Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters - Additional Information (Details)						9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2021 USD ($) facility shares	May 27, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 09, 2017 Claim	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) facility Installment
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible loss						$ 19,600,000
Number of deferred payment installment related to payroll taxes | Installment						2
Deferred payment related to payroll taxes amount						$ 20,000,000.0
Estimated construction existing active capital projects cost						16,300,000
Cost already spent on existing active capital projects						4,800,000
Remaining capital required for existing active capital projects						$ 11,500,000
Number of marketed idle facilities | facility						7
Youth Division
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of company -owned youth facilities entered into lease agreements | facility			6
Loss on asset divestiture						$ 5,000,000
Youth Division | Term Note
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses			$ 10,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity date			Jul. 01, 2026
Stated interest rate			5.00%
Principal payments due annually			$ 250,000
Youth Division | Grid Note
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date			Dec. 31, 2022
Working capital line of credit			$ 4,000,000
Debt instrument basis spread on variable rate			1.00%
Basis spread rate, description						Additionally, the Company has provided a $4 million working capital line of credit (“Grid Note”) which matures on December 31, 2022 and bears daily interest at prime minus 1%. Each loan under the Grid Note is payable upon the earlier of (i) on demand, (ii) thirty days from the funding date, or (iii) the maturity date.
Youth Division | Scenario Forecast | Term Note
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Percentage of additional payment due on excess cash flow	50.00%
Youth Division | Scenario Forecast | Term Note | Abraxas
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Proceeds from related party debt		$ 8,000,000
Youth Division | Scenario Forecast | Minimum | Term Note
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Additional payment due equal to 50% of excess cash flow	$ 1,000,000
George C. Zoley
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Existing agreement termination date				Jun. 30, 2021
Agreement term				5 years
Agreement effective date				Jul. 01, 2021
Existing employment agreement base annual salary and bonus payable				$ 5,851,555
Deferred compensation arrangement with individual, description						Additionally, pursuant to the terms of Mr. Zoley’s prior employment agreement, Mr. Zoley will receive payments in the amount of $5,851,555, less any applicable taxes and withholdings, which represents the sum of two (2) years of Mr. Zoley’s base annualized salary and two (2) times Mr. Zoley’s current target bonus under GEO’s Senior Management Performance Award Plan.
George C. Zoley | Separation And General Release Agreement
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Deferred compensation arrangement with individual, description						Lastly, Mr. Zoley is entitled to receive certain fringe benefits for a ten (10) year period as set forth in the Separation Agreement, including payment of health insurance premiums under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”) for eighteen (18) months and reimbursement of the cost of health insurance coverage for eight and a half (81⁄2) years following the first eighteen (18) months, life insurance, the use of an executive automobile, and personal use of the Company leased aircraft for thirty (30) hours per year. In the event of Mr. Zoley’s death within such ten (10) year period, the Company will continue to provide the Fringe Benefits to Mr. Zoley’s covered dependents, and, if applicable to Mr. Zoley’s estate.
Fringe benefits entitlement period				10 years
Health insurance premium payment entitlement period				18 months
Health insurance coverage cost reimbursement entitlement period				8 years 6 months
Life insurance entitlement period				18 months
Executive automobile and aircraft usage entitlement period						thirty (30) hours per year
George C. Zoley | Executive Chairman Agreement
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Agreement term			5 years
Agreement effective date			Jul. 01, 2021
Deferred compensation arrangement with individual, description						Under the terms of the Executive Chairman Agreement, Mr. Zoley will be paid an annual base salary of $1.0 million and will be eligible to receive target annual performance awards equal to 100% of base salary in accordance with the terms of any plan governing senior management performance awards. Mr. Zoley will also be entitled to receive an annual equity incentive award with a grant date fair value equal to 100% of base salary and subject to a time-based vesting schedule of one (1) year from the date of grant. Additionally, the Company will credit Mr. Zoley’s account balance under the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement on an annual basis in an amount equal to 100% of his base salary.
Agreement termination date			Jun. 30, 2026
Agreement renewal term			1 year
Agreement termination minimum period for written notice			1 year
Annual base salary payable			$ 1,000,000.0
Equity incentive award vesting period			1 year
Non-competition covenant period upon termination			3 years
George C. Zoley | Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Agreement effective date			Jul. 01, 2021
Deferred compensation arrangement with individual, cash payment			$ 3,600,000
Deferred compensation, interest rate on cash payment			5.00%
Deferred compensation arrangement with individual, employer contribution			$ 1,000,000
Deferred compensation, interest rate on employer contribution			5.00%
Deferred compensation, lump sum cash payment, delay period			6 months
Jose Gordo | Executive Employment Agreement
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Agreement term			3 years
Agreement effective date			Jul. 01, 2021
Deferred compensation arrangement with individual, description						The Employment Agreement provides that upon the termination of the agreement by Mr. Gordo for good reason, by the Company without cause or upon the death or disability of Mr. Gordo, he will be entitled to receive a termination payment equal to two (2) times the sum of his annual base salary plus target bonus for the fiscal year in which his employment is terminated or, if greater, the target bonus for the fiscal year immediately prior to such termination.
Agreement renewal term			3 years
Agreement termination minimum period for written notice			30 days
Annual base salary payable			$ 900,000
Non-competition covenant period upon termination			3 years
Percentage of annual performance award entitled			85.00%
Executive benefits cover period upon termination			5 years
Percentage of interest rate on unpaid termination payment			18.00%
Jose Gordo | Executive Employment Agreement | Performance Shares
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Equity incentive award vesting period			3 years
Number of shares granted | shares			50,000
Pending Litigation | Immigration Detainees Against Company
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of claims filed | Claim					3
WASHINGTON | Pending Litigation | Immigration Detainees Against Company
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of claims filed | Claim					2
CALIFORNIA | Pending Litigation | Immigration Detainees Against Company
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of claims filed | Claim					1