The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) 10-Q 6 Aug 18 2018 Q2 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Aug. 02, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	GEO GROUP INC
Entity Central Index Key	923,796
Document Type	10-Q
Trading Symbol	GEO
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		121,780,605

Consolidated Statements of Oper

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 583,509	$ 577,070	$ 1,148,426	$ 1,127,684
Operating expenses	437,797	438,445	864,506	853,152
Depreciation and amortization	31,313	31,866	63,239	60,815
General and administrative expenses	47,448	52,206	89,280	94,792
Operating income	66,951	54,553	131,401	118,925
Interest income	8,667	12,346	17,766	24,323
Interest expense	(36,919)	(35,983)	(72,788)	(70,983)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	38,699	30,916	76,379	72,265
Provision for income taxes	3,715	1,400	8,470	3,870
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision (benefit) of $(269), $597, $436 and $1,208, respectively	2,341	1,426	4,336	2,913
Net income	37,325	30,942	72,245	71,308
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	96	50	163	87
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 37,421	$ 30,992	$ 72,408	$ 71,395
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	120,274	122,125	121,017	117,885
Diluted (in shares)	120,659	122,895	121,461	118,702
Basic:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.60	$ 0.61
Diluted:
Net income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.31	0.25	0.60	0.60
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.47	$ 0.94	$ 0.94

Consolidated Statements of Ope3

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Income tax provision on equity in earnings of affiliates	$ (269)	$ 597	$ 436	$ 1,208

Consolidated Statements of Comp

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net income	$ 37,325	$ 30,942	$ 72,245	$ 71,308
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(5,035)	513	(4,540)	2,206
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax provision of $28, $25, $56 and $51, respectively	625	64	730	111
Change in fair value of derivative instrument classified as cash flow hedge, net of tax benefit of $(402), $(229), $(532) and $(144), respectively	2,278	1,295	3,014	816
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,132)	1,872	(796)	3,133
Total comprehensive income	35,193	32,814	71,449	74,441
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	117	51	176	85
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 35,310	$ 32,865	$ 71,625	$ 74,526

Consolidated Statements of Com5

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Tax provision on defined benefit pension plans	$ (491)	$ 25	$ (463)	$ 51
Tax provision on loss on derivative instrument classified as a cash flow hedge	$ 402	$ 229	$ 532	$ 144

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 65,451	$ 81,377
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	58,720	44,932
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,447 and $4,574, respectively	377,768	389,916
Contract receivable, current portion	9,398	18,142
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	35,763	45,342
Total current assets	547,100	579,709
Restricted Cash and Investments	25,297	27,999
Property and Equipment, Net	2,124,553	2,078,123
Assets Held for Sale	0	3,915
Non-Current Contract Receivable	396,360	404,309
Deferred Income Tax Assets	26,277	26,277
Goodwill	776,379	778,951
Intangible Assets, Net	243,549	255,339
Other Non-Current Assets	67,055	72,286
Total Assets	4,206,570	4,226,908
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	90,327	92,587
Accrued payroll and related taxes	69,062	71,732
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	189,261	176,324
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	25,127	28,920
Total current liabilities	373,777	369,563
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	8,757	8,757
Other Non-Current Liabilities	89,882	96,702
Capital Lease Obligations	5,329	6,059
Long-Term Debt	2,289,409	2,181,544
Non-Recourse Debt	346,479	365,364
Commitments, Contingencies and Other (Note 13)
Shareholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 187,500,000 shares authorized, 124,794,570 and 124,008,303 issued and 121,677,087 and 124,008,003 outstanding, respectively	1,248	1,240
Additional paid-in capital	1,198,930	1,190,906
(Distributions) in excess of earnings/earnings in excess of distributions	(11,068)	31,541
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(25,229)	(24,446)
Treasury stock, 3,117,483 and 0 shares, at cost, respectively	(70,446)	0
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,093,435	1,199,241
Noncontrolling interests	(498)	(322)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,092,937	1,198,919
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ 4,206,570	$ 4,226,908

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 4,447	$ 4,574
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	30,000,000	30,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	187,500,000	187,500,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	124,794,570	124,008,303
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	121,677,087	124,008,303
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	3,117,483	0

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 72,245	$ 71,308
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	163	87
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	72,408	71,395
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	63,239	60,815
Stock-based compensation	10,787	9,993
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest	3,992	7,676
Provision for doubtful accounts	525	1,227
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	(4,336)	(2,913)
Dividends received from unconsolidated joint venture	3,957	2,359
(Gain) loss on sale/disposal of property and equipment, net	(1,001)	1,909
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets	19,838	44,336
Changes in contract receivable	(4,919)	(122,006)
Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	15,763	(24,077)
Net cash provided by operating activities	180,253	50,714
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of CEC, net of cash acquired	0	(354,466)
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	4,036	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,717	648
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	3,797	0
Change in restricted investments	(1,490)	(2,963)
Capital expenditures	(107,064)	(67,508)
Net cash used in investing activities	(99,004)	(424,289)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	245,000	1,158,574
Payments on long-term debt	(134,000)	(972,500)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(7,490)	(67,885)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	0	91,076
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,391)	(4,092)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering	0	275,867
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	264	242
Payment for repurchases of common stock	(70,446)	0
Debt issuance costs	(990)	(7,587)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	1,372	6,150
Cash dividends paid	(115,017)	(110,859)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(85,698)	368,986
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(1,881)	1,907
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(6,330)	(2,682)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	133,545	90,357
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	127,215	87,675
Non-cash Investing and Financing activities:
Capital expenditures in accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 5,408	$ 8,540

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	BASIS OF PRESENTATION The GEO Group, Inc., a Florida corporation, and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “GEO”) is a fully-integrated real estate investment trust (“REIT”) specializing in the ownership, leasing and management of correctional, detention and reentry facilities and the provision of community-based services and youth services in the United States, Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. The Company owns, leases and operates a broad range of correctional and detention facilities including maximum, medium and minimum security prisons, immigration detention centers, minimum security detention centers, as well as community-based reentry facilities and offers an expanded delivery of offender rehabilitation services under its 'GEO Continuum of Care' platform. The 'GEO Continuum of Care' program integrates enhanced in-prison programs, which are evidence-based and include cognitive behavioral treatment and post-release services, and provides academic and vocational classes to life skills and treatment programs while helping individuals reintegrate into their communities. The Company develops new facilities based on contract awards, using its project development expertise and experience to design, construct and finance what it believes are state-of-the-art facilities that maximize security and efficiency. The Company provides innovative compliance technologies, industry-leading monitoring services, and evidence-based supervision and treatment programs for community-based parolees, probationers and pretrial defendants. The Company also provides secure transportation services for offender and detainee populations as contracted domestically and in the United Kingdom through its joint venture GEO Amey PECS Ltd. (“GEOAmey”). At June 30, 2018, the Company’s worldwide operations include the management and/or ownership of approximately 96,000 beds at 139 correctional and detention facilities, including idle facilities, projects under development and recently awarded contracts, and also include the provision of community supervision services for more than 192,000 offenders and pretrial defendants, including approximately 100,000 individuals through an array of technology products including radio frequency, GPS, and alcohol monitoring devices. The Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and the instructions to Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all disclosures required by Form 10-K. The accounting policies followed for quarterly financial reporting are the same as those disclosed in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2018 for the year ended December 31, 2017 . The accompanying December 31, 2017 consolidated balance sheet has been derived from those audited financial statements. Additional information may be obtained by referring to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 . In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information for the interim periods reported in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been made. Results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year ending December 31, 2018 , or for any other future interim or annual periods.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue Recognition	REVENUE RECOGNITION On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not result in a significant change to the Company's historical revenue recognition policies and there were no significant adjustments that required a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings upon transition. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to GEO's customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration GEO expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Sales, value added and other taxes GEO collects concurrent with revenue producing activities and are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from revenues. When a contract includes variable consideration, GEO evaluates the estimate of the variable consideration to determine whether the estimate needs to be constrained; therefore, GEO includes the variable consideration in the transaction price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Variable consideration estimates are updated at each reporting date. A limited number of GEO's domestic contracts have provisions upon which a small portion of the revenue for the contract is based on the performance of certain targets. Domestically, revenue based on the performance of certain targets is less than 1% of the Company's consolidated domestic revenues and was not significant during the periods presented. One of GEO's international contracts, related to its Ravenhall correctional facility project (discussed further below), contains a provision where a significant portion of the revenue for the contract is based on the performance of certain targets. These performance targets are based on specific criteria to be met over specific periods of time. Such criteria includes the Company's ability to achieve certain contractual benchmarks relative to the quality of service it provides, non-occurrence of certain disruptive events, effectiveness of its quality control programs and its responsiveness to customer requirements. The performance of these targets are measured quarterly and there was no significant constraint on the estimate of such variable consideration for this contract during the six months ended June 30, 2018. GEO does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which revenue is recognized at the amount to which GEO has the right to invoice for services performed, which is generally the case for all of GEO's contracts. Incidental items that are immaterial in the context of the contract are recognized as expense. GEO generally does not incur incremental costs of obtaining a contract with its customers that would meet the requirement for capitalization. There were no assets recognized from costs to obtain a contract with a customer at June 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017. The timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. GEO records a receivable when services are performed in advance of receiving consideration and records unearned revenue if consideration is received in advance of the performance of services. Generally, GEO's customers do not provide payment in advance of the performance of services. Therefore, unearned revenue is not significant at June 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017 and revenue recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2018 that was included in the opening balance of unearned revenue was not significant. There have been no significant amounts of revenue recorded in the periods presented from performance obligations either wholly or partially satisfied in prior periods. The right to consideration under GEO's contracts is only dependent on the passage of time and is therefore considered to be unconditional. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although, with the exception of the contract receivable related to GEO's Ravenhall correctional facility (further discussed below), terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30 days after performance obligations are satisfied and generally do not include a significant financing component. There have been no significant changes in receivable or unearned revenue balances during the period other than regular invoicing and collection activity. The following table disaggregates GEO's revenue by major source and also provides a reconciliation with revenue information disclosed for reportable segments in Note 14 - Business Segments and Geographic Information: Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 U.S. Corrections & Detention GEO Care International Facility Construction and Design Total Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention $ 535,609 $ — $ — $ — $ 535,609 Owned and Leased: Community-based — 84,312 — — 84,312 Owned and Leased: Youth Services — 45,901 — — 45,901 Managed Only 192,061 2,477 130,750 — 325,288 Facility Construction and Design — — — — — Non-residential Services and Other — 157,316 — — 157,316 Total Revenues $ 727,670 $ 290,006 $ 130,750 $ — $ 1,148,426 Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 U.S. Corrections & Detention GEO Care International Facility Construction and Design Total Owned and Leased - Corrections & Detention $ 525,195 $ — $ — $ — $ 525,195 Owned and Leased - Community-based — 62,613 — — 62,613 Owned and Leased - Youth Services — 43,390 — — 43,390 Managed Only 183,574 1,086 84,620 — 269,280 Facility Construction and Design — — — 91,165 91,165 Non-residential Services and Other — 136,041 — — 136,041 Total Revenues $ 708,769 $ 243,130 $ 84,620 $ 91,165 $ 1,127,684 Owned and Leased - Corrections & Detention GEO recognizes revenue for corrections & detention housing services where GEO owns or leases the facility as services are performed. GEO provides for the safe and secure housing and care of incarcerated individuals under public-private partnerships with federal, state and local government agencies. This includes providing 24-hour care and supervision, including but not limited to, such services as medical, transportation, food service, laundry services and various programming activities. These tasks are considered to be activities to fulfill the safe and secure housing performance obligation and are not considered to be individually separate promises in the contract. Each of these activities is highly interrelated and GEO performs a significant level of integration of these activities. GEO has identified these activities as a bundle of services and determined that each day of the promised service is distinct. The services provided are part of a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and are measured using the same measure of progress (time-based output method). GEO has determined that revenue for these services are recognized over time as it's customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits as the services are performed, which is on a continual daily basis, and GEO has a right to payment for performance completed to date. Time-based output methods of revenue recognition are considered to be a faithful depiction of GEO's efforts to fulfill its obligations under its contracts and therefore reflect the transfer of services to its customers. GEO's customers generally pay for these services based on a net rate per day per individual or on a fixed monthly rate. Owned and Leased - Community-based GEO recognizes revenue for community-based reentry services where GEO owns or leases the facility in a manner similar to its corrections and detention services discussed above. GEO provides individuals nearing the end of their sentence with the resources necessary to productively transition back into society. Through its residential reentry centers, GEO provides federal and state parolees and probationers with temporary housing, rehabilitation, substance abuse counseling and vocational and educational programs. These activities are considered to be a bundle of services which are a part of a series of distinct services recognized over time based on the same criteria as discussed above for corrections and detention revenues. GEO's customers also generally pay for these services based on a net rate per day per individual or on a fixed monthly rate. Owned and Leased - Youth Services GEO recognizes revenues for youth services where GEO owns or leases the facility in the same manner as discussed above for the housing, supervision, care and rehabilitation of troubled youth residents. The activities to house and care for troubled youth residents are also considered to be a bundle of services which are part of a series of distinct services recognized over time based on the same criteria discussed for the previous two revenue streams. GEO's customers generally pay for these services based on a net rate per day per individual. Managed Only GEO recognizes revenue for its managed only contracts in the same manner as its Owned and Leased Corrections & Detention and Owned and Leased Community-based contracts as discussed above. The primary exception is that GEO does not own or lease the facility. The facility is owned by the customer. In certain circumstances, GEO's customers may request that GEO make certain capital improvements to the facility or make other payments related to the facility. These payments are amortized as a reduction of revenues over the life of the contract. GEO's customers generally pay for these services based on a net rate per day per individual or a fixed monthly rate. Facility Construction and Design Facility Construction and Design revenues during the six months ended June 30, 2017 consisted of one contract with the Department of Justice in the State of Victoria (the “State”) for the development and operation of a new 1,300 -bed correctional facility (the “Facility”) in Ravenhall, a locality near Melbourne, Australia. The Facility was completed during the fourth quarter of 2017 and GEO is currently managing the Facility under a 25 -year management contract. There were no facility construction and design revenues during the six months ended June 30, 2018. GEO's promise to design and construct the Facility was considered to be a separate and distinct performance obligation from the management obligation which includes the safe and secure housing, care and programming activities for incarcerated individuals similar to the correction & detention services discussed above. For the obligation to manage the Facility, GEO determined revenue should be recorded over time using a time-based output method based on the same criteria as discussed above for correction and detention services. Fees included and priced in the contract for managing the Facility are considered to be stated at their individual estimated stand-alone selling prices using the adjusted market assessment approach. These services are regularly provided by GEO on a stand-alone basis to similar customers within a similar range of amounts. GEO used the expected cost plus margin approach to allocate the transaction price to the construction obligation. GEO was entitled under the contract to receive consideration in the amount of its costs plus a margin. During the design and construction phase, GEO determined that revenue should be recorded over time and applied cost based input methods using the actual costs incurred relative to the total estimated costs (percentage of completion basis) to determine progress towards contract completion and to calculate the corresponding amount of revenue and gross profit to recognize. Cost based input methods of revenue recognition are considered to be a faithful depiction of GEO's efforts to satisfy long-term construction contracts and therefore reflect the transfer of goods to the customer as the customer controls the work in progress as the Facility is constructed. Cost based input methods of revenue recognition also require GEO to make estimates of net contract revenues and costs to complete the project. Significant judgment was required to evaluate the costs to complete the project, including materials, labor, contingencies and other costs. If estimated total costs on the contract are greater than the net contract revenues, the entire estimated loss on the contract is recognized in the period the loss becomes known. The cumulative effect of revisions to estimates related to net contract revenues or costs to complete are recorded in the period in which the revisions to estimates are identified and the amounts can be reasonably estimated. Typically, the Company enters into fixed price contracts and does not perform additional work unless approved change orders are in place. Costs attributable to unapproved change orders are expensed in the period in which the costs are incurred if the Company believes that it is not probable that the costs will be recovered through a change in the contract price. If the Company believes that it is probable that the costs will be recovered through a change in the contract price, costs related to unapproved change orders are expensed in the period in which they are incurred, and contract revenue is recognized to the extent of the costs incurred. Revenue in excess of the costs attributable to unapproved change orders is not recognized until the change order is approved. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions, and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to estimated costs and income, and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined. For the periods presented, there were no changes in job performance, job conditions and estimated profitability that required a revision to the estimated costs and income recorded. GEO was the primary developer of the project and subcontracted with a bonded international design and build contractor to design and construct the Facility. As the primary contractor for the project, GEO determined that it was primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to develop and provide the Facility to the State, including overall responsibility for the acceptability of the project in meeting the State's specifications. Therefore, GEO was considered to be a principal in the transaction and construction revenues and construction costs were recorded on a gross basis. The cost of the project during the design and construction phase was funded by debt financing along with a capital contribution by GEO which was made in January 2017. GEO's promise to provide the equity contribution was considered to be a separate and distinct performance obligation that is separate from the construction and facility management obligations. The contribution represents a significant financing element which provided a benefit to the State. Costs incurred and estimated earnings in excess of billings are classified as contract receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The contract receivable will be satisfied, through a State contribution which was made in November 2017 upon commercial acceptance of the Facility, and by quarterly payments to be made over the 25 -year operating phase. The timing of these payments provide the State with a significant benefit of financing for the Facility as the payments by the State occur significantly after performance (construction of the Facility). Therefore, the contract receivable has been recorded at net present value based on the timing of expected future settlement. Interest income is calculated using an effective interest rate of 8.97% and has been presented separately from facility design and construction revenue. Interest income also includes an equity return for GEO's capital contribution. Non-residential Services and Other Non-residential Services and Other revenue consists of the Company's contracts with federal and various state and local governments to provide location, alcohol and drug detecting electronic monitoring and case management services to individuals on an as needed or as requested basis. This category also includes the Company's day reporting centers. GEO recognizes revenues for electronic monitoring and case management services as the services are performed. Services provided consist of community-based supervision (home visits), in-person reporting, telephonic reporting and GPS and other electonic monitoring as well as overall contract management services. The rates for the various services are considered to be stated at their individual stand-alone selling prices. GEO has determined that the services to be provided are recognized over time based on the unit of occurrence of the various services as its customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits as the services are performed and GEO has a right to payment for performance completed to date. Generally, these services are paid based on a net rate per occurrence and a monthly fee for management services. Certain of the Company's electronic monitoring contracts include providing monitoring equipment and related monitoring services activities (using internal proprietary software platforms) to its customers. These tasks are considered to be activities to fulfill the promise to provide electronic monitoring services to individuals and are not considered to be individually separate promises in the contract. In the context of the contract, the equipment and monitoring service is not considered to be capable of being distinct as the customer typically cannot benefit from the equipment or monitoring service on its own or with other readily available resources. Management has identified these activities as a bundle of services and determined that each day or unit of the promised service is distinct. These services are part of a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and are measured using the same measure of progress (time-based output method) and are therefore accounted for as a single performance obligation. GEO has determined that services are recognized over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits as the services are performed and GEO has a right to payment for performance completed to date. Services provided for GEO's day reporting centers are similar to its Owned and Leased Community-based services discussed above with the exception of temporary housing.

