Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 607,185	$ 593,891	$ 1,212,857	$ 1,202,100
Operating expenses	443,529	428,128	885,204	861,620
Depreciation and amortization	31,313	31,691	62,678	63,614
General and administrative expenses	52,198	41,692	105,268	91,826
Operating income	80,145	92,380	159,707	185,040
Interest income	1,992	1,297	4,466	2,465
Interest expense	(50,644)	(55,046)	(101,939)	(109,304)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(82,339)	(1,618)	(82,378)	(1,754)
(Loss) Gain on asset divestitures/impairment	(2,907)	2,175	(2,907)	2,175
Income (Loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	(53,753)	39,188	(23,051)	78,622
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(20,379)	11,153	(12,308)	23,515
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $186, $334, $314 and $514, respectively	811	1,490	839	2,412
Net income (loss)	(32,563)	29,525	(9,904)	57,519
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	50	46	59	55
Net income (loss) attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (32,513)	$ 29,571	$ (9,845)	$ 57,574
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	130,518	122,045	125,631	121,740
Diluted	130,518	123,278	125,631	123,496
Basic:
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.-basic	$ (0.25)	$ 0.2	$ (0.08)	$ 0.39
Diluted:
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.-diluted	$ (0.25)	$ 0.2	$ (0.08)	$ 0.39