Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted [Abstract]
Net income	$ 34,641	$ 39,172	$ 127,057	$ 100,947
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	69	48	157	174
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities	(5,949)		(13,624)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders	$ 28,761	$ 39,220	$ 113,590	$ 101,121
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	120,525	119,826	120,326	119,677
Per share amount	$ 0.24	$ 0.33	$ 0.94	$ 0.84
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	120,525	119,826	120,326	119,677
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans	347	206	257	287
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	120,872	120,032	120,583	119,964
Per share amount	$ 0.24	$ 0.33	$ 0.94	$ 0.84