Business Combinations

Business Combinations	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Business Combinations	BUSINESS COMBINATIONS Community Education Centers Acquisition On April 5, 2017, the Company completed its acquisition of Community Education Centers ("CEC"), pursuant to a definitive merger agreement entered into on February 12, 2017 between the Company, GEO/DE/MC/01 LLC, and CEC Parent Holdings LLC. Under the terms of the merger agreement, the Company acquired 100% of the voting interests in CEC for an aggregate consideration of $353.6 million . The Company does not believe that any of the goodwill recorded as a result of the CEC acquisition will be deductible for federal income tax purposes. The allocation of the purchase price was complete as of March 31, 2018. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company made measurement period adjustments to provisional amounts with respect to the CEC acquisition that were recognized at the acquisition date to reflect new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts recognized as of that date. These adjustments related to the Company's valuation of accounts payable and accrued expenses. Of the total measurement period adjustments, accounts payable and accrued expenses decreased by $1.0 million related to an accrual for a legal settlement that was funded out of cash held in escrow and by $1.4 million related to a contingency for unclaimed property. The remaining measurement period adjustments were not individually significant. The final purchase price allocation and adjustments made to the estimated acquisition date fair values during the three months ended March 31, 2018 are as follows (in thousands): Acquisition Date Estimated Fair Value as of December 31, 2017 Measurement Period Adjustments Final Acquisition Date Fair Value as of March 31, 2018 Accounts Receivable $ 32,869 $ — $ 32,869 Prepaid and other current assets 4,397 — 4,397 Property and equipment 126,510 — 126,510 Intangible assets 76,000 — 76,000 Favorable lease assets 3,110 — 3,110 Deferred income tax assets 4,116 44 4,160 Other non-current assets 4,327 — 4,327 Total assets acquired $ 251,329 $ 44 $ 251,373 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 51,651 (1,339 ) 50,312 Unfavorable lease liabilities 1,299 — 1,299 Other non-current liabilities 10,479 (1,166 ) 9,313 Total liabilities assumed $ 63,429 $ (2,505 ) $ 60,924 Total identifiable net assets 187,900 2,549 190,449 Goodwill 165,656 (2,549 ) 163,107 Total consideration paid, net of cash acquired $ 353,556 $ — $ 353,556 The Company recognized a reduction of operating expenses of $2.3 million related to CEC during the three months ended June 30, 2018 as a result of a recovery of funds held in escrow after the measurement period had ended.

Goodwill and Other Intangible A

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS The Company has recorded goodwill as a result of its various business combinations. On April 5, 2017, the Company completed its acquisition of CEC. Refer to Note 3 - Business Combinations. Goodwill is recorded as the difference, if any, between the aggregate consideration paid for an acquisition and the fair value of the tangible assets and intangible assets acquired net of liabilities assumed, including noncontrolling interests. Changes in the Company's goodwill balances from December 31, 2017 to June 30, 2018 are as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2017 Acquisition Adjustments Foreign Currency Translation June 30, 2018 U.S. Corrections & Detention $ 317,005 $ (639 ) $ — $ 316,366 GEO Care 461,499 (1,910 ) — 459,589 International Services 447 — (23 ) 424 Total Goodwill $ 778,951 $ (2,549 ) $ (23 ) $ 776,379 The Company has also recorded other finite and indefinite-lived intangible assets as a result of its various business combinations. Refer to Note 3 - Business Combinations for a discussion of the Company's recent acquisition of CEC. The Company's intangible assets include facility management contracts, covenants not to compete, trade names and technology, as follows (in thousands): June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Weighted Average Useful Life (years) Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Facility management contracts 16.3 $ 308,449 $ (117,128 ) $ 191,321 $ 308,518 $ (106,724 ) $ 201,794 Covenants not to compete 1 700 (700 ) — 700 (517 ) 183 Technology 7.3 33,700 (26,672 ) 7,028 33,700 (25,538 ) 8,162 Trade name (Indefinite lived) Indefinite 45,200 — 45,200 45,200 — 45,200 Total acquired intangible assets $ 388,049 $ (144,500 ) $ 243,549 $ 388,118 $ (132,779 ) $ 255,339 Amortization expense was $11.7 million and $11.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Amortization expense was primarily related to the U.S. Corrections & Detention and GEO Care segments' amortization of acquired facility management contracts. As of June 30, 2018 , the weighted average period before the next contract renewal or extension for the acquired facility management contracts was approximately 1.4 years. Although the facility management contracts acquired have renewal and extension terms in the near term, the Company has historically maintained these relationships beyond the current contractual periods. Estimated amortization expense related to the Company's finite-lived intangible assets for the remainder of 2018 through 2022 and thereafter is as follows (in thousands): Fiscal Year Total Amortization Expense Remainder of 2018 $ 11,171 2019 22,305 2020 22,306 2021 19,782 2022 18,138 Thereafter 104,647 $ 198,349

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders' Equity	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Shareholders' Equity	SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY The following table presents the changes in shareholders’ equity that are attributable to the Company’s shareholders and to noncontrolling interests (in thousands): Common shares Additional Paid-In Earnings in Excess of Distributions/(Distributions) in Excess of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Treasury shares Noncontrolling Total Shareholders' Shares Amount Capital Earnings Loss Shares Amount Interests Equity Balance, January 1, 2018 124,008 $ 1,240 $ 1,190,906 $ 31,541 $ (24,446 ) — $ — $ (322 ) $ 1,198,919 Proceeds from exercise of stock options 77 1 1,371 — — — — — 1,372 Stock-based compensation expense — — 10,787 — — — — — 10,787 Restricted stock granted 896 9 (9 ) — — — — — Restricted stock canceled (28 ) — — — — — — — — Dividends paid — — — (115,017 ) — — — — (115,017 ) Shares withheld for net settlements of share-based awards [1] (171 ) (2 ) (4,389 ) — — — — — (4,391 ) Issuance of common stock - ESPP 12 — 264 — — — — — 264 Repurchases of common stock (3,117 ) — — — — 3,117 (70,446 ) — (70,446 ) Net income (loss) — — — 72,408 — — — (163 ) 72,245 Other comprehensive loss — — — — (783 ) — — (13 ) (796 ) Balance, June 30, 2018 121,677 $ 1,248 $ 1,198,930 $ (11,068 ) $ (25,229 ) 3,117 $ (70,446 ) $ (498 ) $ 1,092,937 [1] During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , the Company withheld shares through net share settlements to satisfy statutory tax withholding requirements upon vesting of shares of restricted stock held by employees. REIT Distributions As a REIT, GEO is required to distribute annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and by excluding net capital gain) and began paying regular quarterly REIT dividends in 2013. The amount, timing and frequency of future dividends, however, will be at the sole discretion of GEO's Board of Directors (the "Board”) and will be declared based upon various factors, many of which are beyond GEO's control, including, GEO's financial condition and operating cash flows, the amount required to maintain REIT status, limitations on distributions in GEO's existing and future debt instruments, limitations on GEO's ability to fund distributions using cash generated through GEO's taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRSs") and other factors that GEO's Board may deem relevant. During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017 GEO declared and paid the following regular cash distributions to its shareholders as follows: Declaration Date Record Date Payment Date Distribution Per Share Aggregate Payment Amount (in millions) February 6, 2017 February 17, 2017 February 27, 2017 $0.47 $52.5 April 25, 2017 May 9, 2017 May 19, 2017 $0.47 $58.4 July 10, 2017 July 21, 2017 July 28, 2017 $0.47 $58.3 October 12, 2017 October 23, 2017 October 30, 2017 $0.47 $58.3 February 5, 2018 February 16, 2018 February 27, 2018 $0.47 $58.3 April 11, 2018 April 23, 2018 May 3, 2018 $0.47 $57.4 Stock Buyback Program On February14, 2018, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a stock buyback program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to a maximum of $200.0 million of its shares of common stock. The stock buyback program will be funded primarily with cash on hand, free cash flow and borrowings under the Company's Revolver. The program is effective through October 20, 2020. The stock buyback program is intended to be implemented through purchases made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") requirements. The stock buyback program does not obligate the Company to purchase any specific amount of our common stock and may be suspended or extended at any time at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , the Company purchased 3,117,483 shares of its common stock at a cost of $70.4 million primarily purchased with proceeds from the Company's Revolver. The Company believes it has the ability to continue to fund the stock buyback program, its debt service requirements and its maintenance and growth capital expenditure requirements, while maintaining sufficient liquidity for other corporate purposes. Prospectus Supplement On October 20, 2017, the Company filed with the SEC an automatic shelf registration on Form S-3. Under this shelf registration, the Company may, from time to time, sell any combination of securities described in the prospectus in one or more offerings. Each time that the Company may sell securities, the Company will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the securities being offered. On November 9, 2017, in connection with the shelf registration, the Company filed with the SEC a prospectus supplement related to the offer and sale from time to time of the Company’s common stock at an aggregate offering price of up to $150 million through sales agents. Sales of shares of the Company’s common stock under the prospectus supplement and the equity distribution agreements entered into with the sales agents, if any, may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933. There were no shares of common stock sold under this prospectus supplement during the six months ended June 30, 2018. Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive income (loss) represents the change in shareholders' equity from transactions and other events and circumstances arising from non-shareholder sources. The Company's total comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income attributable to GEO, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, foreign currency translation adjustments that arise from consolidating foreign operations that do not impact cash flows, net unrealized gains and/or losses on derivative instruments, and pension liability adjustments within shareholders' equity and comprehensive income (loss). The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to GEO within shareholders' equity are as follows: Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 (In thousands) Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. (1) Change in fair value of derivatives, net of tax Pension adjustments, net of tax Total Balance, January 1, 2018 $ (7,470 ) $ (11,892 ) $ (5,084 ) $ (24,446 ) Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income (4,527 ) 3,014 730 (783 ) Balance, June 30, 2018 $ (11,997 ) $ (8,878 ) $ (4,354 ) $ (25,229 ) (1) The foreign currency translation related to noncontrolling interests was not significant at June 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017 .

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Financial Instruments	FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The following tables provide a summary of the Company’s significant financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value and measured on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands): Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2018 Carrying Value at June 30, 2018 Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) Significant Other Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Assets: Restricted investment: Rabbi Trust $ 22,253 $ — $ 22,253 $ — Fixed income securities 1,839 — 1,839 — Liabilities: Interest rate swap derivatives $ 10,445 $ — $ 10,445 $ — Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017 Carrying Value at December 31, 2017 Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Assets: Restricted investments: Rabbi Trust $ 20,763 $ — $ 20,763 $ — Fixed income securities 1,902 — 1,902 — Liabilities: Interest rate swap derivatives $ 13,992 $ — $ 13,992 $ — The Company’s Level 2 financial instruments included in the tables above as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consist of interest rate swap derivative liabilities held by the Company's Australian subsidiary, the Company's rabbi trust established for GEO employee and employer contributions to The GEO Group, Inc. Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan and an investment in Canadian dollar denominated fixed income securities. The Australian subsidiary’s interest rate swap derivative liabilities are valued using a discounted cash flow model based on projected Australian borrowing rates. The Company's restricted investment in the rabbi trust is invested in Company owned life insurance policies which are recorded at their cash surrender values. These investments are valued based on the underlying investments held in the policies' separate account. The underlying assets are equity and fixed income pooled funds that are comprised of Level 1 and Level 2 securities. The Canadian dollar denominated securities, not actively traded, are valued using quoted rates for these and similar securities. During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company transferred certain accounts receivable balances that had a carrying value of approximately $6.9 million to an unrelated third party. The transfer was accounted for as a sale and the Company has no continuing involvement with the transferred assets. The Company received cash proceeds in connection with the sale of approximately $6.9 million , and as such, there was no gain or loss in connection with the transaction.

Fair Value of Assets and Liabil

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities	FAIR VALUE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES The Company’s consolidated balance sheets reflect certain financial assets and liabilities at carrying value. The carrying value of certain debt instruments, if applicable, is net of unamortized discount. The following tables present the carrying values of those financial instruments and the estimated corresponding fair values at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands): Estimated Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2018 Carrying Value as of June 30, 2018 Total Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 65,451 $ 65,451 $ 65,451 $ — $ — Restricted cash and investments 61,764 61,764 59,794 1,970 — Liabilities: Borrowings under senior credit facility $ 1,170,968 $ 1,175,906 $ — $ 1,175,906 $ — 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 250,000 246,553 — 246,553 — 5.125% Senior Notes 300,000 294,009 — 294,009 — 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 250,000 253,740 — 253,740 — 6.00% Senior Notes 350,000 339,493 — 339,493 — Non-recourse debt 368,143 368,929 — 368,929 — Estimated Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017 Carrying Value as of December 31, 2017 Total Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 81,377 $ 81,377 $ 81,377 $ — $ — Restricted cash and investments 52,168 52,168 49,884 2,284 — Liabilities: Borrowings under senior credit facility $ 1,064,599 $ 1,070,514 $ — $ 1,070,514 $ — 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 250,000 262,095 — 262,095 — 5.125% Senior Notes 300,000 303,918 — 303,918 — 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 250,000 258,338 — 258,338 — 6.00% Senior Notes 350,000 362,835 — 362,835 — Non-recourse debt 393,737 394,671 — 394,671 — The fair values of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash approximates the carrying values of these assets at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 . Restricted cash consists of money market funds, bank deposits, commercial paper and time deposits used for asset replacement funds and other funds contractually required to be maintained at the Company's Australian subsidiary. The fair value of the money market funds and bank deposits is based on quoted market prices (Level 1) and the fair value of commercial paper and time deposits is based on market prices for similar instruments (Level 2). The fair values of the Company's 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2022 ("5.875% Senior Notes due 2022"), 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2024 (" 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024"), 6.00% senior unsecured notes due 2026 (“6.00% Senior Notes”), and the 5.125% senior unsecured notes due 2023 (" 5.125% Senior Notes"), although not actively traded, are based on published financial data for these instruments. The fair values of the Company's non-recourse debt related to the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority ("WEDFA") and the Company’s Australian subsidiary are estimated based on market prices of similar instruments. The fair value of borrowings under the senior credit facility is based on an estimate of trading value considering the Company’s borrowing rate, the undrawn spread and similar instruments.

Restricted Cash and Cash Equiva

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	RESTRICTED CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents reported on the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows: June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 65,451 $ 65,901 Restricted cash and cash equivalents - current 58,720 17,378 Restricted cash and investments - non-current 25,297 23,020 Less Restricted investments - non-current (22,253 ) (18,624 ) Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents shown in the statement of cash flows $ 127,215 $ 87,675 Amounts included in restricted cash and cash equivalents are attributable to certain contractual cash restriction requirements at the Company's wholly owned Australian subsidiary related to non-recourse debt and asset replacement funds contractually required to be maintained and other guarantees. Restricted investments - non-current (included in Restricted Cash and Investments in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets) consists of the Company's rabbi trust established for employee and employer contributions to The GEO Group, Inc. Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan and is not considered to be a restricted cash equivalent. Refer to Note 5 - Financial Instruments.

Equity Incentive Plans

Equity Incentive Plans	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Equity Incentive Plans	EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANS The Board has adopted The GEO Group, Inc. 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2018 Plan"), which was approved by the Company's shareholders on April 24, 2018. The 2018 Plan replaced the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2014 Plan"). As of the date the 2018 Plan was adopted, it provided for a reserve of 4,600,000 shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2018 Plan. The Company filed a Form S-8 registration statement related to the 2018 Plan on May 11, 2018. Stock Options The Company uses a Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the fair value of each time based or performance based option awarded. For options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2018 , the fair value was estimated using the following assumptions: (i) volatility of 39.69% ; (ii) expected term of 5.0 years; (iii) risk free interest rate of 2.84% ; and (iv) expected dividend yield of 8.70% A summary of the activity of stock option awards issued and outstanding under Company plans is as follows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 : Shares Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price Wtd. Avg. Remaining Contractual Term (years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) (in thousands) Options outstanding at January 1, 2018 1,230 $ 25.02 7.33 $ 3,117 Options granted 475 21.60 Options exercised (77 ) 19.24 Options forfeited/canceled/expired (67 ) 26.67 Options outstanding at June 30, 2018 1,561 $ 24.19 7.71 $ 7,376 Options vested and expected to vest at June 30, 2018 1,445 $ 24.20 7.58 $ 6,846 Options exercisable at June 30, 2018 688 $ 23.68 6.06 $ 3,629 On April 24, 2018, the Company granted approximately 475,000 options to certain employees which had a grant date fair value of $3.64 . For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017 , the amount of stock-based compensation expense related to stock options was $0.4 million and $0.9 million , respectively. As of June 30, 2018 , the Company had $2.6 million of unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested stock option awards that are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.2 years. Restricted Stock Compensation expense for nonvested stock awards is recorded over the vesting period based on the fair value at the date of grant. Generally, the restricted stock awards vest in equal increments over either a three or four -year period. The fair value of restricted stock awards, which do not contain a market-based vesting condition, is determined using the closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. The Company has historically issued share-based awards with service-based, performance-based and market-based vesting criteria. A summary of the activity of restricted stock outstanding is as follows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 : Shares Wtd. Avg. Grant Date Fair Value (in thousands) Restricted stock outstanding at January 1, 2018 1,770 $ 30.47 Granted 896 22.80 Vested (568 ) 28.55 Forfeited/canceled (28 ) 26.04 Restricted stock outstanding at June 30, 2018 2,070 $ 27.56 During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , the Company granted approximately 896,000 shares of restricted stock to certain employees and executive officers. Of these awards, 352,500 are market and performance-based awards which will be forfeited if the Company does not achieve certain annual metrics during 2018, 2019 and 2020. The vesting of these performance-based restricted stock grants are subject to the achievement by GEO of two annual performance metrics as follows: (i) up to 50% of the shares of restricted stock ("TSR Target Award") can vest at the end of a three year performance period if GEO meets certain total shareholder return ("TSR") performance targets, as compared to the total shareholder return of a peer group of companies, over a three year period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 and (ii) up to 50% of the shares of restricted stock ("ROCE Target Award") can vest at the end of a three year period if GEO meets certain return on capital employed ("ROCE") performance targets over a three year period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020. These market and performance awards can vest at between 0% and 200% of the target awards for both metrics. The number of shares shown for the performance-based awards is based on the target awards for both metrics. The metric related to ROCE is considered to be a performance condition. For share-based awards that contain a performance condition, the achievement of the targets must be probable before any share-based compensation expense is recorded. The Company reviews the likelihood of which the target in the range will be achieved and if deemed probable, compensation expense is recorded at that time. If subsequent to initial measurement there is a change in the estimate of the probability of meeting the performance condition, the effect of the change in the estimated quantity of awards expected to vest is recognized by cumulatively adjusting compensation expense. If ultimately the performance targets are not met, for any awards where vesting was previously deemed probable, previously recognized compensation expense will be reversed in the period in which vesting is no longer deemed probable. The fair value of these awards was determined based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. The metric related to TSR is considered to be a market condition. For share-based awards that contain a market condition, the probability of satisfying the market condition must be considered in the estimate of grant-date fair value and previously recorded compensation expense is not reversed if the market condition is never met. The fair value of these awards was determined based on a Monte Carlo simulation, which calculates a range of possible outcomes and the probabilities that they will occur, using the following key assumptions: (i) volatility of 44.5% ; (ii) beta of 1.05 ; and (iii) risk free rate of 2.58% . For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017 , the Company recognized $10.4 million and $9.1 million , respectively, of compensation expense related to its restricted stock awards. As of June 30, 2018 , the Company had $42.3 million of unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested restricted stock awards, including non-vested restricted stock awards with performance-based and market-based vesting, that are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.6 years. Employee Stock Purchase Plan The Company previously adopted The GEO Group Inc. 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan or "ESPP”) which was approved by the Company's shareholders. The purpose of the Plan, which is qualified under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986, as amended, is to encourage stock ownership through payroll deductions by the employees of GEO and designated subsidiaries of GEO in order to increase their identification with the Company’s goals and secure a proprietary interest in the Company’s success. These deductions are used to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a 5% discount from the then current market price. The Company has made available up to 750,000 shares of its common stock, which were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 2012, as amended on July 18, 2014, for sale to eligible employees under the Plan. The Plan is considered to be non-compensatory. As such, there is no compensation expense required to be recognized. Share purchases under the Plan are made on the last day of each month. During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , 12,035 shares of the Company's common stock were issued in connection with the Plan.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic earnings per share of common stock is computed by dividing the net income from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. by the weighted average number of outstanding shares of common stock. The calculation of diluted earnings per share is similar to that of basic earnings per share except that the denominator includes dilutive common stock equivalents such as stock options and shares of restricted stock. Basic and diluted earnings per share were calculated for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 as follows (in thousands, except per share data): Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Net income $ 37,325 $ 30,942 $ 72,245 $ 71,308 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 96 50 163 87 Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. 37,421 30,992 72,408 71,395 Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.: Weighted average shares outstanding 120,274 122,125 121,017 117,885 Per share amount $ 0.31 $ 0.25 $ 0.60 $ 0.61 Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.: Weighted average shares outstanding 120,274 122,125 121,017 117,885 Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans 385 770 444 817 Weighted average shares assuming dilution 120,659 122,895 121,461 118,702 Per share amount $ 0.31 $ 0.25 $ 0.60 $ 0.60 Three Months For the three months ended June 30, 2018 , 969,655 weighted average shares of common stock underlying options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share ("EPS") because the effect would be anti-dilutive. There were 709,153 common stock equivalents from restricted shares that were anti-dilutive. For the three months ended June 30, 2017 , 486,018 weighted average shares of common stock underlying options were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS because the effect would be anti-dilutive. There were 175,385 common stock equivalents from restricted shares that were anti-dilutive. Six Months For the six months ended June 30, 2018 , 821,206 weighted average shares of common stock underlying options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share ("EPS") because the effect would be anti-dilutive. There were 719,184 common stock equivalents from restricted shares that were anti-dilutive. For the six months ended June 30, 2017 , 561,129 weighted average shares of common stock underlying options were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS because the effect would be anti-dilutive. There were 554,201 common stock equivalents from restricted shares that were anti-dilutive.

