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<!-- DFIN ActiveDisclosure(SM) XBRL Schema Document - http://www.dfinsolutions.com/ -->
<!-- Creation Date      : 2020-08-06T20:07:33.4066970+00:00 -->
<!-- Version            : 5.0.1.476 -->
<!-- Package ID         : c674d5a3498c4c009e5b65a896d6684c -->
<!-- Copyright (c) 2020 Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -->
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  <xsd:element id="geo_MinimumPercentOfREITTaxableIncomeToBePaidAsDividendAnnually" name="MinimumPercentOfREITTaxableIncomeToBePaidAsDividendAnnually" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_February2018StockBuybackProgramMember" name="February2018StockBuybackProgramMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_AmendedCreditAgreementMember" name="AmendedCreditAgreementMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_ProspectusSupplementMember" name="ProspectusSupplementMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_MaximumCommonStockValueAuthorizedUnderProspectusSupplement" name="MaximumCommonStockValueAuthorizedUnderProspectusSupplement" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_ComponentsofAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossRollForward" name="ComponentsofAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossRollForward" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_A2014StockIncentivePlanMember" name="A2014StockIncentivePlanMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_CertainEmployeesandExecutiveOfficersMember" name="CertainEmployeesandExecutiveOfficersMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsAwardPerformancePeriod" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsAwardPerformancePeriod" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsNumberOfAnnualPerformanceMetrics" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsNumberOfAnnualPerformanceMetrics" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsBeta" name="SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsBeta" type="xbrli:pureItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_OperatingPhaseofAssetMember" name="OperatingPhaseofAssetMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_RavenhallAustraliaMember" name="RavenhallAustraliaMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_RavenhallMember" name="RavenhallMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_TermLoans" name="TermLoans" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_SeniorCreditFacility" name="SeniorCreditFacility" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_NonRecourseDebtExcludingPremiumDiscount" name="NonRecourseDebtExcludingPremiumDiscount" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_LongTermDebtNonRecourseDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationIncludingCurrentPortionNetOfDiscount" name="LongTermDebtNonRecourseDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationIncludingCurrentPortionNetOfDiscount" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_NonRecourseDebtMember" name="NonRecourseDebtMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_DebtInstrumentMaturityYear" name="DebtInstrumentMaturityYear" type="xbrli:gYearItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_TermLoanMember" name="TermLoanMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_AccordionMember" name="AccordionMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_BankGuaranteeAndStandbySubFacilityMember" name="BankGuaranteeAndStandbySubFacilityMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_RevolverMember" name="RevolverMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_AdditionalRevolverMember" name="AdditionalRevolverMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_DebtInstrumentVariableRateFloor" name="DebtInstrumentVariableRateFloor" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionFeatureIncreaseLimit" name="LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionFeatureIncreaseLimit" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_DebtInstrumentCovenantTotalLeverageRatioMaximum" name="DebtInstrumentCovenantTotalLeverageRatioMaximum" type="xbrli:pureItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_DebtInstrumentCovenantSeniorSecuredLeverageRatioMaximum" name="DebtInstrumentCovenantSeniorSecuredLeverageRatioMaximum" type="xbrli:pureItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_DebtInstrumentCovenantInterestCoverageRatioMinimum" name="DebtInstrumentCovenantInterestCoverageRatioMinimum" type="xbrli:pureItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_DebtInstrumentAgreementNoticePeriod" name="DebtInstrumentAgreementNoticePeriod" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_CurrentPortionOfNonRecourseDebt" name="CurrentPortionOfNonRecourseDebt" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_NonRecourseDebtTwoThousandElevenRevenueBondsMember" name="NonRecourseDebtTwoThousandElevenRevenueBondsMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_NorthwestDetentionCenterMember" name="NorthwestDetentionCenterMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_NonRecourseDebtNorthwestDetentionCenterMember" name="NonRecourseDebtNorthwestDetentionCenterMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_NationalAustraliaBankLimitedMember" name="NationalAustraliaBankLimitedMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_ConstructionFacilityMember" name="ConstructionFacilityMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_NonRecourseNotesMember" name="NonRecourseNotesMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_NumberOfLettersOfGuaranteeOutstandingUnderSeparateInternationalFacilitiesRelatingToPerformanceGuarantees" name="NumberOfLettersOfGuaranteeOutstandingUnderSeparateInternationalFacilitiesRelatingToPerformanceGuarantees" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_LettersofCreditOutstandingRelatingtoPerformanceGuarantees" name="LettersofCreditOutstandingRelatingtoPerformanceGuarantees" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems" name="CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_CommitmentsAndContingenciesTable" name="CommitmentsAndContingenciesTable" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_ImmigrationDetaineesAgainstCompanyMember" name="ImmigrationDetaineesAgainstCompanyMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_NumberOfDeferredPaymentRelatedToPayrollTaxes" name="NumberOfDeferredPaymentRelatedToPayrollTaxes" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_CARESActOf2020DeferredPaymentRelatedToPayrollTaxesAmount" name="CARESActOf2020DeferredPaymentRelatedToPayrollTaxesAmount" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_EstimatedConstructionExistingActiveCapitalProjectsCost" name="EstimatedConstructionExistingActiveCapitalProjectsCost" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_CostAlreadySpentOnExistingActiveCapitalProjects" name="CostAlreadySpentOnExistingActiveCapitalProjects" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_RemainingCapitalRequiredForExistingActiveCapitalProjects" name="RemainingCapitalRequiredForExistingActiveCapitalProjects" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_NumberOfVacantBedsAtIdleFacilitiesMarketedToPotentialCustomers" name="NumberOfVacantBedsAtIdleFacilitiesMarketedToPotentialCustomers" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_NumberOfMarketedIdleFacilities" name="NumberOfMarketedIdleFacilities" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_CarryingValuesOfIdleFacilitiesMarketedToPotentialCustomers" name="CarryingValuesOfIdleFacilitiesMarketedToPotentialCustomers" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_SouthAfricanCustodialServicesPtyLimitedMember" name="SouthAfricanCustodialServicesPtyLimitedMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_GeoAmeyMember" name="GeoAmeyMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_FacilityConstructionsAndDesignMember" name="FacilityConstructionsAndDesignMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_UnallocatedAmountAbstract" name="UnallocatedAmountAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="geo_MinimumAgetoBeEligibletoReceiveLumpSumPaymentUponBenefit" name="MinimumAgetoBeEligibletoReceiveLumpSumPaymentUponBenefit" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
</xsd:schema>
