Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted [Abstract]
Net income	$ 53,673	$ 41,931	$ 91,852	$ 92,416
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	54	28	94	88
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities	(9,171)	(7,197)	(15,717)	(7,715)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders	$ 44,556	$ 34,762	$ 76,229	$ 84,789
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	121,119	120,426	120,918	120,225
Per share amount	$ 0.37	$ 0.29	$ 0.63	$ 0.71
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	121,119	120,426	120,918	120,225
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans	762	44	732	206
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	121,881	120,470	121,650	120,431
Per share amount	$ 0.37	$ 0.29	$ 0.63	$ 0.70