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Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
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Jan. 26, 2021 bed | Jun. 19, 2020 bed | Mar. 24, 2020 | Feb. 28, 2011 GBP (£) director £ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Property | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 bed | Dec. 31, 2020 facility | Dec. 31, 2020 person | Dec. 31, 2020 detainee | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2020 Property | Dec. 31, 2020 GBP (£) | Jan. 01, 2013
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of beds | bed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 93,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Correctional, detention and residential treatment facilities including projects under development | facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 118 |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision of monitoring services tracking offenders (more than 139,000 offenders) | person |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 210,000 |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  | $ 2,350,098,000 | $ 2,477,922,000 | $ 2,331,386,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum % of REIT taxable income to be paid as dividend annually |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90.00% |  |  | 90.00%
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  | 32,463,000 | 31,255,000 | $ 283,524,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum period for payment receivable in arrears for services |  |  |  |  | 30 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum period for payment receivable in arrears for services |  |  |  |  | 60 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Federal and state income tax overpayments |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,300,000 |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets held for sale, number of properties | Property |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Held for Sale |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6,059,000 |  | 9,108,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property and Equipment, Net |  |  |  |  |  | 2,144,722,000 | $ 2,158,610,000 | 2,122,195,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of marketed idle facilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 990 | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |
Carrying values of idle facilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 24,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charge |  |  |  |  | $ 5,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate utilized to adjust cash flow |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill impairment charge |  |  |  |  | $ 21,146,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of indefinite lived intangible assets |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capitalized computer software, net |  |  |  |  |  | 14,200,000 |  | 12,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred debt issuance cost, accumulated amortization |  |  |  |  |  | 37,000,000.0 |  | 43,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issuance costs included in other non-current assets |  |  |  |  |  | 30,500,000 |  | 24,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable interest entity ownership percentage in joint venture |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Life term of contract |  |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 |  |  |  |  | $ 70,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
General liability insurance maximum coverage in annual aggregate |  |  |  |  | 90,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
GEO care insurance maximum recoverable per occurrence |  |  |  |  | 40,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deductible amount for general insurance liability and hospital professional insurance liability |  |  |  |  | 3,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deductible amount for worker's compensation insurance liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deductible amount for automobile insurance liability |  |  |  |  | 1,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ (3,851,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2018-13 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adopted |  |  |  |  | true |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adoption date |  |  |  |  | Jan. 01, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, immaterial effect |  |  |  |  | true |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adopted |  |  |  |  | true |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adoption date |  |  |  |  | Jan. 01, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, immaterial effect |  |  |  |  | true |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Kensani Corrections |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable interest entity ownership percentage in joint venture |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |
Number of marketed idle facilities | facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |
Carrying values of idle facilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 26,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of vacant beds at its idle facilities | bed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,100 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill impairment charge |  |  |  |  | $ 21,146,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Idle Secure Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets held for sale, number of properties | Property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Idle Reentry Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets held for sale, number of properties | Property |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Youth Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets held for sale, number of properties | Property |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Other Noncurrent Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trade receivables |  |  |  |  |  | $ 400,000 |  | 300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued Expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Undiscounted reserves for workers compensation and general liability claims |  |  |  |  |  | 68,200,000 |  | 78,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 20,600,000 |  | 24,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ravenhall | The GEO Group Australia |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Facility, number of beds | bed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
GEO Amey |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Units of partnership interest, amount | shares |  |  |  | 50 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit, amount outstanding | £ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | £ 12,000,000.0 |
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 11,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Bureau Of Prisons B O P |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of beds in detention facility | bed |  | 1,900 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Life term of contract |  | 4 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ravenhall | Subsequent Event | Bureau Of Prisons B O P |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of beds in detention facility | bed | 1,940 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expiration date | May 31, 2021 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Spring Correctional Facility | Subsequent Event | Bureau Of Prisons B O P |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of beds in detention facility | bed | 1,732 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expiration date | Nov. 30, 2021 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Flightline Correctional Facility | Subsequent Event | Bureau Of Prisons B O P |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of beds in detention facility | bed | 1,800 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expiration date | Nov. 30, 2021 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
North Lake Correctional Facility | Subsequent Event | Bureau Of Prisons B O P |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of beds in detention facility | bed | 1,800 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expiration date | Sep. 30, 2022 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reeves County Detention Center I & II | Subsequent Event | Bureau Of Prisons B O P |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of beds in detention facility | bed | 1,800 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expiration date | Sep. 30, 2022 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reeves County Detention Center III | Subsequent Event | Bureau Of Prisons B O P |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of beds in detention facility | bed | 1,376 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expiration date | Jun. 30, 2022 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Great Plains, Big Spring, Flightline, Northlake Correctional Facilities, Reeves County Detention Center I & II and Reeves County Detention Center III | Bureau Of Prisons B O P |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  | $ 145,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision of monitoring services tracking offenders using technology products (in detainees) | detainee |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100,000 |  |  |  |
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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