Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 603,125	$ 602,785	$ 1,815,982	$ 1,804,885
Operating expenses	441,917	440,667	1,327,121	1,302,287
Depreciation and amortization	31,756	31,173	94,434	94,787
General and administrative expenses	47,081	47,356	152,349	139,182
Operating income	82,371	83,589	242,078	268,629
Interest income	3,168	1,320	7,634	3,785
Interest expense	(45,498)	(55,777)	(147,437)	(165,081)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(2,920)	(91)	(85,298)	(1,845)
(Loss) gain on asset divestitures/impairment	0	1,274	(2,907)	3,449
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	37,121	30,315	14,070	108,937
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	11,664	6,521	(644)	30,036
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $197, $67, $512 and $581, respectively	832	709	1,671	3,121
Net income	26,289	24,503	16,385	82,022
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	31	16	90	71
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 26,320	$ 24,519	$ 16,475	$ 82,093
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	135,961	122,066	129,682	121,850
Diluted	138,130	123,433	132,022	123,479
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group Inc.-basic	$ 0.19	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 0.56
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.-diluted	$ 0.19	$ 0.16	$ 0.11	$ 0.55