Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)					3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 06, 2024	May 03, 2024	Apr. 18, 2024	Dec. 14, 2023	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Aug. 19, 2022	Feb. 24, 2021
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)					187,500,000	187,500,000
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)					30,000,000	30,000,000
2018 Stock Incentive Plan
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Additional shares authorized					16,800,000
Revolving Credit Facility
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date				Mar. 23, 2027
6.00% Senior Notes due 2026
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount					$ 239,100,000
Stated interest rate					6.00%	6.00%	6.00%
Debt instrument maturity year					2026
6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					6.50%	6.50%
Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate terms					(i) Alternate Base Rate (as defined below) plus an applicable margin or (ii) Term SOFR (as defined below) (subject to a 0.75% floor) plus an applicable margin, which applicable margin shall, in either case, vary depending on GEO’s total leverage ratio as of the most recent determination date, and the Credit Facility Borrowers will pay a fee in respect of the unused revolving commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility at a per annum rate ranging from 0.25% to 0.50%, in each case depending on GEO’s total leverage ratio as of the most recent determination date, where “Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Rate for such day plus 1/2 of 1% and (c) Term SOFR (as defined below) for a one-month tenor in effect on such day, plus 1%, and “Term SOFR” means the Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate. The loans under the Term Loan Facility (the “Term Loans”) bear interest at a per annum rate equal to either (i) Alternate Base Rate plus an applicable margin for Alternate Base Rate Loans and (ii) Term SOFR (subject to a 0.75% floor) plus an applicable margin for Term SOFR Loans.
Senior Notes | 9.50% Second Lien Secured Notes Due 2028
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					9.50%
Debt instrument maturity year					2028
Senior Notes | 10.50% Second Lien Secured Notes Due 2028
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					10.50%
Debt instrument maturity year					2028
Senior Notes | 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					6.00%	6.00%
Debt instrument maturity year					2026	2026
Senior Notes | 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					6.50%
Convertible Notes | 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount								$ 230,000,000
Stated interest rate					6.50%	6.50%		6.50%
Debt instrument maturity year					2026	2026
Debt instrument, payment terms					Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on September 1, 2021.
Debt instrument, commencement date of first required payment					Sep. 01, 2021
Debt instrument, maturity date					Feb. 23, 2026
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)		225,000,000
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)		30,000,000
Subsequent Event | Common Stock
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Cash consideration	$ 177,000,000
Subsequent Event | 2018 Stock Incentive Plan
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Additional shares authorized		12,400,000
Subsequent Event | Maximum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of authorized shares of capital stock		255,000,000
Subsequent Event | Minimum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of authorized shares of capital stock		217,500,000
Subsequent Event | 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 | Common Stock
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Shares issued in connection with exchange for a portion of outstanding debt	9,784,538
Subsequent Event | Credit Agreement
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 450,000,000
Net procceds to refinance			1,500,000,000
Subsequent Event | Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 310,000,000
Debt instrument basis spread on variable rate			1.00%
Debt instrument, maturity date			Apr. 15, 2029
Maximum value of principal amount outstanding on maturity date			$ 100,000,000
Number of days prior to stated maturity days for springing maturity date			91 days
Subsequent Event | Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | SOFR
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Variable rate, floor			0.75%
Debt instrument basis spread on variable rate			1.00%
Subsequent Event | Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | Maximum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Unused revolving commitments fee, percentage			0.50%
Subsequent Event | Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | Minimum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Unused revolving commitments fee, percentage			0.25%
Subsequent Event | Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 175,000,000
Subsequent Event | Registration Rights Agreement | 90-Day Period
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount			1,000
Additional interest			0.05
Subsequent Event | Registration Rights Agreement | 90-Day Thereafter Period
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount			1,000
Additional interest			$ 0.05
Subsequent Event | Registration Rights Agreement | Maximum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Percentage of debt fulfilled registration obligations			1.00%
Subsequent Event | Senior Notes
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 1,275,000,000
Subsequent Event | Senior Notes | 8.625% Senior Secured Notes Due 2029
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 650,000,000
Stated interest rate			8.625%
Debt instrument maturity year			2029
Debt instrument, payment terms			Interest on the Secured Notes is payable semi-annually on each April 15 and October 15, commencing October 15, 2024.
Debt instrument, commencement date of first required payment			Oct. 15, 2024
Subsequent Event | Senior Notes | 10.25% Senior Notes Due 2031
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 625,000,000
Stated interest rate			10.25%
Debt instrument maturity year			2031
Debt instrument, payment terms			Interest on the Unsecured Notes is payable semi-annually on each April 15 and October 15, commencing October 15, 2024.
Debt instrument, commencement date of first required payment			Oct. 15, 2024
Subsequent Event | Senior Notes | Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date			Apr. 15, 2029
Maximum value of principal amount outstanding on maturity date			$ 100,000,000
Number of days prior to stated maturity days for springing maturity date			91 days
Subsequent Event | Convertible Notes | 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 177,000,000
Debt instrument converted amount	$ 325,000,000
Subsequent Event | Term Loan Facility | Credit Agreement
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, amortization rate			1.25%
Percentage of debt principal amount required to be prepaid before first anniversary			2.00%
Percentage of debt principal amount required to be prepaid before second anniversary			1.00%