Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 579,136	$ 631,579	$ 1,771,982	$ 1,856,212
Operating expenses	434,402	472,513	1,341,063	1,382,678
Depreciation and amortization	33,628	32,419	100,389	97,240
General and administrative expenses	46,644	48,488	145,969	142,183
Operating income	64,462	78,159	184,561	234,111
Interest income	6,360	6,686	17,046	23,127
Interest expense	(30,749)	(36,645)	(95,539)	(115,857)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	1,472	594	3,035	(5,147)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	41,545	48,794	109,103	136,234
Provision for income taxes	4,616	5,137	15,358	14,509
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $506, $456, 1,434 and $1,176 respectively	2,243	2,228	7,202	6,645
Net income	39,172	45,885	100,947	128,370
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	48	47	174	181
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 39,220	$ 45,932	$ 101,121	$ 128,551
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	119,826	119,209	119,677	119,052
Diluted	120,032	119,282	119,964	119,314
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic	$ 0.33	$ 0.39	$ 0.84	$ 1.08
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted	0.33	0.39	0.84	1.08
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.48	$ 0.48	$ 1.44	$ 1.44