Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Goodwill (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	$ 776,356
Foreign Currency Translation	8
Ending balance	776,364
GEO Secure Services
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	316,366
Foreign Currency Translation	0
Ending balance	316,366
GEO Care
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	459,589
Foreign Currency Translation	0
Ending balance	459,589
International Services
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	401
Foreign Currency Translation	8
Ending balance	$ 409

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(10)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120320667&loc=SL49117168-202975

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99380562&loc=d3e13770-109266

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant