Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 77,233	$ 112,831	$ 166,412
Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	185	201	191
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities	(6,982)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders	$ 70,436	$ 113,032	$ 166,603
Basic:
Weighted average shares outstanding	120,384	119,719	119,097
Net income per share — basic	$ 0.59	$ 0.94	$ 1.40
Diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding	120,384	119,719	119,097
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans	348	272	214
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	120,732	119,991	119,311
Per share amount - diluted	$ 0.58	$ 0.94	$ 1.40