Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 379,842	$ 369,116	$ 1,138,526	$ 1,100,331
Operating expenses	283,903	268,142	843,946	808,003
Depreciation and amortization	23,888	22,944	70,480	68,145
General and administrative expenses	27,222	26,428	86,625	79,143
Operating income	44,829	51,602	137,475	145,040
Interest income	1,084	1,651	3,433	5,219
Interest expense	(21,569)	(20,605)	(62,013)	(62,029)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(1,451)	(8,462)	(6,978)	(8,462)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	22,893	24,186	71,917	79,768
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(7,755)	10,125	(14,142)	32,275
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,526	474	3,772	1,652
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	32,174	14,535	89,831	49,145
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	32,174	14,535	89,831	49,145
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(2,265)	192	(2,265)	3,117
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12)	890	(42)	881
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	29,897	15,617	87,524	53,143
Net income	29,909	14,727	87,566	52,262
Other comprehensive income (loss)	648	115	(5,791)	(380)
Total comprehensive income	30,557	14,842	81,775	51,882
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)	903	38	900
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	30,553	15,745	81,813	52,782
The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	131,159	152,628	363,508	446,997
Operating expenses	115,671	129,012	317,189	390,472
Depreciation and amortization	6,266	7,328	17,963	21,572
General and administrative expenses	9,235	9,625	26,589	28,405
Operating income	(13)	6,663	1,767	6,548
Interest income	11,358	8,178	19,347	23,833
Interest expense	(10,650)	(17,288)	(30,942)	(51,042)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(2,600)	0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	695	(2,447)	(12,428)	(20,661)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(5,673)	(994)	(14,679)	(7,316)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	6,368	(1,453)	2,251	(13,345)
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	25,806	15,988	87,580	62,489
Income from continuing operations	32,174	14,535	89,831	49,144
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(2,265)	192	(2,265)	3,117
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	29,909	14,727	87,566	52,261
Net income	29,909	14,727	87,566	52,261
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	30	0	89
Total comprehensive income	29,909	14,757	87,566	52,350
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	29,909	14,757	87,566	52,350
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	301,244	179,803	927,893	541,291
Operating expenses	233,143	111,489	712,814	339,494
Depreciation and amortization	16,411	13,687	48,849	40,372
General and administrative expenses	14,314	12,903	47,926	38,980
Operating income	37,376	41,724	118,304	122,445
Interest income	382	385	1,291	1,271
Interest expense	(20,328)	(8,433)	(44,467)	(24,270)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(1,451)	(8,462)	(4,378)	(8,462)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	15,979	25,214	70,750	90,984
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(3,300)	9,873	(2,668)	35,044
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	19,279	15,341	73,418	55,940
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	19,279	15,341	73,418	55,940
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	1,724	0	4,842
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	19,279	17,065	73,418	60,782
Net income	19,279	17,065	73,418	60,782
Other comprehensive income (loss)	40	0	121	0
Total comprehensive income	19,319	17,065	73,539	60,782
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	19,319	17,065	73,539	60,782
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	52,584	56,967	165,553	172,740
Operating expenses	40,234	47,923	132,371	138,734
Depreciation and amortization	1,211	1,929	3,668	6,201
General and administrative expenses	3,673	3,900	12,110	11,758
Operating income	7,466	3,215	17,404	16,047
Interest income	980	1,640	3,199	4,902
Interest expense	(2,227)	(3,436)	(7,008)	(11,504)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	6,219	1,419	13,595	9,445
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,218	1,246	3,205	4,547
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,526	474	3,772	1,652
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	6,527	647	14,162	6,550
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	6,527	647	14,162	6,550
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	164	0	716
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12)	890	(42)	881
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	6,515	1,701	14,120	8,147
Net income	6,527	811	14,162	7,266
Other comprehensive income (loss)	608	85	(5,912)	(469)
Total comprehensive income	7,135	896	8,250	6,797
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)	903	38	900
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	7,131	1,799	8,288	7,697
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(105,145)	(20,282)	(318,428)	(60,697)
Operating expenses	(105,145)	(20,282)	(318,428)	(60,697)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest income	(11,636)	(8,552)	(20,404)	(24,787)
Interest expense	11,636	8,552	20,404	24,787
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	(25,806)	(15,988)	(87,580)	(62,489)
Income from continuing operations	(25,806)	(15,988)	(87,580)	(62,489)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	(1,888)	0	(5,558)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(25,806)	(17,876)	(87,580)	(68,047)
Net income	(25,806)	(17,876)	(87,580)	(68,047)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(25,806)	(17,876)	(87,580)	(68,047)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (25,806)	$ (17,876)	$ (87,580)	$ (68,047)