Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2011 GBP (£) Director £ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) Facility Bed Property	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) Property	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2024
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of beds | Bed		79,000
Correctional, detention and residential treatment facilities including projects under development | Facility		99
Deferred tax provision (benefit)		$ 1,537,000	$ 1,476,000	$ (13,126,000)
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 76,896,000	93,971,000	95,073,000
Minimum period for payment receivable in arrears for services		30 days
Maximum period for payment receivable in arrears for services		60 days
Prepaid Expense		$ 37,400,000	40,200,000
Federal and state income tax overpayments		8,900,000	5,800,000
Inventory, net		35,900,000	25,100,000
Labor costs capitalized		800,000
Impairment charge		0
Goodwill impairment charge		0	0	0
Impairment of indefinite lived intangible assets		0
Capitalized computer software, net		18,800,000	12,600,000
Deferred debt issuance cost, accumulated amortization		4,500,000	15,300,000
Debt issuance costs included in other non-current assets		$ 34,600,000	43,800,000
Number of lease facilities | Facility		9
Rental income		$ 15,000,000	11,400,000	$ 5,600,000
Partnership interest share amount | £	£ 100
Units of partnership interest, amount | shares	100
Value per partnership interest shares | £ / shares	£ 1
Directors appointed to board by each party | Director	3
General liability insurance maximum recoverage per occurrence		75,000,000
General liability insurance maximum coverage in annual aggregate		95,000,000
GEO care insurance maximum recoverable per occurrence		45,000,000
Deductible amount for general insurance liability		4,000,000
Deductible amount for hospital professional insurance liability		5,000,000
Deductible amount for worker's compensation insurance liability		2,000,000
Deductible amount for directors and officers insurance liability		2,300,000
Deductible amount for automobile insurance liability		1,000,000
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		$ 0	$ 0
Stock-based option awards contractual term maximum		10 years
6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		6.50%	6.50%			6.50%
Accrued Expenses
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Undiscounted reserves for workers compensation and general liability claims		$ 56,900,000	$ 65,600,000
Kensani Corrections
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Variable interest entity ownership percentage in joint venture		50.00%
GEO Amey
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		50.00%
Investment in joint venture		$ 10,300,000
Units of partnership interest, amount | shares	50
GEO UK
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Variable interest entity ownership percentage in joint venture		50.00%
Units of partnership interest, amount | shares	50
SACS
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Life term of contract		25 years
Reduction of government guarantee in case of default		80.00%
Investment in joint venture		$ 7,200,000	$ 9,100,000
Month to Month Term
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of lease facilities | Facility		6
Lessor operating lease expiration period		2025-06
Carrying value of leased facilities		$ 45,500,000
Leased facilities accumulated depreciation		$ 26,000,000
Term of Contract
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of lease facilities | Facility		1
Lessor operating lease expiration period		2026-10
Carrying value of leased facilities		$ 2,200,000
Leased facilities accumulated depreciation		$ 900,000
Sixty-Six Months Term of Contract
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of lease facilities | Facility		1
Lessor, operating lease, term of contract		66 months
Lessor operating lease renewal period		1 year
Lessor operating lease expiration period		2028-10
Carrying value of leased facilities		$ 74,800,000
Leased facilities accumulated depreciation		$ 36,700,000
Twenty Years Term of Contract
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lessor, operating lease, term of contract		20 years
Lessor operating lease expiration period		2041-10
Carrying value of leased facilities		$ 20,600,000
Leased facilities accumulated depreciation		$ 18,300,000
Facility management contracts
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization period		16 years 3 months 18 days
GEO Care
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Assets held for sale, number of properties | Property		0	0
U.S. Secure Services
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Discount rate utilized to adjust cash flow					13.50%
Reentry Services
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Discount rate utilized to adjust cash flow					12.00%
Cornell Companies, Inc.
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounts receivable one year past due and still accruing		1 year
Foreign Subsidiaries
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 28,400,000	$ 35,800,000
Minimum | Facility management contracts
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization period		3 years
Minimum | Technology
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization period		7 years
Minimum | Building and Building Improvements
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life		2 years
Minimum | Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life		3 years
Maximum | Facility management contracts
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization period		21 years
Maximum | Technology
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization period		8 years
Maximum | Building and Building Improvements
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life		50 years
Maximum | Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life		10 years