Derivative Financial Instrument

Derivative Financial Instruments	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative Financial Instruments	DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The Company’s primary objective in holding derivatives is to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flows associated with changes in interest rates. The Company measures its derivative financial instruments at fair value. Australia - Ravenhall The Company’s Australian subsidiary has entered into interest rate swap agreements to fix the interest rate on its variable rate non-recourse debt related to a correctional facility project in Ravenhall, a locality near Melbourne, Australia to 4.2% during the project's operating phase. The swaps' notional amounts coincide with outstanding draws under the project. At June 30, 2018 , the swaps had a notional amount of approximately AUD 457 million , or $339 million , based on exchange rates at June 30, 2018 . The Company has determined that the swaps have payment, expiration dates, and provisions that coincide with the terms of the non-recourse debt and are therefore considered to be effective cash flow hedges. Accordingly, the Company records the change in the fair value of the interest rate swaps in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes. Total unrealized gain recorded in other comprehensive income, net of tax, related to this cash flow hedge was $3.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2018 . The total fair value of the swap liability as of June 30, 2018 was $10.4 million and is recorded as a component of Other Non-Current liabilities within the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. There was no material ineffectiveness for the periods presented. The Company does not expect to enter into any transactions during the next twelve months which would result in the reclassification into earnings or losses associated with these swaps currently reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Debt

Debt	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	DEBT Debt outstanding as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of the following (in thousands): June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Senior Credit Facility: Term loan $ 790,000 $ 794,000 Unamortized discount on term loan (3,189 ) (3,499 ) Unamortized debt issuance costs on term loan (7,562 ) (7,612 ) Revolver 380,968 270,559 Total Senior Credit Facility $ 1,160,217 $ 1,053,448 6.00% Senior Notes: Notes Due in 2026 350,000 350,000 Unamortized debt issuance costs (5,078 ) (5,325 ) Total 6.00% Senior Notes Due in 2026 344,922 344,675 5.875% Senior Notes: Notes Due in 2024 250,000 250,000 Unamortized debt issuance costs (3,183 ) (3,385 ) Total 5.875% Senior Notes Due in 2024 246,817 246,615 5.125% Senior Notes: Notes Due in 2023 300,000 300,000 Unamortized debt issuance costs (3,873 ) (4,184 ) Total 5.125% Senior Notes Due in 2023 296,127 295,816 5.875% Senior Notes: Notes Due in 2022 250,000 250,000 Unamortized debt issuance costs (2,886 ) (3,241 ) Total 5.875% Senior Notes Due in 2022 247,114 246,759 Non-Recourse Debt 368,358 394,008 Unamortized debt issuance costs on non-recourse debt (6,511 ) (9,322 ) Unamortized discount on non-recourse debt (215 ) (271 ) Total Non-Recourse Debt 361,632 384,415 Capital Lease Obligations 6,758 7,431 Other debt 2,757 2,728 Total debt 2,666,344 2,581,887 Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt (25,127 ) (28,920 ) Capital Lease Obligations, long-term portion (5,329 ) (6,059 ) Non-Recourse Debt, long-term portion (346,479 ) (365,364 ) Long-Term Debt $ 2,289,409 $ 2,181,544 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement On April 30, 2018, GEO entered into an Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") by and among the Refinancing Lenders party thereto, the other lenders party thereto, GEO and GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc. and BNP Paribas, as Administrative Agent. The amendment, among other things, provides for the refinancing of all of GEO's existing senior secured term loans with refinancing term loans in the aggregate principal amount of $792 million and makes certain other modifications to GEO's senior secured credit agreement. The interest rate applicable to the refinancing term loans is equal to LIBOR plus 2.00% (with a LIBOR floor of 0.75% ). The amendment was considered to be a modification and loan costs of approximately $1 million were incurred and capitalized in connection with the transaction. The Credit Agreement evidences a credit facility (the "Credit Facility") consisting of the $792 million term loan discussed above (the "Term Loan") bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.00% (with a LIBOR floor of 0.75% ), and a $900 million revolving credit facility (the "Revolver") initially bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.25% (with no LIBOR floor) together with AUD 275 million available solely for the issuance of financial letters of credit and performance letters of credit, in each case denominated in Australian Dollars under the Australian LC Facility. As of June 30, 2018 , there were no letters of credit issued under the Australian LC Facility. Amounts to be borrowed by GEO under the Credit Agreement are subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions to borrowing. The Term Loan component is scheduled to mature on March 23, 2024. The revolving credit commitment component is scheduled to mature on May 19, 2021. The Credit Agreement also has an accordion feature of $450.0 million , subject to lender demand and prevailing market conditions and satisfying the relevant borrowing conditions. The Credit Agreement contains certain customary representations and warranties, and certain customary covenants that restrict GEO’s ability to, among other things (i) create, incur or assume any indebtedness, (ii) create, incur, assume or permit liens, (iii) make loans and investments, (iv) engage in mergers, acquisitions and asset sales, (v) make certain restricted payments, (vi) issue, sell or otherwise dispose of capital stock, (vii) engage in transactions with affiliates, (viii) allow the total leverage ratio to exceed 6.25 to 1.00 , allow the senior secured leverage ratio to exceed 3.50 to 1.00 , or allow the interest coverage ratio to be less than 3.00 to 1.00 , (ix) cancel, forgive, make any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment on, or redeem or acquire for value any senior notes, except as permitted, (x) alter the business GEO conducts, and (xi) materially impair GEO’s lenders’ security interests in the collateral for its loans. Events of default under the Credit Agreement include, but are not limited to, (i) GEO’s failure to pay principal or interest when due, (ii) GEO’s material breach of any representation or warranty, (iii) covenant defaults, (iv) liquidation, reorganization or other relief relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, (v) cross default under certain other material indebtedness, (vi) unsatisfied final judgments over a specified threshold, (vii) certain material environmental liability claims asserted against GEO, and (viii) a change in control. All of the obligations under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by certain domestic subsidiaries of GEO and the Credit Agreement and the related guarantees are secured by a perfected first-priority pledge of substantially all of GEO’s present and future tangible and intangible domestic assets and all present and future tangible and intangible domestic assets of each guarantor, including but not limited to a first-priority pledge of all of the outstanding capital stock owned by GEO and each guarantor in their domestic subsidiaries. GEO Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd, GEO Australasia Finance Holdings Pty Ltd as trustee for the GEO Australasia Finance Holding Trust, and together with GEO Australasia Holdings, collectively ("the Australian Borrowers") are wholly owned foreign subsidiaries of GEO. GEO has designated each of the Australian Borrowers as restricted subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement. However, the Australian Borrowers are not obligated to pay or perform any obligations under the Credit Agreement other than their own obligations as Australian Borrowers under the Credit Agreement. The Australian Borrowers do not pledge any of their assets to secure any obligations under the Credit Agreement. On August 18, 2016, the Company executed a Letter of Offer by and among GEO and HSBC Bank Australia Limited (the “Letter of Offer”) providing for a bank guarantee line and bank guarantee/standby sub-facility in an aggregate amount of approximately AUD 100 million , or $74.1 million , based on exchange rates in effect as of June 30, 2018 (collectively, the “Bank Guarantee Facility”). The Bank Guarantee Facility allows GEO to provide letters of credit to assure performance of certain obligations of its wholly owned subsidiary relating to its correctional facility in Ravenhall, located near Melbourne, Australia. The Bank Guarantee Facility is unsecured. The issuance of letters of credit under the Bank Guarantee Facility is subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent specified in the Letter of Offer. Letters of credit issued under the bank guarantee lines are due on demand and letters of credit issued under the bank guarantee/standby sub-facility cannot have a duration exceeding twelve months. The Bank Guarantee Facility may be terminated by HSBC Bank Australia Limited on 90 days written notice. As of June 30, 2018 , there was AUD 100 million in letters of credit issued under the Bank Guarantee Facility. As of June 30, 2018 , the Company had approximately $790 million in aggregate borrowings outstanding under the Term Loan, approximately $381 million in borrowings under the Revolver, and approximately $70 million in letters of credit which left approximately $449 million in additional borrowing capacity under the Revolver. The weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement as of June 30, 2018 was 4.2% . 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026 Interest on the 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026 accrues at the stated rate. The Company pays interest semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year. On or after April 15, 2019, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or part of the 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026. The indenture contains certain covenants, including limitations and restrictions on the Company and its subsidiary guarantors. Refer to Note 17- Condensed Consolidating Financial Information. 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 Interest on the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 accrues at the stated rate. The Company pays interest semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year. On or after October 15, 2019, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or part of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024. The indenture contains certain covenants, including limitations and restrictions on the Company and its subsidiary guarantors. Refer to Note 17- Condensed Consolidating Financial Information. 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023 Interest on the 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023 accrues at the stated rate. The Company pays interest semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year. On or after April 1, 2018, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or part of the 5.125% Senior Notes at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 5.125% Senior Notes. The indenture contains certain covenants, including limitations and restrictions on the Company and its subsidiary guarantors. Refer to Note 17- Condensed Consolidating Financial Information. 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 Interest on the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 accrues at the stated rate. The Company pays interest semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. On or after January 15, 2017, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or part of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022. The indenture contains certain covenants, including limitations and restrictions on the Company and its subsidiary guarantors. Refer to Note 17- Condensed Consolidating Financial Information. Non-Recourse Debt Northwest Detention Center The remaining balance of the original debt service requirement under the $54.4 million note payable ("2011 Revenue Bonds") to WEDFA is $30.0 million , of which $7.0 million is classified as current in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2018 . The payment of principal and interest on the 2011 Revenue Bonds issued by WEDFA is non-recourse to GEO. The 2011 Revenue Bonds will mature in October 2021 with fixed coupon rates of 5.25% As of June 30, 2018 , included in current restricted cash and cash equivalents is $8.3 million of funds held in trust for debt service and other reserves with respect to the above mentioned note payable to WEDFA. Australia - Ravenhall In connection with a design and build correctional facility project agreement with the State, the Company entered into a syndicated facility agreement (the "Construction Facility") with National Australia Bank Limited to provide debt financing for construction of the project. The Construction Facility provided for non-recourse funding up to AUD 791.0 million , or approximately $586.0 million , based on exchange rates as of June 30, 2018 . Construction draws were funded throughout the project according to a fixed utilization schedule as defined in the syndicated facility agreement. The term of the Construction Facility is through October 2019 and bears interest at a variable rate quoted by certain Australian banks plus 200 basis points. The project was developed under a public-private partnership financing structure with a capital contribution from the Company, which was made in January 2017, of approximately AUD 115 million , or $85.2 million , based on exchange rates as of June 30, 2018 . After October 2019, the Construction Facility will be converted to a term loan with payments due quarterly beginning in 2019 through 2041. In accordance with the terms of the Construction Facility, upon completion and commercial acceptance of the correctional facility in the fourth quarter of 2017, in accordance with the contract, the State made a lump sum payment of AUD 310 million , or approximately $230 million , based on exchange rates as of June 30, 2018 , towards a portion of the outstanding principal. The remaining outstanding principal balance will be repaid over the term of the operating agreement. As of June 30, 2018 , approximately $338 million was outstanding under the Construction Facility. The Company also entered into interest rate swap and interest rate cap agreements related to its non-recourse debt in connection with the project. Refer to Note 11 - Derivative Financial Instruments. Guarantees Australia The Company has entered into certain guarantees in connection with the financing and construction performance of a facility in Australia. The obligations amounted to approximately AUD 100.0 million , or $74.1 million , based on exchange rates as of June 30, 2018 . These guarantees are secured by outstanding letters of credit under the Company's Revolver as of June 30, 2018 . At June 30, 2018 , the Company also had ten other letters of credit outstanding under separate international facilities relating to performance guarantees of its Australian subsidiary totaling $15.1 million . South Africa In connection with the creation of South African Custodial Services Pty. Limited ("SACS"), the Company entered into certain guarantees related to the financing, construction and operation of the prison. As of June 30, 2018 , the Company guaranteed obligations amounting to 2.4 million South African Rand, or $0.2 million based on exchange rates as of June 30, 2018 . In the event SACS is unable to maintain the required funding in a rectification account maintained for the payment of certain costs in the event of contract termination, a previously existing guarantee by the Company for the shortfall will need to be re-instated. The remaining guarantee of 2.4 million South African Rand is secured by outstanding letters of credit under the Company's Revolver as of June 30, 2018 . In addition to the above, the Company has also agreed to provide a loan, if required, of up to 20 million South African Rand, or $1.5 million based on exchange rates as of June 30, 2018 , referred to as the Shareholder's Loan, to SACS for the purpose of financing SACS’ obligations under its contract with the South African government. No amounts have been funded under the standby facility, and the Company does not currently anticipate that such funding will be required by SACS in the future. The Company’s obligations under the Shareholder's Loan expire upon the earlier of full funding or SACS’s release from its obligations under its debt agreements. SACS' ability to draw on the Shareholder's Loan is limited to certain circumstances, including termination of the contract. The Company has also guaranteed certain obligations of SACS to the security trustee for SACS’ lenders. The Company secured its guarantee to the security trustee by ceding its rights to claims against SACS in respect of any loans or other finance agreements, and by pledging the Company’s shares in SACS. The Company’s liability under the guarantee is limited to the cession and pledge of shares. The guarantee expires upon expiration of the cession and pledge agreements. United Kingdom In connection with the creation of GEOAmey, the Company and its joint venture partner guarantee the availability of working capital in equal proportion to ensure that GEOAmey can comply with current and future contractual commitments related to the performance of its operations. The Company and the 50% joint venture partner have each extended a £12 million line of credit, or $15.8 million , based on exchange rates as of June 30, 2018 , of which £1.3 million , or $1.7 million , based on exchange rates as of June 30, 2018 , was outstanding as of June 30, 2018 to each joint venture partner. The Company's maximum exposure relative to the joint venture is its note receivable of approximately $1.7 million , which is included in Other Non-Current Assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and future financial support necessary to guarantee performance under the contract. Except as discussed above, the Company does not have any off balance sheet arrangements.

