Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 588,177	$ 565,419	$ 1,139,362	$ 1,141,796
Operating expenses	411,791	405,009	796,952	833,160
Depreciation and amortization	32,016	33,306	67,954	67,423
General and administrative expenses	49,296	54,688	97,856	103,167
Operating income	95,074	72,416	176,600	138,046
Interest income	5,562	5,985	11,190	12,187
Interest expense	(33,225)	(32,053)	(64,846)	(63,897)
Gain on extinguishment of debt		1,654		4,693
Gain (loss) on dispositions of real estate	3,680	(2,950)	3,053	10,379
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	71,091	45,052	125,997	101,408
Provision for income taxes	18,898	5,063	36,860	12,999
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $163, $291, $275 and $631 respectively	1,480	1,942	2,715	4,007
Net income	53,673	41,931	91,852	92,416
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	54	28	94	88
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 53,727	$ 41,959	$ 91,946	$ 92,504
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	121,119	120,426	120,918	120,225
Diluted	121,881	120,470	121,650	120,431
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic	$ 0.37	$ 0.29	$ 0.63	$ 0.71
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted	$ 0.37	$ 0.29	$ 0.63	0.70
Dividends declared per share				$ 0.25