Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net Income	$ 77,233	$ 112,831	$ 166,412
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	185	201	191
Net Income Attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	77,418	113,032	166,603
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	135,177	134,680	130,825
Deferred tax provision (benefit)	86,380	11,221	(588)
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest	7,498	6,892	8,609
Goodwill impairment charge		21,146
Stock-based compensation	19,199	23,896	22,344
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	(4,693)	(5,319)	4,795
Provision for doubtful accounts		263	190
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	(7,141)	(9,166)	(9,532)
Loss on sale/disposal of property and equipment	8,447	1,720	3,966
Net (gain) loss on disposition of assets	(5,499)	6,831	2,693
Dividends received from unconsolidated joint ventures	8,263	5,934	10,312
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisition:
Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets	9,466	68,181	(8,391)
Changes in contract receivable	6,231	5,156	(4,355)
Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(58,111)	57,266	10,672
Net cash provided by operating activities	282,635	441,733	338,143
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	4,130	140	414
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	1,027	9,497	19,310
Proceeds from sale of real estate	21,239	2,406	823
Payment received on note receivable	8,000
Change in restricted investments	(18,739)	(7,417)	(7,440)
Capital expenditures	(69,394)	(108,800)	(117,244)
Net cash used in investing activities	(53,737)	(104,174)	(104,137)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(360,296)	(816,191)	(513,219)
Proceeds from long term debt	435,000	960,579	521,370
Payments on non-recourse debt	(21,575)	(13,805)	(335,116)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt			321,102
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(2,090)	(2,789)	(4,179)
Debt issuance costs	(9,587)		(9,856)
Payments for purchase of treasury shares		(9,009)
Proceeds from stock options exercised	15		1,258
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	282	616	532
Dividends paid	(30,486)	(216,145)	(232,546)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	11,263	(96,744)	(250,654)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(3,692)	3,566	(352)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	236,469	244,381	(17,000)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	311,853	67,472	84,472
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	548,322	311,853	67,472
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes	49,483	5,358	11,160
Interest	122,162	135,579	133,566
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Right-of-use assets obtained from operating lease liabilities upon adoption of new lease standard - Refer to Note 13 - Leases			147,000
Assets obtained from finance lease liabilities	1,198	2,260
Conversion of pension liability to shares of common stock		8,925
Conversion of shares of common stock to pension liability	3,600
Right-of-use assets obtained from operating lease liabilities (subsequent to initial adoption)	10,786	23,940
Capital expenditures in accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 7,340	$ 1,445	$ 15,253