Variable Interest Entities And Investment In Affiliates (Details Textual)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended							6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2011 director	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($) bed	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 South Texas Detention Complex Carrying Value USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary South Texas Detention Complex Carrying Value Subordinate Notes STLDC USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary South Texas Detention Complex Carrying Value Subordinate Notes STLDC USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 South African Custodial Services Pty Limited USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 South African Custodial Services Pty Limited USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2011 Geo Amey GBP (£)	Jun. 30, 2013 Geo Amey USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Geo Amey GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2012 Geo Amey USD ($)	Feb. 02, 2012 Geo Amey GBP (£)
Variable Interest Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of beds in detention Complex		1,904
Aggregate principal amount of taxable revenue bonds				$ 49,500,000
Term period of non-recourse bonds of the Company		10 years
Property and equipment, net		1,739,986,000	1,687,159,000		25,544,000	25,840,000	25,700,000	25,800,000
Ownership percentage in South African Custodial Services Pty. Limited		50.00%							50.00%
Life term of contract									25 years
Reduction of government guarantee in case of default		80.00%
Equity Method Investments									8,300,000	7,800,000		(4,400,000)		(4,100,000)
Not consolidated owned joint venture in United kingdom		50.00%
Issued share capital											100
Issued share capital divided in no. of share															100
Par value of share issued															£ 1
Directors appointed to board by each party	3
Lines of credit provided by GEO UK and Amey												18,300,000	12,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding												$ 18,400,000	£ 12,100,000