Commitments, Contingencies and

Commitments, Contingencies and Other	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER	COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER Litigation, Claims and Assessments As previously reported and described in our prior periodic reports, including most recently in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, on February 8, 2017, the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court for the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi against the Company, Cornell Companies, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, Christopher B. Epps, the former Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, and Cecil McCrory, a former consultant of the Company, alleging several statutory and common law claims. On July 16, 2018, the Company entered into a negotiated settlement and release agreement and the case was dismissed with no admission of liability by the Company. The negotiated settlement included a monetary payment to the State of Mississippi and such payment did not have a material effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. On October 22, 2014, former civil immigration detainees at the Aurora Immigration Detention Center filed a class action lawsuit against the Company in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado (the “Court”). The complaint alleges that the Company was in violation of the Colorado Minimum Wages of Workers Act and the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act ("TVPA"). The plaintiff class claims that the Company was unjustly enriched as a result of the level of payment the detainees received for work performed at the facility, even though the voluntary work program as well as the wage rates and standards associated with the program that are at issue in the case are authorized by the Federal government under guidelines approved by the United States Congress. In February 2017, the Court granted the plaintiff-class’ motion for class certification which the Company appealed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. On February 9, 2018, a three-judge panel of the appellate court affirmed the class-certification order. A petition for rehearing en banc was denied on March 7, 2018. The Company is seeking a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court on the class certification order. The plaintiff class seeks actual damages, compensatory damages, exemplary damages, punitive damages, restitution, attorneys’ fees and costs, and such other relief as the Court may deem proper. Since the Colorado suit was initially filed, three similar lawsuits have been filed - two in Washington and one in California. In Washington, one of the two lawsuits was filed on September 9, 2017 by immigration detainees against the Company in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. The second of the two lawsuits was filed on September 20, 2017 by the State Attorney General against the Company in the Superior Court of the State of Washington for Pierce County. On October 9, 2017, the Company removed the lawsuit to the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. In California, a class-action lawsuit was filed on December 19, 2017 by immigration detainees against the Company in the United States District Court Eastern Division of the Central District of California. All lawsuits allege violations of the respective state’s minimum wage laws. However, only the California lawsuit, similar to the Colorado class-action, also includes claims based on violating the federal TVPA. The Company intends to take all necessary steps to vigorously defend itself and has consistently refuted the allegations and claims in these lawsuits. The Company has not recorded an accrual relating to these matters at this time, as a loss is not considered probable nor reasonably estimable at this stage of the lawsuit. The nature of the Company's business exposes it to various types of third-party legal claims or litigation against the Company, including, but not limited to, civil rights claims relating to conditions of confinement and/or mistreatment, sexual misconduct claims brought by prisoners or detainees, medical malpractice claims, product liability claims, intellectual property infringement claims, claims relating to employment matters (including, but not limited to, employment discrimination claims, union grievances and wage and hour claims), property loss claims, environmental claims, automobile liability claims, indemnification claims by its customers and other third parties, contractual claims and claims for personal injury or other damages resulting from contact with the Company's facilities, programs, electronic monitoring products, personnel or prisoners, including damages arising from a prisoner's escape or from a disturbance or riot at a facility. The Company does not expect the outcome of any pending claims or legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, the results of these claims or proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, and an unfavorable resolution of one or more of these claims or proceedings could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Other Assessment A state non-income tax audit completed in 2016 included tax periods for which the state tax authority had a number of years ago processed a substantial tax refund. At the completion of the audit fieldwork, the Company received a notice of audit findings disallowing deductions that were previously claimed by the Company, approved by the state tax authority and served as the basis for the approved refund claim. In early January 2017, the Company received a formal Notice of Assessment of Taxes and Demand for Payment from the taxing authority disallowing the deductions. The total tax, penalty and interest assessed is approximately $19.6 million . The Company has filed an administrative protest and disagrees with the assessment and intends to take all necessary steps to vigorously defend its position. The Company has established a reserve based on its estimate of the most probable loss based on the facts and circumstances known to date and the advice of outside counsel in connection with this matter. Commitments The Company currently has contractual commitments for a number of projects using Company financing. The Company’s management estimates that the cost of these existing capital projects will be approximately $247 million of which $171 million was spent through the first six months of 2018. The Company estimates the remaining capital requirements related to these capital projects will be $76 million which will be spent through 2019. Idle Facilities As of June 30, 2018 , the Company is marketing approximately 4,700 vacant beds at four of its idle facilities to potential customers. The carrying values of these idle facilities, which are included in Property and Equipment, Net in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, totaled $122.5 million as of June 30, 2018 , excluding equipment and other assets that can be easily transferred for use at other facilities. There was no indication of impairment related to the Company's idle facilities at June 30, 2018 .

Business Segments and Geographi

Business Segments and Geographic Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Business Segments and Geographic Information	BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION Operating and Reporting Segments The Company conducts its business through four reportable business segments: the U.S. Corrections & Detention segment; the GEO Care segment; the International Services segment; and the Facility Construction & Design segment. The Company's segment revenues from external customers and a measure of segment profit are as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Revenues: U.S. Corrections & Detention $ 368,989 $ 360,838 $ 727,670 $ 708,769 GEO Care 149,928 139,364 290,006 243,130 International Services 64,592 42,928 130,750 84,620 Facility Construction & Design [1] — 33,940 — 91,165 Total revenues $ 583,509 $ 577,070 $ 1,148,426 $ 1,127,684 Operating income (loss) from segments: U.S. Corrections & Detention $ 77,318 $ 69,801 $ 146,506 $ 144,697 GEO Care 35,139 36,533 66,831 65,359 International Services 1,942 2,117 7,344 5,003 Facility Construction & Design [1] — (1,692 ) — (1,342 ) Operating income from segments $ 114,399 $ 106,759 $ 220,681 $ 213,717 [1] Facility Construction & Design activity related to the Company's Ravenhall correctional facility project which was completed during the fourth quarter of 2017. Pre-Tax Income Reconciliation of Segments The following is a reconciliation of the Company’s total operating income from its reportable segments to the Company’s income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates (in thousands): Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Total operating income from segments $ 114,399 $ 106,759 $ 220,681 $ 213,717 Unallocated amounts: General and Administrative Expenses (47,448 ) (52,206 ) (89,280 ) (94,792 ) Net Interest Expense (28,252 ) (23,637 ) (55,022 ) (46,660 ) Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates $ 38,699 $ 30,916 $ 76,379 $ 72,265 Equity in Earnings of Affiliates Equity in earnings of affiliates includes the Company’s 50% owned joint ventures in SACS, located in South Africa, and GEOAmey, located in the United Kingdom. The Company's investments in these entities are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The Company’s investments in these entities are presented as a component of Other Non-Current Assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company has recorded $2.1 million and $3.7 million in earnings, net of tax, for SACS operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 , and $1.2 million and $2.3 million in earnings, net of tax, for SACS operations during the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, which are included in equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the Company’s investment in SACS was $16.0 million and $18.1 million , respectively, and represents its share of cumulative reported earnings. The Company has recorded $0.2 million and $0.6 million in earnings, net of tax, for GEO Amey's operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 , and $0.3 million and $0.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, which are included in equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the Company’s investment in GEOAmey was $3.3 million and $2.7 million , respectively, and represents its share of cumulative reported earnings.

Benefit Plans

Benefit Plans	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Benefit Plans	BENEFIT PLANS The following table summarizes key information related to the Company’s pension plans and retirement agreements (in thousands): Sis Months Ended June 30, 2018 Year Ended December 31, 2017 Change in Projected Benefit Obligation Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period $ 32,820 $ 28,624 Service cost 600 1,001 Interest cost 621 1,228 Actuarial loss — 2,474 Benefits paid (228 ) (507 ) Projected benefit obligation, end of period $ 33,813 $ 32,820 Change in Plan Assets Plan assets at fair value, beginning of period $ — $ — Company contributions 228 507 Benefits paid (228 ) (507 ) Plan assets at fair value, end of period $ — $ — Unfunded Status of the Plan $ (33,813 ) $ (32,820 ) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Service cost $ 300 $ 250 $ 600 $ 501 Interest cost 310 307 621 617 Net loss 133 73 266 145 Net periodic pension cost $ 743 $ 630 $ 1,487 $ 1,263 The long-term portion of the pension liability as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $33.4 million and $32.4 million , respectively, and is included in Other Non-Current Liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS The Company implemented the following accounting standards during the six months ended June 30, 2018: In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"), issued a new standard related to revenue recognition (ASU 2014-09, " Revenue from Contracts with Customers" . Under the new standard, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services and is recognized in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The FASB has issued several amendments to the standard, including clarification on accounting for licenses of intellectual property and identifying performance obligations. The guidance permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method), or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (the modified retrospective transition method). The new standard became effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018 and the Company used the modified retrospective transition method to implement this standard. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Disclosures related to the nature, amount and timing of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers are included in Note 2 - Revenue Recognition. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows,” which clarified the presentation and classification in the statement of cash flows for eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing diversity in practice. These cash flow issues include debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies (including bank-owned life insurance policies), distributions received from equity method investees, beneficial interests in securitization transactions and also addresses separately identified cash flows and the application of the predominance principle. The amendments in ASU No. 2016-15 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The Company elected to apply the cumulative earnings approach to classify distributions received from its equity method investees and determined that the distributions are a return on investment and are therefore classified as cash inflows from operating activities. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, " Income Taxes - Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory ," as a part of its simplification initiative. The amendments in this standard require entities to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. Under prior generally accepted accounting principles, the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer was prohibited until the asset has been sold to an outside party. The new standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The amendments in this update should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the adoption period. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows - Restricted Cash ,” which requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The new standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and was applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. As a result of the adoption of this standard, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017 has been retrospectively adjusted. Refer to Note 7 - Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents for additional disclosures required under the standard. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, " Business Combinations ," which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The update provides a screen to determine when an integrated set of assets and activities (collectively referred to as a "set") is not a business. The screen requires that when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets, the set is not a business. This screen reduces the number of transactions that need to be further evaluated. If the screen is not met, the amendments in this update (1) require that to be considered a business, a set must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output and (2) remove the evaluation of whether a market participant could replace missing elements. The amendments provide a framework to assist entities in evaluating whether both an input and a substantive process are present. The amendments in this update became effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. I n March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07 " Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715)-Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost ". This guidance revises how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans present the net periodic benefit cost in their income statement and requires that the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost be presented in the same income statement line items as other employee compensation costs from services rendered during the period. Of the components of net periodic benefit cost, only the service cost component will be eligible for asset capitalization. The other components of the net periodic benefit cost must be presented separately from the line items that include the service cost and outside of any subtotal of operating income on the income statement. The new standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. I n May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-10 " Service Concession Arrangements - Determining the Customer of the Operation Services ". The objective of this guidance is to reduce diversity in practice and provide clarification on how an operating entity determines the customer of the operation services for transactions within the scope of Topic 853, Service Concessions Arrangements. The amendments in this update clarify that the grantor is the customer of the operation services in all cases for such arrangements. The new standard was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. I n May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09 " Compensation - Stock Compensation ". The objective of this guidance is to provide clarity and reduce both (1) diversity in practice and (2) cost and complexity when applying modification accounting for changes in the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards. An entity should account for the effects of a modification unless all of the following factors are met: (i) the fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the award is modified; (ii) the vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; and (iii) the classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The new standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The following accounting standards will be adopted in future periods: I n June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07 " Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting" as a part of its Simplification Initiative. The amendments in this update expand the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. An entity should apply the requirements of Topic 718 to nonemployee awards except for specific guidance on inputs to an option pricing model and the period of time over which share-based payment awards vest and the pattern of cost recognition over that period. The amendment specify that Topic 718 applies to all share-based payment transactions in which a grantor acquires goods or services to be used or consumed in a grantor's own operations by issuing share-based payment awards. The amendments also clarify that Topic 718 does not apply to share-based payments used to effectively provide (1) financing to the issuer or (2) awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to customers as part of a contract accounted for under Topic 606-" Revenue from Contracts with Customers. " The new standard is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. I n February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02 " Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ". The amendments in this update allow an entity to elect to reclassify the income tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on items within accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. The new standard is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. I n August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12 " Derivatives and Hedging - Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. " The objective of this guidance is to improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity's risk management activities in its financial statements. Certain of the amendments in this update as they relate to cash flow hedges, eliminate the requirement to separately record hedge ineffectiveness currently in earnings. Instead, the entire change in the fair value of the hedging instrument is recorded in other comprehensive income. Those amounts are reclassified to earnings in the same income statement line item that is used to present the earnings effect of the hedged item when the hedged item affects earnings. The new standard is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, " Leases ," which requires entities to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and to disclose key information about leasing arrangements. For finance leases and operating leases, a lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term with each initially measured at the present value of the lease payments. The FASB has recently issued several amendments to the standard, including accounting for land easements. The amendments in ASU 2016-02 are effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11 which provides for an optional transition method where an entity initially applies the new lease standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. Consequently, an entity's reporting for the comparative periods presented in the financial statements in which it adopts the new lease standard will continue to be in accordance with current generally accepted accounting principles (Topic 940, " Leases "). Alternatively, lessees and lessors can elect to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is in the process of determining which transition method it will elect to apply. The Company has implemented a lease management software application tool and is currently assessing the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial position or results of operations, but expects that it will result in a significant increase in its long-term assets and liabilities given the significant number of leases as disclosed in Note 17 - Commitments and Contingencies in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB (including its Emerging Issues Task Force), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the SEC did not, or are not expected to, have a material effect on the Company's results of operations or financial position.

Condensed Consolidating Financi

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION As of June 30, 2018 , the Company's 6.00% Senior Notes, 5.125% Senior Notes, the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 and the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 were fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by the Company and certain of its wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”). The following condensed consolidating financial information, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements for presentation of Rule 3-10(d) of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act, presents the condensed consolidating financial information separately for: (i) The GEO Group, Inc., as the issuer of the notes; (ii) The Subsidiary Guarantors, on a combined basis, which are 100% owned by The GEO Group, Inc., and which are guarantors of the notes; (iii) The Company’s other subsidiaries, on a combined basis, which are not guarantors of the notes (the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”); (iv) Consolidating entries and eliminations representing adjustments to (a) eliminate intercompany transactions between or among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Subsidiary Non-Guarantors and (b) eliminate the investments in the Company’s subsidiaries; and (v) The Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 202,186 $ 474,966 $ 67,256 $ (160,899 ) $ 583,509 Operating expenses 161,122 381,040 56,534 (160,899 ) 437,797 Depreciation and amortization 6,564 23,695 1,054 — 31,313 General and administrative expenses 16,281 25,738 5,429 — 47,448 Operating income 18,219 44,493 4,239 — 66,951 Interest income 3,406 1,447 8,908 (5,094 ) 8,667 Interest expense (19,647 ) (13,959 ) (8,407 ) 5,094 (36,919 ) Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates 1,978 31,981 4,740 — 38,699 Income tax provision 716 1,442 1,557 — 3,715 Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision — — 2,341 — 2,341 Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries 1,262 30,539 5,524 — 37,325 Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision 36,063 — — (36,063 ) — Net income 37,325 30,539 5,524 (36,063 ) 37,325 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 96 — 96 Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 37,325 $ 30,539 $ 5,620 $ (36,063 ) $ 37,421 Net income $ 37,325 $ 30,539 $ 5,524 $ (36,063 ) $ 37,325 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax — 625 (2,757 ) — (2,132 ) Total comprehensive income $ 37,325 $ 31,164 $ 2,767 $ (36,063 ) $ 35,193 Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 117 — 117 Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 37,325 $ 31,164 $ 2,884 $ (36,063 ) $ 35,310 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 171,260 $ 465,286 $ 79,436 $ (138,912 ) $ 577,070 Operating expenses 135,244 373,399 68,714 (138,912 ) 438,445 Depreciation and amortization 6,065 24,906 895 — 31,866 General and administrative expenses 15,573 29,432 7,201 — 52,206 Operating income 14,378 37,549 2,626 — 54,553 Interest income 6,751 409 12,476 (7,290 ) 12,346 Interest expense (17,451 ) (15,775 ) (10,047 ) 7,290 (35,983 ) Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates 3,678 22,183 5,055 — 30,916 Income tax provision 147 793 460 — 1,400 Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision — — 1,426 — 1,426 Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries 3,531 21,390 6,021 — 30,942 Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision 27,411 — — (27,411 ) — Net income 30,942 21,390 6,021 (27,411 ) 30,942 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 50 — 50 Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 30,942 $ 21,390 $ 6,071 $ (27,411 ) $ 30,992 Net income $ 30,942 $ 21,390 $ 6,021 $ (27,411 ) $ 30,942 Other comprehensive income, net of tax — 64 1,808 — 1,872 Total comprehensive income $ 30,942 $ 21,454 $ 7,829 $ (27,411 ) $ 32,814 Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 51 — 51 Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 30,942 $ 21,454 $ 7,880 $ (27,411 ) $ 32,865 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 397,816 $ 933,694 $ 136,062 $ (319,146 ) $ 1,148,426 Operating expenses 312,944 759,006 111,702 (319,146 ) 864,506 Depreciation and amortization 13,024 48,138 2,077 — 63,239 General and administrative expenses 30,622 48,185 10,473 — 89,280 Operating income 41,226 78,365 11,810 — 131,401 Interest income 7,583 2,864 18,292 (10,973 ) 17,766 Interest expense (38,269 ) (28,419 ) (17,073 ) 10,973 (72,788 ) Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates 10,540 52,810 13,029 — 76,379 Income tax provision 893 3,742 3,835 — 8,470 Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision — — 4,336 — 4,336 Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries 9,647 49,068 13,530 — 72,245 Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision 62,598 — — (62,598 ) — Net income 72,245 49,068 13,530 (62,598 ) 72,245 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 163 — 163 Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 72,245 $ 49,068 $ 13,693 $ (62,598 ) $ 72,408 Net income $ 72,245 $ 49,068 $ 13,530 $ (62,598 ) $ 72,245 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax — 730 (1,526 ) — (796 ) Total comprehensive income $ 72,245 $ 49,798 $ 12,004 $ (62,598 ) $ 71,449 Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 176 — 176 Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 72,245 $ 49,798 $ 12,180 $ (62,598 ) $ 71,625 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 349,433 $ 878,480 $ 180,920 $ (281,149 ) $ 1,127,684 Operating expenses 267,411 711,398 155,492 (281,149 ) 853,152 Depreciation and amortization 12,215 46,781 1,819 — 60,815 General and administrative expenses 29,240 50,413 15,139 — 94,792 Operating income 40,567 69,888 8,470 — 118,925 Interest income 10,105 1,229 24,304 (11,315 ) 24,323 Interest expense (33,243 ) (28,260 ) (20,795 ) 11,315 (70,983 ) Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates 17,429 42,857 11,979 — 72,265 Income tax provision 294 2,247 1,329 — 3,870 Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision — — 2,913 — 2,913 Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries 17,135 40,610 13,563 — 71,308 Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision 57,749 — — (57,749 ) — Net income $ 74,884 $ 40,610 $ 13,563 $ (57,749 ) $ 71,308 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 87 — 87 Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 74,884 $ 40,610 $ 13,650 $ (57,749 ) $ 71,395 Net income $ 74,884 $ 40,610 $ 13,563 $ (57,749 ) $ 71,308 Other comprehensive income, net of tax — 111 3,022 — 3,133 Total comprehensive income $ 74,884 $ 40,721 $ 16,585 $ (57,749 ) $ 74,441 Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 85 — 85 Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 74,884 $ 40,721 $ 16,670 $ (57,749 ) $ 74,526 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) As of June 30, 2018 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 18,363 $ 11,156 $ 35,932 $ — $ 65,451 Restricted cash and cash equivalents 7,842 — 50,878 — 58,720 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 141,487 200,426 35,855 — 377,768 Contract receivable, current portion — — 9,398 — 9,398 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,391 22,293 11,079 — 35,763 Total current assets 170,083 233,875 143,142 — 547,100 Restricted Cash and Investments — 22,481 2,816 — 25,297 Property and Equipment, Net 826,324 1,210,293 87,936 — 2,124,553 Non-Current Contract Receivable — — 396,360 — 396,360 Intercompany Receivable 969,520 130,374 26,300 (1,126,194 ) — Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets 863 23,913 1,501 — 26,277 Goodwill — 775,955 424 — 776,379 Intangible Assets, Net — 242,911 638 — 243,549 Investment in Subsidiaries 1,512,288 458,228 2,190 (1,972,706 ) — Other Non-Current Assets 9,448 113,627 23,042 (79,062 ) 67,055 Total Assets $ 3,488,526 $ 3,211,657 $ 684,349 $ (3,177,962 ) $ 4,206,570 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Accounts payable $ 17,449 $ 67,292 $ 5,586 $ — $ 90,327 Accrued payroll and related taxes — 50,169 18,893 — 69,062 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 42,758 115,623 30,880 — 189,261 Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt 8,000 1,974 15,153 — 25,127 Total current liabilities 68,207 235,058 70,512 — 373,777 Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities — — 8,757 — 8,757 Intercompany Payable 122,124 968,622 35,448 (1,126,194 ) — Other Non-Current Liabilities 1,320 156,158 11,466 (79,062 ) 89,882 Capital Lease Obligations — 5,329 — — 5,329 Long-Term Debt 2,203,441 — 85,968 — 2,289,409 Non-Recourse Debt — — 346,479 — 346,479 Commitments & Contingencies and Other Shareholders' Equity: The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity 1,093,434 1,846,490 126,217 (1,972,706 ) 1,093,435 Noncontrolling Interests — — (498 ) — (498 ) Total Shareholders’ Equity 1,093,434 1,846,490 125,719 (1,972,706 ) 1,092,937 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 3,488,526 $ 3,211,657 $ 684,349 $ (3,177,962 ) $ 4,206,570 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (dollars in thousands) As of December 31, 2017 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 54,666 $ — $ 26,711 $ — $ 81,377 Restricted cash and cash equivalents — — 44,932 — 44,932 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 130,354 225,029 34,533 — 389,916 Contract receivable, current portion — — 18,142 — 18,142 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,589 24,163 18,590 — 45,342 Total current assets 187,609 249,192 142,908 — 579,709 Restricted Cash and Investments — 25,715 2,284 — 27,999 Property and Equipment, Net 777,404 1,209,816 90,903 — 2,078,123 Assets Held for Sale — 3,915 — — 3,915 Non-Current Contract Receivable — — 404,309 404,309 Intercompany Receivable 1,130,189 88,534 28,218 (1,246,941 ) — Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets 863 23,913 1,501 — 26,277 Goodwill — 778,504 447 — 778,951 Intangible Assets, Net — 254,531 808 — 255,339 Investment in Subsidiaries 1,336,665 456,076 2,190 (1,794,931 ) — Other Non-Current Assets 11,141 115,330 25,210 (79,395 ) 72,286 Total Assets $ 3,443,871 $ 3,205,526 $ 698,778 $ (3,121,267 ) $ 4,226,908 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Accounts payable $ 20,643 $ 65,475 $ 6,469 $ — $ 92,587 Accrued payroll and related taxes — 51,780 19,952 — 71,732 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 40,344 115,636 20,344 — 176,324 Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt 8,000 1,870 19,050 — 28,920 Total current liabilities 68,987 234,761 65,815 — 369,563 Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities — — 8,757 — 8,757 Intercompany Payable 79,984 1,129,590 37,367 (1,246,941 ) — Other Non-Current Liabilities 4,674 157,200 14,223 (79,395 ) 96,702 Capital Lease Obligations — 6,059 — — 6,059 Long-Term Debt 2,090,985 — 90,559 — 2,181,544 Non-Recourse Debt — — 365,364 — 365,364 Commitments & Contingencies and Other Shareholders' Equity: The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity 1,199,241 1,677,916 117,015 (1,794,931 ) 1,199,241 Noncontrolling Interests — — (322 ) — (322 ) Total Shareholders’ Equity 1,199,241 1,677,916 116,693 (1,794,931 ) 1,198,919 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 3,443,871 $ 3,205,526 $ 698,778 $ (3,121,267 ) $ 4,226,908 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Consolidated Cash Flow from Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities $ 118,354 $ 37,087 $ 24,812 $ 180,253 Cash Flow from Investing Activities: Insurance proceeds - damaged property — 4,036 — 4,036 Proceeds from sale of property and equipment — — 1,717 1,717 Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale — 3,797 — 3,797 Change in restricted investments — (1,490 ) — (1,490 ) Capital expenditures (68,607 ) (36,998 ) (1,459 ) (107,064 ) Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (68,607 ) (30,655 ) 258 (99,004 ) Cash Flow from Financing Activities: Proceeds from long-term debt 245,000 — — 245,000 Payments on long-term debt (134,000 ) — — (134,000 ) Payments on non-recourse debt — — (7,490 ) (7,490 ) Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards (4,391 ) — — (4,391 ) Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP 264 — — 264 Payment for repurchases of common stock (70,446 ) — — (70,446 ) Debt issuance costs (990 ) — — (990 ) Proceeds from stock options exercised 1,372 — — 1,372 Dividends paid (115,017 ) — — (115,017 ) Net cash used in financing activities (78,208 ) — (7,490 ) (85,698 ) Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents — — (1,881 ) (1,881 ) Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash. Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (28,461 ) 6,432 15,699 (6,330 ) Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period 54,666 4,952 73,927 133,545 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period $ 26,205 $ 11,384 $ 89,626 $ 127,215 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Consolidated Cash Flow from Operating Activities: Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 2,389 $ 62,559 $ (14,234 ) $ 50,714 Cash Flow from Investing Activities: Acquisition of CEC, net of cash acquired (354,466 ) — — (354,466 ) Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 648 — — 648 Change in restricted investments — (2,963 ) — (2,963 ) Capital expenditures (9,709 ) (53,629 ) (4,170 ) (67,508 ) Cash used in by investing activities (363,527 ) (56,592 ) (4,170 ) (424,289 ) Net cash used in investing activities Cash Flow from Financing Activities: Proceeds from long-term debt 1,158,574 — — 1,158,574 Payments on long-term debt (972,500 ) — — (972,500 ) Payments on non-recourse debt — — (67,885 ) (67,885 ) Proceeds from non-recourse debt — — 91,076 91,076 Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards (4,092 ) — — (4,092 ) Issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement 275,867 — — 275,867 Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP — — 242 242 Debt issuance costs (6,992 ) — (595 ) (7,587 ) Proceeds from stock options exercised 6,150 — — 6,150 Dividends paid (110,859 ) — — (110,859 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 346,148 — 22,838 368,986 Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents — — 1,907 1,907 Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (14,990 ) 5,967 6,341 (2,682 ) Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period 45,736 4,922 39,699 90,357 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period $ 30,746 $ 10,889 $ 46,040 $ 87,675

