Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 127,057	$ 100,947
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	157	174
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	127,214	101,121
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	100,306	100,389
Stock-based compensation	15,755	19,163
Gain on extinguishment of debt	(4,693)	(3,035)
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest	5,559	5,153
Provision for doubtful accounts		288
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	(5,647)	(7,202)
Dividends received from unconsolidated joint ventures	5,186	5,296
Loss on sale/disposal of property and equipment, net	7,111	3,593
Loss on assets held for sale		774
Loss on asset divestiture	5,031
(Gain) loss on disposition of real estate	(9,322)	1,151
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets	44,339	58,498
Changes in contract receivable	4,734	3,787
Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(6,096)	69,151
Net cash provided by operating activities	289,477	358,127
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	1,027	9,497
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	4,118	83
Proceeds from sales of real estate	18,581
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		1,516
Change in restricted investments	(6,807)	(4,455)
Capital expenditures	(57,382)	(83,817)
Net cash used in investing activities	(40,463)	(77,176)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	435,000	311,579
Payments on long-term debt	(359,638)	(380,055)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(5,081)	(4,530)
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(2,091)	(2,789)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	252	465
Payment for repurchases of common stock		(9,562)
Debt issuance costs	(9,587)
Cash dividends paid	(30,487)	(174,134)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	28,368	(259,026)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(3,788)	(309)
Net Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	273,594	21,616
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	311,853	67,472
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	585,447	89,088
Non-cash Investing and Financing activities:
Right-of-use assets obtained from operating lease liabilities	2,103	10,398
Equipment obtained from finance lease liabilities		1,616
Dividends paid in treasury shares	153	553
Conversion of pension liability to shares of common stock		8,925
Conversion of shares of common stock to pension liability	3,600
Capital expenditures in accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 7,795	$ 7,983