Shareholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		May 08, 2013
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				$ 2,670,000		$ 2,670,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to Parent						(5,711,000)
Ending Balance	(3,041,000)					(3,041,000)
Minimum percentage of taxable income to be distributed as REIT						90.00%
Cash dividend	$ 0.50		$ 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						(5,970,000)	[1]
Ending Balance	(215,000)	[1]				(215,000)	[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						138,000
Ending Balance	(319,000)					(319,000)
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						121,000
Ending Balance	$ (2,507,000)					$ (2,507,000)

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