Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 53,161		$ 31,755
Restricted cash and investments (including VIEs of $0 and $6,182, respectively)	9,337	[1]	15,654	[1]
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,891 and $2,546, respectively	244,558		246,635
Current deferred income tax assets	18,290		18,290
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	48,481		24,849
Total current assets	373,827		337,183
Restricted Cash and Investments (including VIEs of $0 and $15,521, respectively)	24,303		32,756
Property and Equipment, Net (including VIEs of $0 and $25,840, respectively)	1,729,407		1,687,159
Assets Held for Sale	1,200		3,243
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	19,310		26,757
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	2,532		2,532
Goodwill	490,230		490,308
Intangible Assets, Net	167,085		178,318
Other Non-Current Assets	87,511		80,938
Total Assets	2,895,405		2,839,194
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	46,057		50,110
Accrued payroll and related taxes	46,437		39,322
Accrued expenses	119,268		116,557
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt (including VIEs of $0 and $5,200, respectively)	17,120		53,882
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	2,265		0
Total current liabilities	231,147		259,871
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	15,703		15,703
Other Non-Current Liabilities	74,224		82,025
Capital Lease Obligations	11,177		11,926
Long-Term Debt	1,448,233		1,317,529
Non-Recourse Debt (including VIEs of $0 and $16,997 respectively)	80,548		104,836
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)
Shareholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding	0		0
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 90,000,000 shares authorized, 86,637,734 and 86,007,433 issued and 72,054,307 and 71,417,034 outstanding, respectively	866		860
Additional paid-in capital	845,019		832,230
Earnings in excess of distributions	244,665		264,667
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,041)		2,670
Treasury stock, 14,583,427 and 14,590,399 shares, at cost, respectively	(53,590)		(53,615)
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,033,919		1,046,812
Noncontrolling interests	454		492
Total shareholders’ equity	1,034,373		1,047,304
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ 2,895,405		$ 2,839,194

[1] Variable interest entities or “VIEs”