Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 2,376,727	$ 2,256,612	$ 2,350,098
Operating Expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)	1,663,728	1,629,046	1,771,495
Depreciation and Amortization	132,925	135,177	134,680
General and Administrative Expenses	196,972	204,306	193,372
Goodwill Impairment Charge			21,146
Operating Income	383,102	288,083	229,405
Interest Income	16,831	24,007	23,072
Interest Expense	(164,550)	(129,460)	(126,837)
(Loss) gain on Extinguishment of Debt	(37,895)	4,693	5,319
Net gain (loss) on dispositions of assets	32,332	5,499	(6,831)
Income Before Income Taxes and Equity in Earnings of Affiliates	229,820	192,822	124,128
Provision for Income Taxes	62,899	122,730	20,463
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates, net of income tax provision of $740, $1,035 and $1,784	4,771	7,141	9,166
Net Income	171,692	77,233	112,831
Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	121	185	201
Net Income Attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 171,813	$ 77,418	$ 113,032
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	121,040	120,384	119,719
Diluted	122,281	120,732	119,991
Basic:
Net income per share — basic	$ 1.18	$ 0.59	$ 0.94
Diluted:
Net income per share — diluted	1.17	0.58	0.94
Dividends declared per share	$ 0	$ 0.25	$ 1.78