What We Do and Don’t Do


  • We believe GEO facilities are by comparison, among the best in the U.S. and the world.

  • We believe GEO facilities are substantially newer than the majority of government facilities, and are all fully air-conditioned.

  • Less than 8% of U.S. corrections and detention facilities are managed and/or operated by private-sector contractors.

  • We believe GEO’s facilities are highly rated by independent accreditation entities including the American Correctional Association. the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, and the Joint Commission

  • We advocate for public-private partnerships that deliver private sector solutions to public sector challenges with strict government oversight.

  • GEO facilities typically have onsite, full-time government monitors.

  • We are a federal government services provider delivering support services, including transportation, civil detention, and alternatives to detention to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

  • We believe we provide quality support services for modern immigration processing centers under contracts with DHS, which have such amenities as 24/7 access to healthcare, including medical, dental, and mental health services; multilingual informational ‘Know Your Rights’ materials and translation services; artificial turf soccer fields; flat screen TVs in living areas; indoor and outdoor recreation; classrooms and multipurpose rooms; and leisure and legal libraries.

  • We proudly operate in accordance with the Performance-Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS), inclusive of applicable waivers, established under President Obama’s Administration.

  • We believe we provide safe and humane residential care for individuals during the adjudication of their civil immigration cases, with an average length of stay of approximately 60 days.

  • With respect to our state customers, GEO is proud to be a world leader in offender rehabilitation through our award-winning GEO Continuum of Care® program.

  • The GEO Continuum of Care® (CoC) is enhanced in-custody offender rehabilitation programming, including cognitive behavioral treatment, integrated with post–release support services.

  • At the Corporate Office level, the CoC Program is administered by the GEO Continuum of Care® Division with subject matter experts in education, cognitive behavioral treatment, substance abuse treatment, post-release services, CoC training, and quality assurance.

  • On any typical day, there are approximately 20,000 participants enrolled in GEO offender rehabilitation programming, which resulted in 206 million programming hours completed during 2020 despite COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

  • GEO’s CoC rehabilitation program includes cognitive behavioral therapy that identifies the individual’s criminogenic risks and develops an appropriate treatment plan.

  • The Corporate CoC Division Case Managers coordinate with the facility Case Managers regarding the progress and eventual release of the CoC participants.

  • At GEO’s Corporate Office, a team of Post-Release Case Managers provide post-release support services on a 24/7 basis, aiding individuals in fulfilling their most critical needs following their release back into the community.

  • Identified needs include housing, clothing, food, employment, and transportation assistance.

  • We don’t provide services for any shelters or facilities housing unaccompanied migrant minors.

  • We don’t provide services for any border patrol holding facilities along the U.S. Southwest border or anywhere in the United States.

  • We don’t provide services for any facilities with tent structures or chain-link fencing in housing areas.

  • We don’t provide services for any facilities that are overcrowded

  • We don't deny care or treatment to detainees who are pregnant, ill or suffering from mental illness.

  • We are not involved in forced separation of families.

  • We do not subject any individuals in our care to forced or involuntary labor. At many GEO Facilities, GEO administers a Voluntary Work Program in accordance with government agency partner directives and standards.

  • We don’t play a role in passing criminal justice or immigration laws, and we have never advocated for or against criminal justice or immigration enforcement policies.