Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION The GEO Group, Inc., a Florida corporation, and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “GEO”) is a fully-integrated real estate investment trust (“REIT”) specializing in the ownership, leasing and management of secure facilities, processing centers and community reentry centers in the United States, Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. The Company owns, leases and operates a broad range of facilities including maximum, medium and minimum security facilities, processing centers, as well as community-based reentry facilities and offers an expanded delivery of rehabilitation services under its 'GEO Continuum of Care' platform. The 'GEO Continuum of Care' program integrates enhanced rehabilitative programs, which are evidence-based and include cognitive behavioral treatment and post-release services, and provides academic and vocational classes in life skills and treatment programs while helping individuals reintegrate into their communities. The Company develops new facilities based on contract awards, using its project development expertise and experience to design, construct and finance what it believes are state-of-the-art facilities that maximize security and efficiency. The Company provides innovative compliance technologies, industry-leading monitoring services, and evidence-based supervision and treatment programs for community-based parolees, probationers and pretrial defendants. The Company also provides secure transportation services for individuals as contracted domestically and in the United Kingdom through its joint venture GEO Amey PECS Ltd. (“GEOAmey”). At September 30, 2021, the Company’s worldwide operations include the management and/or ownership of approximately 86,000 beds at 107 facilities, including idle facilities, projects under development and recently awarded contracts, and also include the provision of community supervision services for more than 200,000 individuals, including over 100,000 through an array of technology products including radio frequency, GPS, and alcohol monitoring devices. The Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and the instructions to Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all disclosures required by Form 10-K. The accounting policies followed for quarterly financial reporting are the same as those disclosed in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2021 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The accompanying December 31, 2020 consolidated balance sheet has been derived from those audited financial statements. Additional information may be obtained by referring to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information for the interim periods reported in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been made. Results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year ending December 31, 2021, or for any other future interim or annual periods. Risks and uncertainties Executive Order On January 26, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order directing the United States Attorney General not to renew Department of Justice (“DOJ”) contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities, as consistent with applicable law (the “Executive Order”). Two agencies of the DOJ, the Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) and U.S. Marshals Service (“USMS”), utilize GEO’s services. The BOP houses inmates who have been convicted of federal crimes, and the USMS is generally responsible for detainees who are awaiting trial or sentencing in U.S. federal courts. GEO’s contracts with the BOP for its company-owned 1,940-bed Great Plains Correctional Facility, company-owned 1,732-bed Big Spring Correctional Facility, company-owned 1,800-bed Flightline Correctional Facility, and company-owned 1,800-bed North Lake Correctional Facility have renewal option periods that expire on May 31, 2021, November 30, 2021, November 30, 2021, and September 30, 2022, respectively. Additionally, the contracts with the BOP for the county owned and managed 1,800-bed Reeves County Detention Center I & II and the 1,376-bed Reeves County Detention Center III have renewal option periods that expire September 30, 2022 and June 30, 2022, respectively. The Company has a management agreement with Reeves County, Texas for the management oversight of these two county-owned facilities. In total, the Great Plains, Big Spring, Flightline, North Lake Correctional Facilities, Reeves County Detention Center I & II and Reeves County Detention Center III generated approximately $145 million in revenues during the year ended December 31, 2020. The BOP has experienced a decline in federal prison populations over the last several years, a trend that has more recently been accelerated by the COVID-19 global pandemic. As a result of the Executive Order and the decline in federal prison populations, the above-described contracts with the BOP may not be renewed over the coming years. On March 5, 2021, the Company was notified by the BOP that it had decided to not exercise its contract renewal option for the company-owned, 1,940-bed Great Plains Correctional Facility in Oklahoma, when the contract base period expires on May 31, 2021. On March 25, 2021, the Company was notified that the BOP had decided to terminate its contract with the county-owned and managed Reeves County Detention Center I & II effective May 10, 2021. On March 15, 2021, the Company announced that the USMS had decided to not exercise the contract renewal option for its company-owned, 222-bed Queens Detention Facility in New York, when the contract base period ended on March 31, 2021. On August 18, 2021, the Company was notified by the BOP of the non-renewal of the contract options for its Big Spring and Flightline Facilities. Quarterly Dividends On April 7, 2021, GEO announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) had immediately suspended GEO’s quarterly dividend payments with the goal of maximizing the use of cash flows to repay debt, deleverage and internally fund growth. While GEO currently intends to maintain its corporate tax structure as a REIT, the Board is evaluating GEO’s corporate tax structure. The Board’s evaluation of the current corporate tax structure and GEO’s REIT status is expected to take into consideration, among other factors, potential changes to GEO’s financial operating performance, as well as potential changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) applicable to U.S. corporations and REITs. As a part of this evaluation, GEO has engaged financial advisors and legal advisors to assist in evaluating various capital structure alternatives. The Board expects to conclude its evaluation in the fourth quarter of 2021, and should the Board determine to maintain GEO’s REIT status, an additional dividend payment may be required before year-end in order to meet the minimum REIT distribution requirements under the Code. COVID-19 In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, now known as COVID-19 (“COVID-19”), was reported in Wuhan, China and has since extensively impacted the global health and economic environment. In January 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. On February 28, 2020, the WHO raised its assessment of the COVID-19 threat from high to very high at a global level due to the continued increase in the number of cases and affected countries, and on March 11, 2020, the WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. The Company has been closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of its business and geographies, including how it will impact those entrusted to its care and governmental partners. During the year ended December 31, 2020 and into 2021, the Company did incur disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic but, it is unable to predict the overall future impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows due to numerous uncertainties related to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic and related government-imposed mandatory closures, the efficacy and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, shelter in-place restrictions and social distancing protocols and increased expenditures on engineering controls, personal protective equipment, diagnostic testing, medical expenses, temperature scanners, protective plexiglass barriers and increased sanitation have had, and will continue to have, a severe impact on global economic conditions and the environment in which the Company operates. Starting in early 2020, the Company began to observe negative impacts from the pandemic on its performance in its secure services business, specifically with its U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) Processing Centers and U.S. Marshals Facilities, as a result of a decrease in court sentencing at the federal level and reduced operational capacity to promote social distancing protocols. Additionally, the Company’s reentry services business conducted through its GEO Care business segment has also been negatively impacted, specifically its residential reentry centers and non-residential day reporting programs were impacted by declines in programs due to lower levels of referrals by federal, state and local agencies. Additionally, the Company has experienced the transmission of COVID-19 among detainees and staff at most of its facilities during 2020 and continuing into 2021. If the Company is unable to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 at its facilities it could experience a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Although the Company is unable to predict the duration or scope of the COVID-19 pandemic or estimate the extent of the negative financial impact to its operating results, an extended period of depressed economic activity necessitated to combating the disease, and the severity and duration of the related global economic crisis may adversely impact its future financial performance.

Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The GEO Group, Inc., a Florida corporation, and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “GEO”) is a fully-integrated real estate investment trust (“REIT”) specializing in the ownership, leasing and management of secure facilities, processing centers and community reentry centers in the United States, Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. The Company owns, leases and operates a broad range of facilities including maximum, medium and minimum security facilities, processing centers, as well as community-based reentry facilities and offers an expanded delivery of rehabilitation services under its 'GEO Continuum of Care' platform. The 'GEO Continuum of Care' program integrates enhanced rehabilitative programs, which are evidence-based and include cognitive behavioral treatment and post-release services, and provides academic and vocational classes in life skills and treatment programs while helping individuals reintegrate into their communities. The Company develops new facilities based on contract awards, using its project development expertise and experience to design, construct and finance what it believes are state-of-the-art facilities that maximize security and efficiency. The Company provides innovative compliance technologies, industry-leading monitoring services, and evidence-based supervision and treatment programs for community-based parolees, probationers and pretrial defendants. The Company also provides secure transportation services for individuals as contracted domestically and in the United Kingdom through its joint venture GEO Amey PECS Ltd. (“GEOAmey”). At September 30, 2021, the Company’s worldwide operations include the management and/or ownership of approximately 86,000 beds at 107 facilities, including idle facilities, projects under development and recently awarded contracts, and also include the provision of community supervision services for more than 200,000 individuals, including over 100,000 through an array of technology products including radio frequency, GPS, and alcohol monitoring devices.

The Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and the instructions to Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all disclosures required by Form 10-K. The accounting policies followed for quarterly financial reporting are the same as those disclosed in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2021 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The accompanying December 31, 2020 consolidated balance sheet has been derived from those audited financial statements. Additional information may be obtained by referring to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information for the interim periods reported in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been made. Results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year ending December 31, 2021, or for any other future interim or annual periods.

