Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 587,829	$ 613,966	$ 1,192,846	$ 1,224,633
Operating expenses	445,339	453,168	906,661	910,165
Depreciation and amortization	33,434	32,352	66,761	64,821
General and administrative expenses	45,543	47,271	99,325	93,695
Operating income	63,513	81,175	120,099	155,952
Interest income	5,248	8,045	10,686	16,441
Interest expense	(30,610)	(38,932)	(64,790)	(79,212)
(Loss) gain on extinguishment of debt	0	(5,741)	1,563	(5,741)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	38,151	44,547	67,558	87,440
Provision for income taxes	4,196	4,532	10,742	9,372
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $484, $357, $928 and $716, respectively	2,699	1,821	4,959	4,417
Net income	36,654	41,836	61,775	82,485
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	66	78	126	134
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 36,720	$ 41,914	$ 61,901	$ 82,619
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	119,810	119,168	119,602	118,972
Diluted	119,964	119,544	119,937	119,517
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic	$ 0.31	$ 0.35	$ 0.52	$ 0.69
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted	0.31	0.35	0.52	0.69
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.48	$ 0.48	$ 0.96	$ 0.96