Debt (6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2024		Sep. 30, 2023	[2]	Apr. 18, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Feb. 24, 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01					$ 0.01
Common Stock
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash consideration	$ 229,700,000	$ 229,700,000
Shares issued			4,210,000	[1]	642,000
6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%					6.50%
6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 | Common Stock
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Shares issued in connection with exchange for a portion of outstanding debt	12,430,285	12,430,285
Shares issued	4,209,847	4,209,847
5.875% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate								5.875%
Convertible Notes | 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 229,700,000	$ 229,700,000	$ 229,700,000						$ 230,000,000
Stated interest rate	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%					6.50%
Debt instrument, maturity date			Feb. 23, 2026
Debt instrument, payment terms			Interest on the Convertible 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, frequency of payment			semi-annually
Debt exchange, description			Subject to certain restrictions on share ownership and transfer, holders may exchange the Convertible Notes at their option prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding November 25, 2025, but only under the following circumstances: (1) during the five consecutive business day period after any five consecutive trading day period, or the measurement period, in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes for each trading day of such measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the exchange rate for the Convertible Notes on each such trading day; or (2) upon the occurrence of certain specified corporate events. On or after November 25, 2025, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date of the Convertible Notes, holders may exchange their Convertible Notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. Upon exchange of a Convertible Note, GEO will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock.
Debt instrument, initial conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount			108.4011
Debt instrument, initial conversion price	$ 9.225		$ 9.225
Percentage of principal amount of notes to be purchased			100.00%
Debt instrument converted amount	$ 410,000,000	$ 410,000,000
Convertible Notes | 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of trading price per $1,000 principal amount against last reported sale price and exchange rate of notes			98.00%
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount							$ 1,275,000,000
Senior Notes | 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	6.50%		6.50%
Senior Notes | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	5.875%		5.875%					5.875%

[1] During the second and third quarters of 2024, the Company retired $229.7 million in aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes in private exchange transactions for an exchange value of approximately $410 million. The consideration consisted of cash of $229.7 million and 12,430,285 shares of GEO common stock. Of the total amount of shares issued, the Company issued 4,209,847 shares that were previously held in treasury. Refer to Note 10 - Debt for further information.

[2] The Company sold treasury shares to partially fund its obligation under its Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement with its Executive Chairman. Refer to Note 13 - Benefit Plans for further information.