Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 557,277	$ 579,136	$ 1,699,073	$ 1,771,982
Operating expenses	399,900	434,131	1,233,060	1,339,912
Depreciation and amortization	32,883	33,628	100,306	100,389
General and administrative expenses	50,475	46,644	153,642	145,969
Operating income	74,019	64,733	212,065	185,712
Interest income	5,990	6,360	18,177	17,046
Interest expense	(32,525)	(30,749)	(96,422)	(95,539)
Gain on extinguishment of debt		1,472	4,693	3,035
Loss on asset divestiture	(5,031)		(5,031)
Gain (loss) on dispositions of real estate	(1,057)	(271)	9,322	(1,151)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	41,396	41,545	142,804	109,103
Provision for income taxes	8,395	4,616	21,394	15,358
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $291, $484, $631 and $928 respectively	1,640	2,243	5,647	7,202
Net income	34,641	39,172	127,057	100,947
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	69	48	157	174
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 34,710	$ 39,220	$ 127,214	$ 101,121
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	120,525	119,826	120,326	119,677
Diluted	120,872	120,032	120,583	119,964
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic	$ 0.24	$ 0.33	$ 0.94	$ 0.84
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted	$ 0.24	0.33	0.94	0.84
Dividends declared per share		$ 0.48	$ 0.25	$ 1.44