Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 171,692	$ 77,233	$ 112,831
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	121	185	201
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	171,813	77,418	113,032
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	132,925	135,177	134,680
Deferred tax provision (benefit)	(13,126)	86,380	11,221
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest	9,004	7,498	6,892
Goodwill impairment charge	0	0	21,146
Stock-based compensation	16,204	19,199	23,896
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	37,895	(4,693)	(5,319)
Provision for doubtful accounts	258		263
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	(4,771)	(7,141)	(9,166)
(Gain) loss on sale/disposal of property and equipment	(114)	8,447	1,720
Net (gain) loss on disposition of assets	(32,332)	(5,499)	6,831
Dividends received from unconsolidated joint ventures	4,486	8,263	5,934
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisition:
Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets	(52,980)	9,466	68,181
Changes in contract receivable	5,305	6,231	5,156
Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	21,845	(58,111)	57,266
Net cash provided by operating activities	296,412	282,635	441,733
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		4,130	140
Insurance proceeds - damaged property		1,027	9,497
Proceeds from sale of real estate and other assets	101,419	21,239	2,406
Payment received on note receivable		8,000
Change in restricted investments	(8,433)	(18,739)	(7,417)
Capital expenditures	(90,026)	(69,394)	(108,800)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	2,960	(53,737)	(104,174)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(680,850)	(360,296)	(816,191)
Proceeds from long term debt	30,000	435,000	960,579
Payments on non-recourse debt	(5,676)	(21,575)	(13,805)
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(1,302)	(2,090)	(2,789)
Debt issuance costs	(41,536)	(9,587)
Payments for purchase of treasury shares			(9,009)
Proceeds from stock options exercised	66	15
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	198	282	616
Dividends paid		(30,486)	(216,145)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(699,100)	11,263	(96,744)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(4,751)	(3,692)	3,566
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(404,479)	236,469	244,381
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	548,322	311,853	67,472
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	143,843	548,322	311,853
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes	44,612	49,483	5,358
Interest	103,752	122,162	113,304
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Assets obtained from finance lease liabilities		1,198	2,260
Principal Exchanges of Debt	1,620,318
Debt Issuance Costs in Accrued Expenses	11,245
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)	11,697	10,786	23,940
Capital expenditures in accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 6,127	$ 7,340	$ 1,445