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	SUBSEQUENT EVENTS Dividend On July 10, 2018, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.47 per share of common stock which was paid on July 27, 2018 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 20, 2018.

Revenue Recognition (Tables)

Revenue Recognition (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Disaggregation of Revenue	The following table disaggregates GEO's revenue by major source and also provides a reconciliation with revenue information disclosed for reportable segments in Note 14 - Business Segments and Geographic Information: Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 U.S. Corrections & Detention GEO Care International Facility Construction and Design Total Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention $ 535,609 $ — $ — $ — $ 535,609 Owned and Leased: Community-based — 84,312 — — 84,312 Owned and Leased: Youth Services — 45,901 — — 45,901 Managed Only 192,061 2,477 130,750 — 325,288 Facility Construction and Design — — — — — Non-residential Services and Other — 157,316 — — 157,316 Total Revenues $ 727,670 $ 290,006 $ 130,750 $ — $ 1,148,426 Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 U.S. Corrections & Detention GEO Care International Facility Construction and Design Total Owned and Leased - Corrections & Detention $ 525,195 $ — $ — $ — $ 525,195 Owned and Leased - Community-based — 62,613 — — 62,613 Owned and Leased - Youth Services — 43,390 — — 43,390 Managed Only 183,574 1,086 84,620 — 269,280 Facility Construction and Design — — — 91,165 91,165 Non-residential Services and Other — 136,041 — — 136,041 Total Revenues $ 708,769 $ 243,130 $ 84,620 $ 91,165 $ 1,127,684

Business Combinations (Tables)

Business Combinations (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	The final purchase price allocation and adjustments made to the estimated acquisition date fair values during the three months ended March 31, 2018 are as follows (in thousands): Acquisition Date Estimated Fair Value as of December 31, 2017 Measurement Period Adjustments Final Acquisition Date Fair Value as of March 31, 2018 Accounts Receivable $ 32,869 $ — $ 32,869 Prepaid and other current assets 4,397 — 4,397 Property and equipment 126,510 — 126,510 Intangible assets 76,000 — 76,000 Favorable lease assets 3,110 — 3,110 Deferred income tax assets 4,116 44 4,160 Other non-current assets 4,327 — 4,327 Total assets acquired $ 251,329 $ 44 $ 251,373 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 51,651 (1,339 ) 50,312 Unfavorable lease liabilities 1,299 — 1,299 Other non-current liabilities 10,479 (1,166 ) 9,313 Total liabilities assumed $ 63,429 $ (2,505 ) $ 60,924 Total identifiable net assets 187,900 2,549 190,449 Goodwill 165,656 (2,549 ) 163,107 Total consideration paid, net of cash acquired $ 353,556 $ — $ 353,556

Goodwill and Other Intangible29

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of goodwill	Changes in the Company's goodwill balances from December 31, 2017 to June 30, 2018 are as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2017 Acquisition Adjustments Foreign Currency Translation June 30, 2018 U.S. Corrections & Detention $ 317,005 $ (639 ) $ — $ 316,366 GEO Care 461,499 (1,910 ) — 459,589 International Services 447 — (23 ) 424 Total Goodwill $ 778,951 $ (2,549 ) $ (23 ) $ 776,379
Schedule of intangible assets	The Company's intangible assets include facility management contracts, covenants not to compete, trade names and technology, as follows (in thousands): June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Weighted Average Useful Life (years) Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Facility management contracts 16.3 $ 308,449 $ (117,128 ) $ 191,321 $ 308,518 $ (106,724 ) $ 201,794 Covenants not to compete 1 700 (700 ) — 700 (517 ) 183 Technology 7.3 33,700 (26,672 ) 7,028 33,700 (25,538 ) 8,162 Trade name (Indefinite lived) Indefinite 45,200 — 45,200 45,200 — 45,200 Total acquired intangible assets $ 388,049 $ (144,500 ) $ 243,549 $ 388,118 $ (132,779 ) $ 255,339
Estimated amortization expense for the remainder	Estimated amortization expense related to the Company's finite-lived intangible assets for the remainder of 2018 through 2022 and thereafter is as follows (in thousands): Fiscal Year Total Amortization Expense Remainder of 2018 $ 11,171 2019 22,305 2020 22,306 2021 19,782 2022 18,138 Thereafter 104,647 $ 198,349

Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

Shareholders' Equity (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Changes in shareholders' equity that are attributable to the Company's shareholders and to noncontrolling interests	The following table presents the changes in shareholders’ equity that are attributable to the Company’s shareholders and to noncontrolling interests (in thousands): Common shares Additional Paid-In Earnings in Excess of Distributions/(Distributions) in Excess of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Treasury shares Noncontrolling Total Shareholders' Shares Amount Capital Earnings Loss Shares Amount Interests Equity Balance, January 1, 2018 124,008 $ 1,240 $ 1,190,906 $ 31,541 $ (24,446 ) — $ — $ (322 ) $ 1,198,919 Proceeds from exercise of stock options 77 1 1,371 — — — — — 1,372 Stock-based compensation expense — — 10,787 — — — — — 10,787 Restricted stock granted 896 9 (9 ) — — — — — Restricted stock canceled (28 ) — — — — — — — — Dividends paid — — — (115,017 ) — — — — (115,017 ) Shares withheld for net settlements of share-based awards [1] (171 ) (2 ) (4,389 ) — — — — — (4,391 ) Issuance of common stock - ESPP 12 — 264 — — — — — 264 Repurchases of common stock (3,117 ) — — — — 3,117 (70,446 ) — (70,446 ) Net income (loss) — — — 72,408 — — — (163 ) 72,245 Other comprehensive loss — — — — (783 ) — — (13 ) (796 ) Balance, June 30, 2018 121,677 $ 1,248 $ 1,198,930 $ (11,068 ) $ (25,229 ) 3,117 $ (70,446 ) $ (498 ) $ 1,092,937 [1] During the six months ended June 30, 2018 , the Company withheld shares through net share settlements to satisfy statutory tax withholding requirements upon vesting of shares of restricted stock held by employees.
Dividends declared	During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017 GEO declared and paid the following regular cash distributions to its shareholders as follows: Declaration Date Record Date Payment Date Distribution Per Share Aggregate Payment Amount (in millions) February 6, 2017 February 17, 2017 February 27, 2017 $0.47 $52.5 April 25, 2017 May 9, 2017 May 19, 2017 $0.47 $58.4 July 10, 2017 July 21, 2017 July 28, 2017 $0.47 $58.3 October 12, 2017 October 23, 2017 October 30, 2017 $0.47 $58.3 February 5, 2018 February 16, 2018 February 27, 2018 $0.47 $58.3 April 11, 2018 April 23, 2018 May 3, 2018 $0.47 $57.4
Schedule of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to GEO within shareholders' equity are as follows: Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 (In thousands) Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. (1) Change in fair value of derivatives, net of tax Pension adjustments, net of tax Total Balance, January 1, 2018 $ (7,470 ) $ (11,892 ) $ (5,084 ) $ (24,446 ) Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income (4,527 ) 3,014 730 (783 ) Balance, June 30, 2018 $ (11,997 ) $ (8,878 ) $ (4,354 ) $ (25,229 ) (1) The foreign currency translation related to noncontrolling interests was not significant at June 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017 .

Financial Instruments (Tables)

Financial Instruments (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]
Fair value assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	The following tables provide a summary of the Company’s significant financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value and measured on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands): Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2018 Carrying Value at June 30, 2018 Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) Significant Other Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Assets: Restricted investment: Rabbi Trust $ 22,253 $ — $ 22,253 $ — Fixed income securities 1,839 — 1,839 — Liabilities: Interest rate swap derivatives $ 10,445 $ — $ 10,445 $ — Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017 Carrying Value at December 31, 2017 Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Assets: Restricted investments: Rabbi Trust $ 20,763 $ — $ 20,763 $ — Fixed income securities 1,902 — 1,902 — Liabilities: Interest rate swap derivatives $ 13,992 $ — $ 13,992 $ —

Fair Value of Assets and Liab32

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Carrying value and estimated fair value of financial instruments	The following tables present the carrying values of those financial instruments and the estimated corresponding fair values at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands): Estimated Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2018 Carrying Value as of June 30, 2018 Total Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 65,451 $ 65,451 $ 65,451 $ — $ — Restricted cash and investments 61,764 61,764 59,794 1,970 — Liabilities: Borrowings under senior credit facility $ 1,170,968 $ 1,175,906 $ — $ 1,175,906 $ — 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 250,000 246,553 — 246,553 — 5.125% Senior Notes 300,000 294,009 — 294,009 — 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 250,000 253,740 — 253,740 — 6.00% Senior Notes 350,000 339,493 — 339,493 — Non-recourse debt 368,143 368,929 — 368,929 — Estimated Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017 Carrying Value as of December 31, 2017 Total Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 81,377 $ 81,377 $ 81,377 $ — $ — Restricted cash and investments 52,168 52,168 49,884 2,284 — Liabilities: Borrowings under senior credit facility $ 1,064,599 $ 1,070,514 $ — $ 1,070,514 $ — 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 250,000 262,095 — 262,095 — 5.125% Senior Notes 300,000 303,918 — 303,918 — 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 250,000 258,338 — 258,338 — 6.00% Senior Notes 350,000 362,835 — 362,835 — Non-recourse debt 393,737 394,671 — 394,671 —

Restricted Cash and Cash Equi33

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Schedule of Cash and Cash Equivalents	The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents reported on the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows: June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 65,451 $ 65,901 Restricted cash and cash equivalents - current 58,720 17,378 Restricted cash and investments - non-current 25,297 23,020 Less Restricted investments - non-current (22,253 ) (18,624 ) Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents shown in the statement of cash flows $ 127,215 $ 87,675

Equity Incentive Plans (Tables)

Equity Incentive Plans (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Summary of the activity of stock option awards	A summary of the activity of stock option awards issued and outstanding under Company plans is as follows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 : Shares Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price Wtd. Avg. Remaining Contractual Term (years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) (in thousands) Options outstanding at January 1, 2018 1,230 $ 25.02 7.33 $ 3,117 Options granted 475 21.60 Options exercised (77 ) 19.24 Options forfeited/canceled/expired (67 ) 26.67 Options outstanding at June 30, 2018 1,561 $ 24.19 7.71 $ 7,376 Options vested and expected to vest at June 30, 2018 1,445 $ 24.20 7.58 $ 6,846 Options exercisable at June 30, 2018 688 $ 23.68 6.06 $ 3,629
Summary of the activity of restricted stock	A summary of the activity of restricted stock outstanding is as follows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 : Shares Wtd. Avg. Grant Date Fair Value (in thousands) Restricted stock outstanding at January 1, 2018 1,770 $ 30.47 Granted 896 22.80 Vested (568 ) 28.55 Forfeited/canceled (28 ) 26.04 Restricted stock outstanding at June 30, 2018 2,070 $ 27.56

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic and diluted earnings per share	Basic and diluted earnings per share were calculated for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 as follows (in thousands, except per share data): Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Net income $ 37,325 $ 30,942 $ 72,245 $ 71,308 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 96 50 163 87 Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. 37,421 30,992 72,408 71,395 Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.: Weighted average shares outstanding 120,274 122,125 121,017 117,885 Per share amount $ 0.31 $ 0.25 $ 0.60 $ 0.61 Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.: Weighted average shares outstanding 120,274 122,125 121,017 117,885 Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans 385 770 444 817 Weighted average shares assuming dilution 120,659 122,895 121,461 118,702 Per share amount $ 0.31 $ 0.25 $ 0.60 $ 0.60

