Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted [Abstract]
Net income	$ 50,483	$ 25,121
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	61	60
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities	(1,420)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders	$ 49,124	$ 25,181
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	120,022	119,394
Per share amount	$ 0.41	$ 0.21
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	120,022	119,394
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans	395	539
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	120,417	119,933
Per share amount	$ 0.41	$ 0.21