Shareholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		May 08, 2013
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 2,670,000	[1]	$ 2,670,000	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to Parent					(6,368,000)
Ending Balance	(3,698,000)	[1]			(3,698,000)	[1]
Minimum percentage of taxable income to be distributed as REIT					90.00%
Cash dividend	$ 0.50		$ 0.50
Maximum common stock value authorized under prospectus supplement							100,000,000
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			5,755,000	[1]	5,755,000	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to Parent					(6,589,000)
Ending Balance	(834,000)	[1]			(834,000)	[1]
Unrealized (loss)/gain on derivatives, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(457,000)		(457,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to Parent					140,000
Ending Balance	(317,000)				(317,000)
Pension adjustments, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(2,628,000)		(2,628,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to Parent					81,000
Ending Balance	$ (2,547,000)				$ (2,547,000)

[1] The foreign currency translation, net of tax, related to noncontrolling interests was not significant at June 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012, respectively.