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Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
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Feb. 28, 2011 GBP (£) Director £ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) Bed Facility Property | Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) Property | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 | Jan. 01, 2013
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of beds | Bed |  |  |  | 81,000 |  |  |  |
Correctional, detention and residential treatment facilities including projects under development | Facility |  |  |  | 100 |  |  |  |
Taxable income to its stockholders equity |  |  |  | 90.00% |  |  |  |
Deferred income taxes and tax credits |  | $ 70,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred tax provision (benefit) |  | 29,300,000 | $ 16,800,000 | $ 1,476,000 | $ (13,126,000) | $ 86,380,000 |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ 506,491,000 |  | $ 93,971,000 | 95,073,000 | 506,491,000 |  |
Minimum period for payment receivable in arrears for services |  |  |  | 30 days |  |  |  |
Maximum period for payment receivable in arrears for services |  |  |  | 60 days |  |  |  |
Prepaid Expense |  |  |  | $ 40,200,000 | 38,900,000 |  |  |
Federal and state income tax overpayments |  |  |  | 5,800,000 | 11,300,000 |  |  |
Inventory, net |  |  |  | 25,100,000 | 20,700,000 |  |  |
Assets Held for Sale |  |  |  |  | 480,000 |  |  |
Impairment charge |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Discount rate utilized to adjust cash flow |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11.50% |
Goodwill impairment charge |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 |  |
Impairment of indefinite lived intangible assets |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Capitalized computer software, net |  |  |  | 12,600,000 | 9,900,000 |  |  |
Deferred debt issuance cost, accumulated amortization |  |  |  | 15,300,000 | 44,100,000 |  |  |
Debt issuance costs included in other non-current assets |  |  |  | $ 43,800,000 | 32,500,000 |  |  |
Number of lease facilities | Facility |  |  |  | 9 |  |  |  |
Rental income |  |  |  | $ 11,400,000 | 5,600,000 | $ 1,800,000 |  |
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Taxable income to shareholders |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90.00%
General liability insurance maximum recoverage per occurrence |  |  |  | 75,000,000 |  |  |  |
General liability insurance maximum coverage in annual aggregate |  |  |  | 95,000,000 |  |  |  |
GEO care insurance maximum recoverable per occurrence |  |  |  | 40,000,000 |  |  |  |
Deductible amount for general insurance liability |  |  |  | 4,000,000 |  |  |  |
Deductible amount for hospital professional insurance liability |  |  |  | 5,000,000 |  |  |  |
Deductible amount for worker's compensation insurance liability |  |  |  | 2,000,000 |  |  |  |
Deductible amount for directors and officers insurance liability |  |  |  | 2,500,000 |  |  |  |
Deductible amount for automobile insurance liability |  |  |  | 1,000,000 |  |  |  |
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |  |
Stock-based option awards contractual term maximum |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |  |
6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stated interest rate |  |  |  | 6.50% | 6.50% |  |  |
Accrued Expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Undiscounted reserves for workers compensation and general liability claims |  |  |  | $ 65,600,000 | $ 79,000,000 |  |  |
Kensani Corrections |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable interest entity ownership percentage in joint venture |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |
GEO Amey |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |
Investment in joint venture |  |  |  | $ 11,200,000 |  |  |  |
Units of partnership interest, amount | shares | 50 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 |  |  |  | $ 9,100,000 | $ 10,200,000 |  |  |
Month to Month Term |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of lease facilities | Facility |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |
Lessor operating lease expiration period |  |  |  | 2024-06 |  |  |  |
Carrying value of leased facilities |  |  |  | $ 47,000,000 |  |  |  |
Leased facilities accumulated depreciation |  |  |  | $ 24,200,000 |  |  |  |
Term of Contract |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of lease facilities | Facility |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |
Lessor operating lease expiration period |  |  |  | 2025-02 |  |  |  |
Carrying value of leased facilities |  |  |  | $ 1,900,000 |  |  |  |
Leased facilities accumulated depreciation |  |  |  | $ 700,000 |  |  |  |
Sixty-Six Months Term of Contract |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of lease facilities | Facility |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |
Lessor, operating lease, term of contract |  |  |  | 66 months |  |  |  |
Lessor operating lease renewal period |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |
Lessor operating lease expiration period |  |  |  | 2028-10 |  |  |  |
Carrying value of leased facilities |  |  |  | $ 76,000,000 |  |  |  |
Leased facilities accumulated depreciation |  |  |  | $ 32,800,000 |  |  |  |
Twenty Years Term of Contract |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Business Organization Operations And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lessor, operating lease, term of contract |  |  |  | 20 years |  |  |  |
Lessor operating lease expiration period |  |  |  | 2041-10 |  |  |  |
Carrying value of leased facilities |  |  |  | $ 21,700,000 |  |  |  |
Leased facilities accumulated depreciation |  |  |  | $ 17,000,000 |  |  |  |
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 |  |  |  | 0 | 1 |  |  |
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 |  |  |  | $ 35,800,000 | $ 19,700,000 |  |  |
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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