Risks and uncertainties

Executive Order

On January 26, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order directing the United States Attorney General not to renew Department of Justice (“DOJ”) contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities, as consistent with applicable law (the “Executive Order”). Two agencies of the DOJ, the Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) and U.S. Marshals Service (“USMS”), utilize GEO’s services. The BOP houses inmates who have been convicted of federal crimes, and the USMS is generally responsible for detainees who are awaiting trial or sentencing in U.S. federal courts. GEO’s contracts with the BOP for its company-owned 1,940-bed Great Plains Correctional Facility, company-owned 1,732-bed Big Spring Correctional Facility, company-owned 1,800-bed Flightline Correctional Facility, and company-owned 1,800-bed North Lake Correctional Facility have renewal option periods that expire on May 31, 2021, November 30, 2021, November 30, 2021, and September 30, 2022, respectively. Additionally, the contracts with the BOP for the county owned and managed 1,800-bed Reeves County Detention Center I & II and the 1,376-bed Reeves County Detention Center III have renewal option periods that expire September 30, 2022 and June 30, 2022, respectively. The Company has a management agreement with Reeves County, Texas for the management oversight of these two county-owned facilities. In total, the Great Plains, Big Spring, Flightline, North Lake Correctional Facilities, Reeves County Detention Center I & II and Reeves County Detention Center III generated approximately $145 million in revenues during the year ended December 31, 2020. The BOP has experienced a decline in federal prison populations over the last several years, a trend that has more recently been accelerated by the COVID-19 global pandemic. As a result of the Executive Order and the decline in federal prison populations, the above-described contracts with the BOP may not be renewed over the coming years. On March 5, 2021, the Company was notified by the BOP that it had decided to not exercise its contract renewal option for the company-owned, 1,940-bed Great Plains Correctional Facility in Oklahoma, when the contract base period expires on May 31, 2021. On March 25, 2021, the Company was notified that the BOP had decided to terminate its contract with the county-owned and managed Reeves County Detention Center I & II effective May 10, 2021. On March 15, 2021, the Company announced that the USMS had decided to not exercise the contract renewal option for its company-owned, 222-bed Queens Detention Facility in New York, when the contract base period ended on March 31, 2021. On August 18, 2021, the Company was notified by the BOP of the non-renewal of the contract options for its Big Spring and Flightline Facilities.

Quarterly Dividends

On April 7, 2021, GEO announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) had immediately suspended GEO’s quarterly dividend payments with the goal of maximizing the use of cash flows to repay debt, deleverage and internally fund growth. While GEO currently intends to maintain its corporate tax structure as a REIT, the Board is evaluating GEO’s corporate tax structure. The Board’s evaluation of the current corporate tax structure and GEO’s REIT status is expected to take into consideration, among other factors, potential changes to GEO’s financial operating performance, as well as potential changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) applicable to U.S. corporations and REITs. As a part of this evaluation, GEO has engaged financial advisors and legal advisors to assist in evaluating various capital structure alternatives. The Board expects to conclude its evaluation in the fourth quarter of 2021, and should the Board determine to maintain GEO’s REIT status, an additional dividend payment may be required before year-end in order to meet the minimum REIT distribution requirements under the Code.

COVID-19

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, now known as COVID-19 (“COVID-19”), was reported in Wuhan, China and has since extensively impacted the global health and economic environment. In January 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. On February 28, 2020, the WHO raised its assessment of the COVID-19 threat from high to very high at a global level due to the continued increase in the number of cases and affected countries, and on March 11, 2020, the WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.

The Company has been closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of its business and geographies, including how it will impact those entrusted to its care and governmental partners. During the year ended December 31, 2020 and into 2021, the Company did incur disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic but, it is unable to predict the overall future impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows due to numerous uncertainties related to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic and related government-imposed mandatory closures, the efficacy and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, shelter in-place restrictions and social distancing protocols and increased expenditures on engineering controls, personal protective equipment, diagnostic testing, medical expenses, temperature scanners, protective plexiglass barriers and increased sanitation have had, and will continue to have, a severe impact on global economic conditions and the environment in which the Company operates. Starting in early 2020, the Company began to observe negative impacts from the pandemic on its performance in its secure services business, specifically with its U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) Processing Centers and U.S. Marshals Facilities, as a result of a decrease in court sentencing at the federal level and reduced operational capacity to promote social distancing protocols. Additionally, the Company’s reentry services business conducted through its GEO Care business segment has also been negatively impacted, specifically its residential reentry centers and non-residential day reporting programs were impacted by declines in programs due to lower levels of referrals by federal, state and local agencies. Additionally, the Company has experienced the transmission of COVID-19 among detainees and staff at most of its facilities during 2020 and continuing into 2021. If the Company is unable to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 at its facilities it could experience a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Although the Company is unable to predict the duration or scope of the COVID-19 pandemic or estimate the extent of the negative financial impact to its operating results, an extended period of depressed economic activity necessitated to combating the disease, and the severity and duration of the related global economic crisis may adversely impact its future financial performance.