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Debt	Debt outstanding as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of the following (in thousands): June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Senior Credit Facility: Term loan $ 790,000 $ 794,000 Unamortized discount on term loan (3,189 ) (3,499 ) Unamortized debt issuance costs on term loan (7,562 ) (7,612 ) Revolver 380,968 270,559 Total Senior Credit Facility $ 1,160,217 $ 1,053,448 6.00% Senior Notes: Notes Due in 2026 350,000 350,000 Unamortized debt issuance costs (5,078 ) (5,325 ) Total 6.00% Senior Notes Due in 2026 344,922 344,675 5.875% Senior Notes: Notes Due in 2024 250,000 250,000 Unamortized debt issuance costs (3,183 ) (3,385 ) Total 5.875% Senior Notes Due in 2024 246,817 246,615 5.125% Senior Notes: Notes Due in 2023 300,000 300,000 Unamortized debt issuance costs (3,873 ) (4,184 ) Total 5.125% Senior Notes Due in 2023 296,127 295,816 5.875% Senior Notes: Notes Due in 2022 250,000 250,000 Unamortized debt issuance costs (2,886 ) (3,241 ) Total 5.875% Senior Notes Due in 2022 247,114 246,759 Non-Recourse Debt 368,358 394,008 Unamortized debt issuance costs on non-recourse debt (6,511 ) (9,322 ) Unamortized discount on non-recourse debt (215 ) (271 ) Total Non-Recourse Debt 361,632 384,415 Capital Lease Obligations 6,758 7,431 Other debt 2,757 2,728 Total debt 2,666,344 2,581,887 Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt (25,127 ) (28,920 ) Capital Lease Obligations, long-term portion (5,329 ) (6,059 ) Non-Recourse Debt, long-term portion (346,479 ) (365,364 ) Long-Term Debt $ 2,289,409 $ 2,181,544

Business Segments and Geograp37

Business Segments and Geographic Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Operating and Reporting Segments	The Company's segment revenues from external customers and a measure of segment profit are as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Revenues: U.S. Corrections & Detention $ 368,989 $ 360,838 $ 727,670 $ 708,769 GEO Care 149,928 139,364 290,006 243,130 International Services 64,592 42,928 130,750 84,620 Facility Construction & Design [1] — 33,940 — 91,165 Total revenues $ 583,509 $ 577,070 $ 1,148,426 $ 1,127,684 Operating income (loss) from segments: U.S. Corrections & Detention $ 77,318 $ 69,801 $ 146,506 $ 144,697 GEO Care 35,139 36,533 66,831 65,359 International Services 1,942 2,117 7,344 5,003 Facility Construction & Design [1] — (1,692 ) — (1,342 ) Operating income from segments $ 114,399 $ 106,759 $ 220,681 $ 213,717 [1] Facility Construction & Design activity related to the Company's Ravenhall correctional facility project which was completed during the fourth quarter of 2017.
Pre-Tax Income Reconciliation of Segments	The following is a reconciliation of the Company’s total operating income from its reportable segments to the Company’s income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates (in thousands): Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Total operating income from segments $ 114,399 $ 106,759 $ 220,681 $ 213,717 Unallocated amounts: General and Administrative Expenses (47,448 ) (52,206 ) (89,280 ) (94,792 ) Net Interest Expense (28,252 ) (23,637 ) (55,022 ) (46,660 ) Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates $ 38,699 $ 30,916 $ 76,379 $ 72,265

Benefit Plans (Tables)

Benefit Plans (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Components of Company Plan Benefit Expense	The following table summarizes key information related to the Company’s pension plans and retirement agreements (in thousands): Sis Months Ended June 30, 2018 Year Ended December 31, 2017 Change in Projected Benefit Obligation Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period $ 32,820 $ 28,624 Service cost 600 1,001 Interest cost 621 1,228 Actuarial loss — 2,474 Benefits paid (228 ) (507 ) Projected benefit obligation, end of period $ 33,813 $ 32,820 Change in Plan Assets Plan assets at fair value, beginning of period $ — $ — Company contributions 228 507 Benefits paid (228 ) (507 ) Plan assets at fair value, end of period $ — $ — Unfunded Status of the Plan $ (33,813 ) $ (32,820 )
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Service cost $ 300 $ 250 $ 600 $ 501 Interest cost 310 307 621 617 Net loss 133 73 266 145 Net periodic pension cost $ 743 $ 630 $ 1,487 $ 1,263

Condensed Consolidating Finan39

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 202,186 $ 474,966 $ 67,256 $ (160,899 ) $ 583,509 Operating expenses 161,122 381,040 56,534 (160,899 ) 437,797 Depreciation and amortization 6,564 23,695 1,054 — 31,313 General and administrative expenses 16,281 25,738 5,429 — 47,448 Operating income 18,219 44,493 4,239 — 66,951 Interest income 3,406 1,447 8,908 (5,094 ) 8,667 Interest expense (19,647 ) (13,959 ) (8,407 ) 5,094 (36,919 ) Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates 1,978 31,981 4,740 — 38,699 Income tax provision 716 1,442 1,557 — 3,715 Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision — — 2,341 — 2,341 Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries 1,262 30,539 5,524 — 37,325 Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision 36,063 — — (36,063 ) — Net income 37,325 30,539 5,524 (36,063 ) 37,325 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 96 — 96 Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 37,325 $ 30,539 $ 5,620 $ (36,063 ) $ 37,421 Net income $ 37,325 $ 30,539 $ 5,524 $ (36,063 ) $ 37,325 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax — 625 (2,757 ) — (2,132 ) Total comprehensive income $ 37,325 $ 31,164 $ 2,767 $ (36,063 ) $ 35,193 Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 117 — 117 Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 37,325 $ 31,164 $ 2,884 $ (36,063 ) $ 35,310 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 171,260 $ 465,286 $ 79,436 $ (138,912 ) $ 577,070 Operating expenses 135,244 373,399 68,714 (138,912 ) 438,445 Depreciation and amortization 6,065 24,906 895 — 31,866 General and administrative expenses 15,573 29,432 7,201 — 52,206 Operating income 14,378 37,549 2,626 — 54,553 Interest income 6,751 409 12,476 (7,290 ) 12,346 Interest expense (17,451 ) (15,775 ) (10,047 ) 7,290 (35,983 ) Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates 3,678 22,183 5,055 — 30,916 Income tax provision 147 793 460 — 1,400 Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision — — 1,426 — 1,426 Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries 3,531 21,390 6,021 — 30,942 Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision 27,411 — — (27,411 ) — Net income 30,942 21,390 6,021 (27,411 ) 30,942 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 50 — 50 Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 30,942 $ 21,390 $ 6,071 $ (27,411 ) $ 30,992 Net income $ 30,942 $ 21,390 $ 6,021 $ (27,411 ) $ 30,942 Other comprehensive income, net of tax — 64 1,808 — 1,872 Total comprehensive income $ 30,942 $ 21,454 $ 7,829 $ (27,411 ) $ 32,814 Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 51 — 51 Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 30,942 $ 21,454 $ 7,880 $ (27,411 ) $ 32,865 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 397,816 $ 933,694 $ 136,062 $ (319,146 ) $ 1,148,426 Operating expenses 312,944 759,006 111,702 (319,146 ) 864,506 Depreciation and amortization 13,024 48,138 2,077 — 63,239 General and administrative expenses 30,622 48,185 10,473 — 89,280 Operating income 41,226 78,365 11,810 — 131,401 Interest income 7,583 2,864 18,292 (10,973 ) 17,766 Interest expense (38,269 ) (28,419 ) (17,073 ) 10,973 (72,788 ) Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates 10,540 52,810 13,029 — 76,379 Income tax provision 893 3,742 3,835 — 8,470 Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision — — 4,336 — 4,336 Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries 9,647 49,068 13,530 — 72,245 Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision 62,598 — — (62,598 ) — Net income 72,245 49,068 13,530 (62,598 ) 72,245 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 163 — 163 Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 72,245 $ 49,068 $ 13,693 $ (62,598 ) $ 72,408 Net income $ 72,245 $ 49,068 $ 13,530 $ (62,598 ) $ 72,245 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax — 730 (1,526 ) — (796 ) Total comprehensive income $ 72,245 $ 49,798 $ 12,004 $ (62,598 ) $ 71,449 Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 176 — 176 Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 72,245 $ 49,798 $ 12,180 $ (62,598 ) $ 71,625 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 349,433 $ 878,480 $ 180,920 $ (281,149 ) $ 1,127,684 Operating expenses 267,411 711,398 155,492 (281,149 ) 853,152 Depreciation and amortization 12,215 46,781 1,819 — 60,815 General and administrative expenses 29,240 50,413 15,139 — 94,792 Operating income 40,567 69,888 8,470 — 118,925 Interest income 10,105 1,229 24,304 (11,315 ) 24,323 Interest expense (33,243 ) (28,260 ) (20,795 ) 11,315 (70,983 ) Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates 17,429 42,857 11,979 — 72,265 Income tax provision 294 2,247 1,329 — 3,870 Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision — — 2,913 — 2,913 Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries 17,135 40,610 13,563 — 71,308 Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision 57,749 — — (57,749 ) — Net income $ 74,884 $ 40,610 $ 13,563 $ (57,749 ) $ 71,308 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 87 — 87 Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 74,884 $ 40,610 $ 13,650 $ (57,749 ) $ 71,395 Net income $ 74,884 $ 40,610 $ 13,563 $ (57,749 ) $ 71,308 Other comprehensive income, net of tax — 111 3,022 — 3,133 Total comprehensive income $ 74,884 $ 40,721 $ 16,585 $ (57,749 ) $ 74,441 Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — — 85 — 85 Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. $ 74,884 $ 40,721 $ 16,670 $ (57,749 ) $ 74,526
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) As of June 30, 2018 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 18,363 $ 11,156 $ 35,932 $ — $ 65,451 Restricted cash and cash equivalents 7,842 — 50,878 — 58,720 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 141,487 200,426 35,855 — 377,768 Contract receivable, current portion — — 9,398 — 9,398 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,391 22,293 11,079 — 35,763 Total current assets 170,083 233,875 143,142 — 547,100 Restricted Cash and Investments — 22,481 2,816 — 25,297 Property and Equipment, Net 826,324 1,210,293 87,936 — 2,124,553 Non-Current Contract Receivable — — 396,360 — 396,360 Intercompany Receivable 969,520 130,374 26,300 (1,126,194 ) — Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets 863 23,913 1,501 — 26,277 Goodwill — 775,955 424 — 776,379 Intangible Assets, Net — 242,911 638 — 243,549 Investment in Subsidiaries 1,512,288 458,228 2,190 (1,972,706 ) — Other Non-Current Assets 9,448 113,627 23,042 (79,062 ) 67,055 Total Assets $ 3,488,526 $ 3,211,657 $ 684,349 $ (3,177,962 ) $ 4,206,570 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Accounts payable $ 17,449 $ 67,292 $ 5,586 $ — $ 90,327 Accrued payroll and related taxes — 50,169 18,893 — 69,062 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 42,758 115,623 30,880 — 189,261 Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt 8,000 1,974 15,153 — 25,127 Total current liabilities 68,207 235,058 70,512 — 373,777 Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities — — 8,757 — 8,757 Intercompany Payable 122,124 968,622 35,448 (1,126,194 ) — Other Non-Current Liabilities 1,320 156,158 11,466 (79,062 ) 89,882 Capital Lease Obligations — 5,329 — — 5,329 Long-Term Debt 2,203,441 — 85,968 — 2,289,409 Non-Recourse Debt — — 346,479 — 346,479 Commitments & Contingencies and Other Shareholders' Equity: The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity 1,093,434 1,846,490 126,217 (1,972,706 ) 1,093,435 Noncontrolling Interests — — (498 ) — (498 ) Total Shareholders’ Equity 1,093,434 1,846,490 125,719 (1,972,706 ) 1,092,937 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 3,488,526 $ 3,211,657 $ 684,349 $ (3,177,962 ) $ 4,206,570 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (dollars in thousands) As of December 31, 2017 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 54,666 $ — $ 26,711 $ — $ 81,377 Restricted cash and cash equivalents — — 44,932 — 44,932 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 130,354 225,029 34,533 — 389,916 Contract receivable, current portion — — 18,142 — 18,142 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,589 24,163 18,590 — 45,342 Total current assets 187,609 249,192 142,908 — 579,709 Restricted Cash and Investments — 25,715 2,284 — 27,999 Property and Equipment, Net 777,404 1,209,816 90,903 — 2,078,123 Assets Held for Sale — 3,915 — — 3,915 Non-Current Contract Receivable — — 404,309 404,309 Intercompany Receivable 1,130,189 88,534 28,218 (1,246,941 ) — Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets 863 23,913 1,501 — 26,277 Goodwill — 778,504 447 — 778,951 Intangible Assets, Net — 254,531 808 — 255,339 Investment in Subsidiaries 1,336,665 456,076 2,190 (1,794,931 ) — Other Non-Current Assets 11,141 115,330 25,210 (79,395 ) 72,286 Total Assets $ 3,443,871 $ 3,205,526 $ 698,778 $ (3,121,267 ) $ 4,226,908 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Accounts payable $ 20,643 $ 65,475 $ 6,469 $ — $ 92,587 Accrued payroll and related taxes — 51,780 19,952 — 71,732 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 40,344 115,636 20,344 — 176,324 Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt 8,000 1,870 19,050 — 28,920 Total current liabilities 68,987 234,761 65,815 — 369,563 Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities — — 8,757 — 8,757 Intercompany Payable 79,984 1,129,590 37,367 (1,246,941 ) — Other Non-Current Liabilities 4,674 157,200 14,223 (79,395 ) 96,702 Capital Lease Obligations — 6,059 — — 6,059 Long-Term Debt 2,090,985 — 90,559 — 2,181,544 Non-Recourse Debt — — 365,364 — 365,364 Commitments & Contingencies and Other Shareholders' Equity: The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity 1,199,241 1,677,916 117,015 (1,794,931 ) 1,199,241 Noncontrolling Interests — — (322 ) — (322 ) Total Shareholders’ Equity 1,199,241 1,677,916 116,693 (1,794,931 ) 1,198,919 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 3,443,871 $ 3,205,526 $ 698,778 $ (3,121,267 ) $ 4,226,908
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Consolidated Cash Flow from Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities $ 118,354 $ 37,087 $ 24,812 $ 180,253 Cash Flow from Investing Activities: Insurance proceeds - damaged property — 4,036 — 4,036 Proceeds from sale of property and equipment — — 1,717 1,717 Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale — 3,797 — 3,797 Change in restricted investments — (1,490 ) — (1,490 ) Capital expenditures (68,607 ) (36,998 ) (1,459 ) (107,064 ) Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (68,607 ) (30,655 ) 258 (99,004 ) Cash Flow from Financing Activities: Proceeds from long-term debt 245,000 — — 245,000 Payments on long-term debt (134,000 ) — — (134,000 ) Payments on non-recourse debt — — (7,490 ) (7,490 ) Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards (4,391 ) — — (4,391 ) Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP 264 — — 264 Payment for repurchases of common stock (70,446 ) — — (70,446 ) Debt issuance costs (990 ) — — (990 ) Proceeds from stock options exercised 1,372 — — 1,372 Dividends paid (115,017 ) — — (115,017 ) Net cash used in financing activities (78,208 ) — (7,490 ) (85,698 ) Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents — — (1,881 ) (1,881 ) Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash. Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (28,461 ) 6,432 15,699 (6,330 ) Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period 54,666 4,952 73,927 133,545 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period $ 26,205 $ 11,384 $ 89,626 $ 127,215 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 The GEO Group, Inc. Combined Subsidiary Guarantors Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Consolidated Cash Flow from Operating Activities: Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 2,389 $ 62,559 $ (14,234 ) $ 50,714 Cash Flow from Investing Activities: Acquisition of CEC, net of cash acquired (354,466 ) — — (354,466 ) Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 648 — — 648 Change in restricted investments — (2,963 ) — (2,963 ) Capital expenditures (9,709 ) (53,629 ) (4,170 ) (67,508 ) Cash used in by investing activities (363,527 ) (56,592 ) (4,170 ) (424,289 ) Net cash used in investing activities Cash Flow from Financing Activities: Proceeds from long-term debt 1,158,574 — — 1,158,574 Payments on long-term debt (972,500 ) — — (972,500 ) Payments on non-recourse debt — — (67,885 ) (67,885 ) Proceeds from non-recourse debt — — 91,076 91,076 Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards (4,092 ) — — (4,092 ) Issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement 275,867 — — 275,867 Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP — — 242 242 Debt issuance costs (6,992 ) — (595 ) (7,587 ) Proceeds from stock options exercised 6,150 — — 6,150 Dividends paid (110,859 ) — — (110,859 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 346,148 — 22,838 368,986 Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents — — 1,907 1,907 Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (14,990 ) 5,967 6,341 (2,682 ) Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period 45,736 4,922 39,699 90,357 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period $ 30,746 $ 10,889 $ 46,040 $ 87,675

Basis of Presentation (Details)

Basis of Presentation (Details) person in Thousands, detainee in Thousands, bed in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018personfacilitydetaineebed
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of beds | bed	96
Correctional, detention and residential treatment facilities including projects under development | facility	139
Provision of monitoring services tracking offenders (more than 192,000) | person	192
Provision of monitoring services tracking offenders using technology products (in detainees) | detainee	100

Revenue Recognition (Details)

Revenue Recognition (Details)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017USD ($)bedcontract
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Domestic performance based revenues percent of consolidated domestic revenues (less than 1%)	1.00%
Performance obligation, expected timing of satisfaction, period	1 year
Performance obligation, payment required, period	30 days
Total Revenues	$ 1,148,426,000	$ 1,127,684,000
Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	535,609,000	525,195,000
Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	84,312,000	62,613,000
Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	45,901,000	43,390,000
Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	325,288,000	269,280,000
Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 0	91,165,000
Interest income, effective interest rate	8.97%
Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 157,316,000	136,041,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	727,670,000	708,769,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	535,609,000	525,195,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	192,061,000	183,574,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
GEO Care
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	290,006,000	243,130,000
GEO Care | Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
GEO Care | Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	84,312,000	62,613,000
GEO Care | Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	45,901,000	43,390,000
GEO Care | Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	2,477,000	1,086,000
GEO Care | Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
GEO Care | Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	157,316,000	136,041,000
International Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	130,750,000	84,620,000
International Services | Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
International Services | Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
International Services | Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
International Services | Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	130,750,000	84,620,000
International Services | Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
International Services | Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	91,165,000
Facility Construction and Design | Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
Facility Construction and Design | Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
Facility Construction and Design | Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
Facility Construction and Design | Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
Facility Construction and Design | Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	91,165,000
Facility Construction and Design | Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	$ 0
Department Of Justice, State Of Victoria | Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 0
Number of contracts | contract		1
Number of beds in detention facility | bed		1,300
Contract term	25 years	25 years

Business Combinations - Narrati

Business Combinations - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 05, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition of CEC, net of cash acquired				$ 0	$ 354,466
Community Education Centers
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of voting interests acquired	100.00%
Acquisition of CEC, net of cash acquired	$ 353,600
Measurement period adjustment			$ 1,000
Measurement period adjustment, valuation of an unfavorable contract liability			$ 1,400
Operating expenses		$ 2,300

