Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 171,692	$ 77,233	$ 112,831
Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	121	185	201
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities	(29,346)	(6,982)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders	$ 142,467	$ 70,436	$ 113,032
Basic:
Weighted average shares outstanding	121,040	120,384	119,719
Net income per share — basic	$ 1.18	$ 0.59	$ 0.94
Diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding	121,040	120,384	119,719
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans	1,241	348	272
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	122,281	120,732	119,991
Per share amount - diluted	$ 1.17	$ 0.58	$ 0.94