,882
Property and Equipment, Net	848,926	846,297
Assets Held for Sale	705	705
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	20,641	21,995
Intercompany Receivable	961,145	978,337
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,454,238	1,484,930
Other Non-Current Assets	17,698	18,329
Total Assets	3,465,694	3,529,475
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	11,690	16,690
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	38,496	32,175
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	5,328	5,232
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	8,000	8,000
Total current liabilities	63,514	62,097
Intercompany Payable	105,255	106,029
Other Non-Current Liabilities	4,715	3,572
Operating Lease Liabilities	15,860	17,321
Long-Term Debt	2,318,004	2,343,626
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders’ Equity
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	958,346	996,830
Total shareholders’ equity	958,346	996,830
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,465,694	3,529,475
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	934
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	187,539	218,920
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	28,377	32,187
Total current assets	216,850	251,107
Restricted Cash and Investments	25,143	28,648
Property and Equipment, Net	1,212,008	1,214,697
Assets Held for Sale	3,700	5,354
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	102,165	98,654
Intercompany Receivable	242,777	238,680
Deferred Income Tax Assets	35,585	35,584
Goodwill	775,954	775,953
Intangible Assets, Net	203,995	209,554
Investment in Subsidiaries	573,816	573,816
Other Non-Current Assets	120,610	123,797
Total Assets	3,512,603	3,555,844
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	78,891	76,631
Accrued payroll and related taxes	46,984	38,243
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	115,317	131,031
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	21,554	20,777
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	2,626	2,626
Total current liabilities	265,372	269,308
Intercompany Payable	1,087,981	1,100,299
Other Non-Current Liabilities	155,110	162,026
Operating Lease Liabilities	82,881	79,290
Finance Lease Liabilities	2,563	2,954
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders’ Equity
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	1,918,696	1,941,967
Total shareholders’ equity	1,918,696	1,941,967
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,512,603	3,555,844
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	22,807	22,623
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	27,865	32,418
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	32,794	41,175
Contract receivable, current portion	4,686	11,199
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,179	9,315
Total current assets	96,331	116,730
Restricted Cash and Investments	2,128	2,275
Property and Equipment, Net	81,596	83,728
Contract Receivable	319,819	360,647
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets, Net	659	878
Intercompany Receivable	14,714	17,050
Deferred Income Tax Assets	693	694
Goodwill	352	403
Intangible Assets, Net	392	516
Investment in Subsidiaries	2,190	2,189
Other Non-Current Assets	16,080	18,853
Total Assets	534,954	603,963
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	2,306	5,911
Accrued payroll and related taxes	16,021	16,429
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	25,440	28,765
Operating lease liabilities, current portion	86	199
Current portion of finance lease liabilities, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	12,999	13,582
Total current liabilities	56,852	64,886
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	19,254	19,254
Intercompany Payable	23,976	26,316
Other Non-Current Liabilities	294	733
Operating Lease Liabilities	573	680
Long-Term Debt	52,886	64,671
Non-Recourse Debt	270,460	309,236
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders’ Equity
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	111,549	118,969
Noncontrolling interests	(890)	(782)
Total shareholders’ equity	110,659	118,187
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	534,954	603,963
Eliminations
ASSETS
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	3,119	3,118
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(2,115)	(2,059)
Total current assets	1,004	1,059
Intercompany Receivable	(1,218,636)	(1,234,067)
Investment in Subsidiaries	(2,030,244)	(2,060,935)
Other Non-Current Assets	(77,528)	(77,805)
Total Assets	(3,325,404)	(3,371,748)
Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(419)	(363)
Total current liabilities	(419)	(363)
Intercompany Payable	(1,217,212)	(1,232,644)
Other Non-Current Liabilities	(77,528)	(77,805)
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
Shareholders’ Equity
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	(2,030,245)	(2,060,936)
Total shareholders’ equity	(2,030,245)	(2,060,936)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ (3,325,404)	$ (3,371,748)