Business Combinations - Assets

Business Combinations - Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 776,379	$ 778,951
Community Education Centers
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable	$ 32,869		32,869
Prepaid and other current assets	4,397		4,397
Property and equipment	126,510		126,510
Intangible assets	76,000		76,000
Favorable lease assets	3,110		3,110
Deferred income tax assets	4,160		4,116
Other non-current assets	4,327		4,327
Total assets acquired	251,373		251,329
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	50,312		51,651
Unfavorable lease liabilities	1,299		1,299
Other non-current liabilities	9,313		10,479
Total liabilities assumed	60,924		63,429
Total identifiable net assets	190,449		187,900
Goodwill	163,107		165,656
Total consideration paid, net of cash acquired	353,556		$ 353,556
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustments [Abstract]
Measurement Period Adjustments, Accounts Receivable	0
Measurement Period Adjustments, Prepaid and other current assets	0
Measurement Period Adjustments, Deferred income tax assets	44
Measurement Period Adjustments, Total assets acquired	44
Measurement Period Adjustments, Accounts payable and accrued	(1,339)
Measurement Period Adjustments, Other non-current liabilities	(1,166)
Measurement Period Adjustments, Total liabilities assumed	(2,505)
Measurement Period Adjustments, Total identifiable net assets	2,549
Measurement Period Adjustments, Goodwill	(2,549)
Measurement Period Adjustments, Total consideration paid, net of cash acquired	$ 0

Goodwill and Other Intangible44

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Goodwill (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning of period	$ 778,951
Acquisition Adjustments	(2,549)
Foreign Currency Translation	(23)
Goodwill, end of period	776,379
U.S. Corrections & Detention
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning of period	317,005
Acquisition Adjustments	(639)
Foreign Currency Translation	0
Goodwill, end of period	316,366
GEO Care
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning of period	461,499
Acquisition Adjustments	(1,910)
Foreign Currency Translation	0
Goodwill, end of period	459,589
International Services
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning of period	447
Acquisition Adjustments	0
Foreign Currency Translation	(23)
Goodwill, end of period	$ 424

Shareholders' Equity (Details)

Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Changes in shareholders' equity that are attributable to the Company's shareholders and to non controlling interests
Beginning Balance			$ 1,198,919
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			$ 1,372
Proceeds from exercise of stock options (shares)			77
Stock-based compensation expense			$ 10,787
Restricted stock granted			0
Restricted stock canceled			0
Dividends paid			(115,017)
Shares withheld for net settlements of share-based awards [1]			(4,391)
Issuance of common stock - ESPP			264
Repurchases of common stock			(70,446)
Net income (loss)	$ 37,325	$ 30,942	72,245	$ 71,308
Other comprehensive loss	(2,132)	$ 1,872	(796)	$ 3,133
Ending Balance	1,092,937		1,092,937
Common shares
Changes in shareholders' equity that are attributable to the Company's shareholders and to non controlling interests
Beginning Balance			$ 1,240
Beginning Balance, shares			124,008
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			$ 1
Proceeds from exercise of stock options (shares)			77
Restricted stock granted (shares)			896
Restricted stock granted			$ 9
Restricted stock canceled			$ 0
Restricted stock canceled (shares)			(28)
Shares withheld for net settlements of share-based awards [1]			$ (2)
Shares withheld for net settlements of share-based awards (shares)			(171)
Issuance of common stock - ESPP (shares)			12
Repurchases of common stock (shares)			(3,117)
Ending Balance	$ 1,248		$ 1,248
Ending Balance, shares	121,677		121,677
Additional Paid-In Capital
Changes in shareholders' equity that are attributable to the Company's shareholders and to non controlling interests
Beginning Balance			$ 1,190,906
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			1,371
Stock-based compensation expense			10,787
Restricted stock granted			(9)
Shares withheld for net settlements of share-based awards [1]			(4,389)
Issuance of common stock - ESPP			264
Ending Balance	$ 1,198,930		1,198,930
Earnings in Excess of Distributions
Changes in shareholders' equity that are attributable to the Company's shareholders and to non controlling interests
Beginning Balance			31,541
Dividends paid			(115,017)
Net income (loss)			72,408
Ending Balance	(11,068)		(11,068)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Changes in shareholders' equity that are attributable to the Company's shareholders and to non controlling interests
Beginning Balance			(24,446)
Other comprehensive loss			(783)
Ending Balance	(25,229)		(25,229)
Treasury shares
Changes in shareholders' equity that are attributable to the Company's shareholders and to non controlling interests
Beginning Balance			$ 0
Beginning Balance, shares			0
Repurchases of common stock			$ (70,446)
Repurchases of common stock (shares)			3,117
Ending Balance	$ (70,446)		$ (70,446)
Ending Balance, shares	3,117		3,117
Noncontrolling Interests
Changes in shareholders' equity that are attributable to the Company's shareholders and to non controlling interests
Beginning Balance			$ (322)
Net income (loss)			(163)
Other comprehensive loss			(13)
Ending Balance	$ (498)		$ (498)

Goodwill and Other Intangible46

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule of Finite and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated Amortization	$ (144,500)	$ (132,779)
Net Carrying Amount	198,349
Gross carrying amount	388,049	388,118
Total acquired intangible assets	243,549	255,339
Trade names
Schedule of Finite and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Trade name (Indefinite lived)	$ 45,200	45,200
Facility management contracts
Schedule of Finite and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Useful Life	16 years 3 months
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 308,449	308,518
Accumulated Amortization	(117,128)	(106,724)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 191,321	201,794
Covenants not to compete
Schedule of Finite and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Useful Life	1 year
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 700	700
Accumulated Amortization	(700)	(517)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 0	183
Technology
Schedule of Finite and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Useful Life	7 years 3 months
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 33,700	33,700
Accumulated Amortization	(26,672)	(25,538)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 7,028	$ 8,162

Shareholders' Equity - Dividend

Shareholders' Equity - Dividends Declared (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Apr. 11, 2018	Feb. 05, 2018	Oct. 12, 2017	Jul. 10, 2017	Apr. 25, 2017	Feb. 06, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
Minimum percentage of taxable income to be distributed as REIT	90.00%
Distribution Per Share (USD per share)		$ 0.47	$ 0.47	$ 0.47	$ 0.47	$ 0.47	$ 0.47
Aggregate Payment Amount		$ 57.4	$ 58.3	$ 58.3	$ 58.3	$ 58.4	$ 52.5

Goodwill and Other Intangible48

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Estimated Amortization Expense (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)
Estimated amortization expense for the remainder
Remainder of 2018	$ 11,171
2,019	22,305
2,020	22,306
2,021	19,782
2,022	18,138
Thereafter	104,647
Net Carrying Amount	$ 198,349

Shareholders' Equity - Stock Bu

Shareholders' Equity - Stock Buyback Program and Prospectus Supplement (Details) - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Feb. 14, 2018	Nov. 09, 2017
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock, value acquired	$ 70,446,000
Common shares | February 2018 Stock Buyback Program
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount		$ 200,000,000
Treasury stock, shares acquired (shares)	3,117,483
Treasury stock, value acquired	$ 70,400,000
Prospectus Supplement
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Maximum common stock value authorized under prospectus supplement			$ 150,000,000
Issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement (in shares)	0

Goodwill and Other Intangible50

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	$ 11.7	$ 11.6
Facility management contracts
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted average period	1 year 4 months 24 days

Shareholders' Equity - Componen

Shareholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,199,241
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(783)
Ending balance	1,093,435
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(7,470)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(4,527)
Ending balance	(11,997)
Change in fair value of derivatives, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(11,892)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	3,014
Ending balance	(8,878)
Pension adjustments, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(5,084)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	730
Ending balance	(4,354)
Total
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(24,446)
Ending balance	$ (25,229)

Financial Instruments (Details)

Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Liabilities:
Accounts receivable, transferred to third party	$ 6,900
Proceeds from sale of receivables	6,900
Recurring
Restricted investment:
Rabbi Trust	22,253	$ 20,763
Fixed income securities	1,839	1,902
Recurring | Interest rate swap derivatives
Liabilities:
Interest rate swap derivatives	10,445	13,992
Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Restricted investment:
Rabbi Trust	0	0
Fixed income securities	0	0
Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Interest rate swap derivatives
Liabilities:
Interest rate swap derivatives	0	0
Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Restricted investment:
Rabbi Trust	22,253	20,763
Fixed income securities	1,839	1,902
Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Interest rate swap derivatives
Liabilities:
Interest rate swap derivatives	10,445	13,992
Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Restricted investment:
Rabbi Trust	0	0
Fixed income securities	0	0
Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Interest rate swap derivatives
Liabilities:
Interest rate swap derivatives	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value of Assets and Liab53

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities - Carrying Values and Fair Values (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 65,451	$ 81,377	$ 65,901
Carrying Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	65,451	81,377
Restricted cash and investments	61,764	52,168
Liabilities:
Borrowings under senior credit facility	1,170,968	1,064,599
Non-recourse debt	368,143	393,737
Carrying Value | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024
Liabilities:
Senior notes	250,000	250,000
Carrying Value | 5.125% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior notes	300,000	300,000
Carrying Value | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022
Liabilities:
Senior notes	250,000	250,000
Carrying Value | 6.00% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior notes	350,000	350,000
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	65,451	81,377
Restricted cash and investments	61,764	52,168
Liabilities:
Borrowings under senior credit facility	1,175,906	1,070,514
Non-recourse debt	368,929	394,671
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024
Liabilities:
Senior notes	246,553	262,095
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | 5.125% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior notes	294,009	303,918
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022
Liabilities:
Senior notes	253,740	258,338
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | 6.00% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior notes	339,493	362,835
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 1
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	65,451	81,377
Restricted cash and investments	59,794	49,884
Liabilities:
Borrowings under senior credit facility	0	0
Non-recourse debt	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 1 | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024
Liabilities:
Senior notes	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 1 | 5.125% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior notes	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 1 | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022
Liabilities:
Senior notes	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 1 | 6.00% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior notes	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 2
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash and investments	1,970	2,284
Liabilities:
Borrowings under senior credit facility	1,175,906	1,070,514
Non-recourse debt	368,929	394,671
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 2 | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024
Liabilities:
Senior notes	246,553	262,095
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 2 | 5.125% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior notes	294,009	303,918
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 2 | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022
Liabilities:
Senior notes	253,740	258,338
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 2 | 6.00% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior notes	339,493	362,835
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 3
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash and investments	0	0
Liabilities:
Borrowings under senior credit facility	0	0
Non-recourse debt	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 3 | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024
Liabilities:
Senior notes	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 3 | 5.125% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior notes	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 3 | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022
Liabilities:
Senior notes	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Level 3 | 6.00% Senior Notes
Liabilities:
Senior notes	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value of Assets and Liab54

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities - Narrative (Details) - Senior Notes	Jun. 30, 2018
5.875% Senior Notes, due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.875%
5.125% Senior Notes, due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.125%
5.875% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.875%
6.00% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.00%

Restricted Cash and Cash Equi55

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 65,451	$ 81,377	$ 65,901
Restricted cash and cash equivalents - current	58,720		17,378
Restricted cash and investments - non-current	25,297		23,020
Less Restricted investments - non-current	(22,253)		(18,624)
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents shown in the statement of cash flows	$ 127,215	$ 133,545	$ 87,675	$ 90,357

Equity Incentive Plans - Stock

Equity Incentive Plans - Stock Option Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Shares
Options outstanding, Beginning Balance, Shares	1,230
Options granted, Shares	475
Options exercised, Shares	(77)
Options forfeited/canceled/expired, Shares	(67)
Options outstanding, Ending Balance, Shares	1,561	1,230
Options vested and expected to vest, ending balance, Shares	1,445
Options exercisable, ending balance, Shares	688
Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price
Options outstanding, Beginning Balance, Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 25.02
Options granted, Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	21.60
Options exercised, Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	19.24
Options forfeited/canceled/expired, Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	26.67
Options outstanding, Ending Balance, Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	24.19	$ 25.02
Options vested and expected to vest, ending balance, Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	24.20
Options exercisable, ending balance, Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 23.68
Options, Additional Disclosures
Options outstanding, Remaining Contractual Term	7 years 5 months 107 days	7 years 3 months 29 days
Options vested and expected to vest, ending balance, Wtd. Avg., Remaining Contractual Term	7 years 5 months 60 days
Options exercisable, ending balance, Wtd. Avg. Remaining Contractual Term	6 years 22 days
Options outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 7,376	$ 3,117
Options vested and expected to vest, ending balance, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	6,846
Options exercisable, ending balance, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 3,629

Equity Incentive Plans - Restri

Equity Incentive Plans - Restricted Stock Activity (Details) - Restricted Stock shares in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018$ / sharesshares
Shares
Restricted stock outstanding shares, Beginning Balance | shares	1,770
Granted shares (in shares) | shares	896
Vested shares | shares	(568)
Forfeited/canceled shares | shares	(28)
Restricted stock outstanding shares, Ending Balance | shares	2,070
Wtd. Avg. Grant Date Fair Value
Restricted stock outstanding Wtd. Avg. Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 30.47
Granted Wtd. Avg. Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	22.80
Vested Wtd. Avg. Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	28.55
Forfeited/canceled Wtd. Avg. Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	26.04
Restricted stock outstanding Wtd. Avg. Grant Date Fair Value, Ending Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 27.56

Equity Incentive Plans - Narrat

Equity Incentive Plans - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Apr. 24, 2018$ / sharesshares	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)shares	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)metricshares	Jun. 30, 2017USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options granted (in shares)			475,000
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility rate			44.50%
Beta			105.00%
Risk free interest rate			2.58%
Share based compensation expense | $			$ 10.4	$ 9.1
Unrecognized compensation costs related to non vested stock option awards | $		$ 42.3	$ 42.3
Expected weighted average period to recognize expense			2 years 7 months 2 days
Granted shares (in shares)			896,000
Number of annual performance metrics | metric			2
Restricted Stock | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period			3 years
Award vesting rights, percentage			0.00%
Restricted Stock | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period			4 years
Award vesting rights, percentage			200.00%
Employee Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Discount on purchase of Common Stock for employee from the current market price			5.00%
Maximum shares authorized under ESPP for sale offer to eligible employees (in shares)		750,000	750,000
Shares issued (in shares)		12,035
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility rate			39.69%
Expected term			5 years
Risk free interest rate			2.84%
Expected dividend yield			8.70%
Grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 3.64
Options granted (in shares)	475,000
Share based compensation expense | $			$ 0.4	$ 0.9
Unrecognized compensation costs related to non vested stock option awards | $		$ 2.6	$ 2.6
Expected weighted average period to recognize expense			3 years 2 months 20 days
2018 Stock Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares available for issuance	4,600,000
Certain Employees and Executive Officers | Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted shares (in shares)			896,000
Certain Employees and Executive Officers | Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted shares (in shares)			352,500
Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member] | Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period			3 years
Award vesting rights, percentage			50.00%
Award performance period			3 years
Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two [Member] | Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage			50.00%
Award performance period			3 years

- Earnings Per Share Calculatio

- Earnings Per Share Calculation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Net income	$ 37,325	$ 30,942	$ 72,245	$ 71,308
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	96	50	163	87
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 37,421	$ 30,992	$ 72,408	$ 71,395
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	120,274	122,125	121,017	117,885
Per share amount (USD per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.60	$ 0.61
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	120,274	122,125	121,017	117,885
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans (in shares)	385	770	444	817
Weighted average shares assuming dilution (in shares)	120,659	122,895	121,461	118,702
Income from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.60	$ 0.60

Earnings Per Share - Anti-dilut

Earnings Per Share - Anti-dilutive Shares Excluded from Diluted EPS (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share			821,206
Restricted Stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	709,153	175,385	719,184	554,201
Stock Options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	969,655	486,018		561,129

Derivative Financial Instrume61

Derivative Financial Instruments - Australia Ravenhall (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018AUD ($)
Derivative [Line Items]
Unrealized gain, net of tax, related to cash flow hedge	$ 2,278,000	$ 1,295,000	$ 3,014,000	$ 816,000
Ravenhall, Australia
Derivative [Line Items]
Ineffective portion of Cash Flow Hedge interest rate swap			0
Ravenhall, Australia | Other Noncurrent Liabilities
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of the swap liability	$ 10,400,000		$ 10,400,000
Ravenhall, Australia | Operating phase | Interest Rate Swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate on derivative	4.20%		4.20%		4.20%
Notional amount coincide with the terms of the non-recourse debt	$ 339,000,000		$ 339,000,000		$ 457
Ravenhall, Australia | Cash Flow Hedge
Derivative [Line Items]
Unrealized gain, net of tax, related to cash flow hedge			$ 3,000,000

Debt - Debt Outstanding (Detail

Debt - Debt Outstanding (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan	$ 790,000	$ 794,000
Unamortized debt issuance expense	(7,562)	(7,612)
Revolver	380,968	270,559
Total Senior Credit Facility	1,160,217	1,053,448
Unamortized discount	(3,189)	(3,499)
Capital Lease Obligations	6,758	7,431
Other debt	2,757	2,728
Total debt	2,666,344	2,581,887
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	(25,127)	(28,920)
Capital Lease Obligations, long-term portion	(5,329)	(6,059)
Non-Recourse Debt, long-term portion	(346,479)	(365,364)
Long-Term Debt	2,289,409	2,181,544
Non-Recourse Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance expense	(6,511)	(9,322)
Non-Recourse Debt	368,358	394,008
Unamortized discount	(215)	(271)
Total Non-Recourse Debt	361,632	384,415
6.00% Senior Notes | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	350,000	350,000
Unamortized debt issuance expense	(5,078)	(5,325)
Long-term Debt	$ 344,922	344,675
Interest rate	6.00%
5.875% Senior Notes, due 2024 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	$ 250,000	250,000
Unamortized debt issuance expense	(3,183)	(3,385)
Long-term Debt	$ 246,817	246,615
Interest rate	5.875%
5.125% Senior Notes, due 2023 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	$ 300,000	300,000
Unamortized debt issuance expense	(3,873)	(4,184)
Long-term Debt	$ 296,127	295,816
Interest rate	5.125%
5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	$ 250,000	250,000
Unamortized debt issuance expense	(2,886)	(3,241)
Long-term Debt	$ 247,114	$ 246,759
Interest rate	5.875%

Debt - Amended Credit Agreement

Debt - Amended Credit Agreement (Details)	Apr. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018AUD ($)	Apr. 30, 2018AUD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loan costs		$ 7,562,000			$ 7,612,000
Term loan		790,000,000			794,000,000
Revolver		$ 380,968,000			$ 270,559,000
Weighted average interest rate		4.20%	4.20%
Revolver
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolver		$ 381,000,000
Additional Revolver
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity increase		449,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Amended Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 900,000,000
Total leverage ratio, maximum	6.25			6.25
Senior secured leverage ratio	3.50			3.50
Interest coverage ratio	3			3
Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Amended Credit Agreement | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.25%			2.25%
Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt		70,000,000
Letter of Credit | Line of Credit | Amended Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity				$ 275,000,000
Loan costs	$ 1,000,000
Letter of Credit | Line of Credit | Bank Guarantee and Standby Sub Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		74,100,000	$ 100,000,000
Accordion | Line of Credit | Amended Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Accordion feature, increase limit	450,000,000
Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan		$ 790,000,000
Term Loan | Line of Credit | Amended Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 792,000,000
Term Loan | Line of Credit | Amended Credit Agreement | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.00%			2.00%
Interest rate	0.75%			0.75%

Debt - Senior Notes (Details)

