Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted [Abstract]
Net income	$ 38,179	$ 50,483
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	40	61
Less: Undistributed income allocable to participating securities	(6,542)	(1,420)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders	$ 31,677	$ 49,124
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	120,714	120,022
Per share amount - basic	$ 0.26	$ 0.41
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding	120,714	120,022
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans	680	395
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	121,394	120,417
Per share amount - diluted	$ 0.26	$ 0.41