Earnings Per Share From Continuing Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 32,174	$ 14,535	$ 89,831	$ 49,145
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12)	890	(42)	881
Net income from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 32,162	$ 15,425	$ 89,789	$ 50,026
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	71,201,000	60,906,000	71,046,000	60,838,000
Per share amount from continuing operations	$ 0.45	$ 0.25	$ 1.26	$ 0.82
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	71,201,000	60,906,000	71,046,000	60,838,000
Effect of dilutive securities: Stock options and restricted stock	454,000	396,000	511,000	245,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	71,655,000	61,302,000	71,557,000	61,083,000
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.25	$ 1.25	$ 0.82
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	0		0
Restricted Stock [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	1,589	0		538
Stock Options [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share		24,303		59,915