Debt - Senior Notes (Details) - Senior Notes	Jun. 30, 2018
6.00% Senior Notes, due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.00%
5.875% Senior Notes, due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.875%
5.125% Senior Notes, due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.125%
5.875% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.875%

Debt - Non-Recourse Debt (Detai

Debt - Non-Recourse Debt (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018AUD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018AUD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents - current	$ 58,720		$ 58,720			$ 17,378
Revolver	380,968		$ 380,968		$ 270,559
Australian Subsidiaries, Non-Recourse Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			1.40%
Non-Recourse Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Non-recourse debt	361,632		$ 361,632		$ 384,415
National Australia Bank Limited | Construction Facility | Non-Recourse Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			2.00%
Northwest Detention Center | Non-Recourse Debt, Northwest Detention Center
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents - current	8,300		$ 8,300
Northwest Detention Center | Non-Recourse Debt, 2011 Revenue Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount	$ 54,400		$ 54,400
Interest rate	5.25%		5.25%	5.25%
Non-recourse debt	$ 30,000		$ 30,000
Current portion of non recourse debt	7,000		7,000
Ravenhall | National Australia Bank Limited | Construction Facility | Non-Recourse Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	586,000		586,000	$ 791,000,000
Capital contribution from GEO	85,200	$ 115,000,000
Lump sum due at completion	230,000		230,000	$ 310,000,000
Revolver	$ 338,000		$ 338,000

Debt - Guarantees (Details)

Debt - Guarantees (Details) - 6 months ended Jun. 30, 2018 £ in Millions, $ in Millions	ZAR (R)	USD ($)guarantee	AUD ($)guarantee	ZAR (R)guarantee	GBP (£)guarantee
Geo Amey
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in South African Custodial Services Pty. Limited	50.00%
Working capital line of credit issued to GEOAmey		$ 15,800,000			£ 12
Note receivable for GEOAmey		$ 1,700,000			£ 1.3
Ravenhall
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of letters of guarantee outstanding under separate international facilities relating to performance guarantees | guarantee		10	10	10	10
Letters of credit outstanding relating to performance guarantees		$ 15,100,000
Ravenhall | Letter of Credit | Revolver
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Guaranteed obligations		74,100,000	$ 100
SACS
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Guaranteed obligations		200,000		R 2,400,000
Remaining guarantee under letter of credit | R	R 2,400,000
Maximum loan amount under standby facility		1,500,000		R 20,000,000
Amount funded		$ 0

Commitments, Contingencies an67

Commitments, Contingencies and Other (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 19, 2017claim	Sep. 20, 2017claim	Sep. 09, 2017claim	Dec. 19, 2017claim	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)facilitybed
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible loss					$ 19.6
Estimated construction capital project cost					247
Cost already spent on existing capital projects					171
Remaining capital required for capital projects					$ 76
Number of vacant beds at idle facilities marketed to potential customers | bed					4,700
Number of marketed idle facilities | facility					4
Property and Equipment
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Carrying values of idle facilities marketed to potential customers					$ 122.5
Pending Litigation | Immigration Detainees Against Company
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
New claims filed, number | claim				3
WASHINGTON | Pending Litigation | Immigration Detainees Against Company
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
New claims filed, number | claim		2	1
CALIFORNIA | Pending Litigation | Immigration Detainees Against Company
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
New claims filed, number | claim	1

Business Segments and Geograp68

Business Segments and Geographic Information - Operating and Reporting Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Operating Income:
Operating income	$ 66,951	$ 54,553	$ 131,401	$ 118,925
Operating Segments
Revenues:
Revenues	583,509	577,070	1,148,426	1,127,684
Operating Income:
Operating income	114,399	106,759	220,681	213,717
Operating Segments | U.S. Corrections & Detention
Revenues:
Revenues	368,989	360,838	727,670	708,769
Operating Income:
Operating income	77,318	69,801	146,506	144,697
Operating Segments | GEO Care
Revenues:
Revenues	149,928	139,364	290,006	243,130
Operating Income:
Operating income	35,139	36,533	66,831	65,359
Operating Segments | International Services
Revenues:
Revenues	64,592	42,928	130,750	84,620
Operating Income:
Operating income	1,942	2,117	7,344	5,003
Operating Segments | Facility Construction and Design
Revenues:
Revenues	0	33,940	0	91,165
Operating Income:
Operating income	$ 0	$ (1,692)	$ 0	$ (1,342)

Business Segments and Geograp69

Business Segments and Geographic Information - Income Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Pre-Tax Income Reconciliation of Segments
Total operating income from segments	$ 66,951	$ 54,553	$ 131,401	$ 118,925
Unallocated Amount:
General and Administrative Expenses	(47,448)	(52,206)	(89,280)	(94,792)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	38,699	30,916	76,379	72,265
Operating Segments
Pre-Tax Income Reconciliation of Segments
Total operating income from segments	114,399	106,759	220,681	213,717
Segment Reconciling Items
Unallocated Amount:
General and Administrative Expenses	(47,448)	(52,206)	(89,280)	(94,792)
Net Interest Expense	$ (28,252)	$ (23,637)	$ (55,022)	$ (46,660)

Business Segments and Geograp70

Business Segments and Geographic Information - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)segment	Jun. 30, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of reportable business segments | segment			4
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	$ 2,341	$ 1,426	$ 4,336	$ 2,913
Investment in affiliate	0		$ 0		$ 0
SACS
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in entity			50.00%
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	2,100	1,200	$ 3,700	2,300
Investment in joint venture	16,000		$ 16,000		18,100
Geo Amey
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in entity			50.00%
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	200	$ 300	$ 600	$ 600
Investment in affiliate	$ 3,300		$ 3,300		$ 2,700

Benefit Plans - Funded Status o

Benefit Plans - Funded Status of Plan (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period			$ 32,820	$ 28,624	$ 28,624
Service cost	$ 300	$ 250	600	501	1,001
Interest cost	310	$ 307	621	617	1,228
Actuarial loss			0		2,474
Benefits paid			(228)		(507)
Projected benefit obligation, end of period	33,813		33,813		32,820
Change in Plan Assets
Plan assets at fair value, beginning of period			0	$ 0	0
Company contributions			228		507
Benefits paid			(228)		(507)
Plan assets at fair value, end of period	0		0		0
Unfunded Status of the Plan	$ (33,813)		$ (33,813)		$ (32,820)

Benefit Plans - Components of N

Benefit Plans - Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$ 300	$ 250	$ 600	$ 501	$ 1,001
Interest cost	310	307	621	617	$ 1,228
Net loss	133	73	266	145
Net periodic pension cost	$ 743	$ 630	$ 1,487	$ 1,263

Benefit Plans - Narrative (Deta

Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Long-term portion of the pension liability	$ 33.4	$ 32.4

Condensed Consolidating Finan74

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 583,509	$ 577,070	$ 1,148,426	$ 1,127,684
Operating expenses	437,797	438,445	864,506	853,152
Depreciation and amortization	31,313	31,866	63,239	60,815
General and administrative expenses	47,448	52,206	89,280	94,792
Total operating income from segments	66,951	54,553	131,401	118,925
Interest income	8,667	12,346	17,766	24,323
Interest expense	(36,919)	(35,983)	(72,788)	(70,983)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	38,699	30,916	76,379	72,265
Income tax provision	3,715	1,400	8,470	3,870
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	2,341	1,426	4,336	2,913
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	37,325	30,942	72,245	71,308
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	37,325	30,942	72,245	71,308
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	96	50	163	87
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	37,421	30,992	72,408	71,395
Net income	37,325	30,942	72,245	71,308
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,132)	1,872	(796)	3,133
Total comprehensive income	35,193	32,814	71,449	74,441
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	117	51	176	85
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	35,310	32,865	71,625	74,526
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	202,186	171,260	397,816	349,433
Operating expenses	161,122	135,244	312,944	267,411
Depreciation and amortization	6,564	6,065	13,024	12,215
General and administrative expenses	16,281	15,573	30,622	29,240
Total operating income from segments	18,219	14,378	41,226	40,567
Interest income	3,406	6,751	7,583	10,105
Interest expense	(19,647)	(17,451)	(38,269)	(33,243)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	1,978	3,678	10,540	17,429
Income tax provision	716	147	893	294
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	1,262	3,531	9,647	17,135
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	36,063	27,411	62,598	57,749
Net income	37,325	30,942	72,245	74,884
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	37,325	30,942	72,245	74,884
Net income	37,325	30,942	72,245	74,884
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	37,325	30,942	72,245	74,884
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	37,325	30,942	72,245	74,884
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	474,966	465,286	933,694	878,480
Operating expenses	381,040	373,399	759,006	711,398
Depreciation and amortization	23,695	24,906	48,138	46,781
General and administrative expenses	25,738	29,432	48,185	50,413
Total operating income from segments	44,493	37,549	78,365	69,888
Interest income	1,447	409	2,864	1,229
Interest expense	(13,959)	(15,775)	(28,419)	(28,260)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	31,981	22,183	52,810	42,857
Income tax provision	1,442	793	3,742	2,247
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	30,539	21,390	49,068	40,610
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	30,539	21,390	49,068	40,610
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	30,539	21,390	49,068	40,610
Net income	30,539	21,390	49,068	40,610
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	625	64	730	111
Total comprehensive income	31,164	21,454	49,798	40,721
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	31,164	21,454	49,798	40,721
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	67,256	79,436	136,062	180,920
Operating expenses	56,534	68,714	111,702	155,492
Depreciation and amortization	1,054	895	2,077	1,819
General and administrative expenses	5,429	7,201	10,473	15,139
Total operating income from segments	4,239	2,626	11,810	8,470
Interest income	8,908	12,476	18,292	24,304
Interest expense	(8,407)	(10,047)	(17,073)	(20,795)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	4,740	5,055	13,029	11,979
Income tax provision	1,557	460	3,835	1,329
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	2,341	1,426	4,336	2,913
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	5,524	6,021	13,530	13,563
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	5,524	6,021	13,530	13,563
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	96	50	163	87
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	5,620	6,071	13,693	13,650
Net income	5,524	6,021	13,530	13,563
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,757)	1,808	(1,526)	3,022
Total comprehensive income	2,767	7,829	12,004	16,585
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	117	51	176	85
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	2,884	7,880	12,180	16,670
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(160,899)	(138,912)	(319,146)	(281,149)
Operating expenses	(160,899)	(138,912)	(319,146)	(281,149)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Total operating income from segments	0	0	0	0
Interest income	(5,094)	(7,290)	(10,973)	(11,315)
Interest expense	5,094	7,290	10,973	11,315
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(36,063)	(27,411)	(62,598)	(57,749)
Net income	(36,063)	(27,411)	(62,598)	(57,749)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(36,063)	(27,411)	(62,598)	(57,749)
Net income	(36,063)	(27,411)	(62,598)	(57,749)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(36,063)	(27,411)	(62,598)	(57,749)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (36,063)	$ (27,411)	$ (62,598)	$ (57,749)

Condensed Consolidating Finan75

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 65,451	$ 81,377	$ 65,901
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	58,720	44,932
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	377,768	389,916
Contract receivable, current portion	9,398	18,142
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	35,763	45,342
Total current assets	547,100	579,709
Restricted Cash and Investments	25,297	27,999
Property and Equipment, Net	2,124,553	2,078,123
Assets Held for Sale	0	3,915
Non-Current Contract Receivable	396,360	404,309
Intercompany Receivable	0	0
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	26,277	26,277
Goodwill	776,379	778,951
Intangible Assets, Net	243,549	255,339
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other Non-Current Assets	67,055	72,286
Total Assets	4,206,570	4,226,908
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	90,327	92,587
Accrued payroll and related taxes	69,062	71,732
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	189,261	176,324
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	25,127	28,920
Total current liabilities	373,777	369,563
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	8,757	8,757
Intercompany Payable	0	0
Other Non-Current Liabilities	89,882	96,702
Capital Lease Obligations	5,329	6,059
Long-Term Debt	2,289,409	2,181,544
Non-Recourse Debt	346,479	365,364
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	1,093,435	1,199,241
Noncontrolling interests	(498)	(322)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,092,937	1,198,919
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	4,206,570	4,226,908
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group, Inc.
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	18,363	54,666
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	7,842	0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	141,487	130,354
Contract receivable, current portion	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,391	2,589
Total current assets	170,083	187,609
Restricted Cash and Investments	0	0
Property and Equipment, Net	826,324	777,404
Assets Held for Sale		0
Non-Current Contract Receivable	0	0
Intercompany Receivable	969,520	1,130,189
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	863	863
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible Assets, Net	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,512,288	1,336,665
Other Non-Current Assets	9,448	11,141
Total Assets	3,488,526	3,443,871
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	17,449	20,643
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0	0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	42,758	40,344
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	8,000	8,000
Total current liabilities	68,207	68,987
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0	0
Intercompany Payable	122,124	79,984
Other Non-Current Liabilities	1,320	4,674
Capital Lease Obligations	0	0
Long-Term Debt	2,203,441	2,090,985
Non-Recourse Debt	0	0
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	1,093,434	1,199,241
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,093,434	1,199,241
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,488,526	3,443,871
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	11,156	0
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	200,426	225,029
Contract receivable, current portion	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	22,293	24,163
Total current assets	233,875	249,192
Restricted Cash and Investments	22,481	25,715
Property and Equipment, Net	1,210,293	1,209,816
Assets Held for Sale		3,915
Non-Current Contract Receivable	0	0
Intercompany Receivable	130,374	88,534
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	23,913	23,913
Goodwill	775,955	778,504
Intangible Assets, Net	242,911	254,531
Investment in Subsidiaries	458,228	456,076
Other Non-Current Assets	113,627	115,330
Total Assets	3,211,657	3,205,526
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	67,292	65,475
Accrued payroll and related taxes	50,169	51,780
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	115,623	115,636
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	1,974	1,870
Total current liabilities	235,058	234,761
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0	0
Intercompany Payable	968,622	1,129,590
Other Non-Current Liabilities	156,158	157,200
Capital Lease Obligations	5,329	6,059
Long-Term Debt	0	0
Non-Recourse Debt	0	0
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	1,846,490	1,677,916
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,846,490	1,677,916
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,211,657	3,205,526
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	35,932	26,711
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	50,878	44,932
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	35,855	34,533
Contract receivable, current portion	9,398	18,142
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	11,079	18,590
Total current assets	143,142	142,908
Restricted Cash and Investments	2,816	2,284
Property and Equipment, Net	87,936	90,903
Assets Held for Sale		0
Non-Current Contract Receivable	396,360	404,309
Intercompany Receivable	26,300	28,218
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	1,501	1,501
Goodwill	424	447
Intangible Assets, Net	638	808
Investment in Subsidiaries	2,190	2,190
Other Non-Current Assets	23,042	25,210
Total Assets	684,349	698,778
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	5,586	6,469
Accrued payroll and related taxes	18,893	19,952
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	30,880	20,344
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	15,153	19,050
Total current liabilities	70,512	65,815
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	8,757	8,757
Intercompany Payable	35,448	37,367
Other Non-Current Liabilities	11,466	14,223
Capital Lease Obligations	0	0
Long-Term Debt	85,968	90,559
Non-Recourse Debt	346,479	365,364
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	126,217	117,015
Noncontrolling interests	(498)	(322)
Total shareholders’ equity	125,719	116,693
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	684,349	698,778
Eliminations
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	0	0
Contract receivable, current portion	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	0	0
Total current assets	0	0
Restricted Cash and Investments	0	0
Property and Equipment, Net	0	0
Assets Held for Sale		0
Non-Current Contract Receivable	0
Intercompany Receivable	(1,126,194)	(1,246,941)
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible Assets, Net	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(1,972,706)	(1,794,931)
Other Non-Current Assets	(79,062)	(79,395)
Total Assets	(3,177,962)	(3,121,267)
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable	0	0
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0	0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	0	0
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	0	0
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0	0
Intercompany Payable	(1,126,194)	(1,246,941)
Other Non-Current Liabilities	(79,062)	(79,395)
Capital Lease Obligations	0	0
Long-Term Debt	0	0
Non-Recourse Debt	0	0
Commitments & Contingencies and Other
The GEO Group, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	(1,972,706)	(1,794,931)
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total shareholders’ equity	(1,972,706)	(1,794,931)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ (3,177,962)	$ (3,121,267)

Condensed Consolidating Finan76

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 180,253	$ 50,714
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,717	648
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	3,797	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	4,036	0
Change in restricted investments	(1,490)	(2,963)
Capital expenditures	(107,064)	(67,508)
Net cash used in investing activities	(99,004)	(424,289)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	245,000	1,158,574
Payments on long-term debt	(134,000)	(972,500)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(7,490)	(67,885)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	0	91,076
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,391)	(4,092)
Payment for repurchases of common stock	(70,446)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	264	242
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering	0	275,867
Debt issuance costs	(990)	(7,587)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	1,372	6,150
Cash dividends paid	(115,017)	(110,859)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(85,698)	368,986
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(1,881)	1,907
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(6,330)	(2,682)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	133,545	90,357
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	127,215	87,675
The GEO Group, Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	118,354	2,389
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		648
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(68,607)	(9,709)
Net cash used in investing activities	(68,607)	(363,527)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	245,000	1,158,574
Payments on long-term debt	(134,000)	(972,500)
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt		0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,391)	(4,092)
Payment for repurchases of common stock	(70,446)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	264	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering		275,867
Debt issuance costs	(990)	(6,992)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	1,372	6,150
Cash dividends paid	(115,017)	(110,859)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(78,208)	346,148
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(28,461)	(14,990)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	54,666	45,736
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	26,205	30,746
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	37,087	62,559
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	3,797
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	4,036
Change in restricted investments	(1,490)	(2,963)
Capital expenditures	(36,998)	(53,629)
Net cash used in investing activities	(30,655)	(56,592)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt		0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Payment for repurchases of common stock	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering		0
Debt issuance costs	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	0	0
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	6,432	5,967
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	4,952	4,922
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	11,384	10,889
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	24,812	(14,234)
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(1,459)	(4,170)
Net cash used in investing activities	258	(4,170)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	(7,490)	(67,885)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt		91,076
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Payment for repurchases of common stock	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	242
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering		0
Debt issuance costs	0	(595)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(7,490)	22,838
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(1,881)	1,907
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	15,699	6,341
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	73,927	39,699
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 89,626	$ 46,040

Condensed Consolidating Finan77

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Narrative (Details)	Jun. 30, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of subsidiary owned	100.00%
Senior Notes | 6.00% Senior Notes, due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes bear interest at a rate	6.00%
Senior Notes | Senior Notes Due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes bear interest at a rate	5.125%
Senior Notes | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes bear interest at a rate	5.875%
Senior Notes | 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes bear interest at a rate	5.875%

Subsequent Events (Details)

Subsequent Events (Details) - $ / shares	Jul. 10, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.47	$ 0.47	$ 0.94	$ 0.94
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47