Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jul. 01, 2012		Apr. 01, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Jan. 01, 2012
Company's quarterly financial data
Revenues	$ 383,548	$ 379,842	$ 381,653	$ 377,031	$ 378,731	[1]	$ 369,115		$ 371,174		$ 360,042		$ 1,522,074		$ 1,479,062		$ 1,407,172
Operating Income	48,009	44,829	51,387	41,259	39,313	[1]	51,602	[1]	52,941	[1]	40,497	[1]	185,484		184,353		179,599
Income from continuing operations	27,631	32,174	34,219	23,438	95,413	[1]	14,532		20,858		13,755		117,462		144,558		69,644
income (loss) from discontinued operation, net of tax	0	(2,265)	0	0	(13,777)	[1]	194	[1]	1,619	[1]	1,304	[1]	(2,265)		(10,660)		7,819
Net Income	27,631	29,909	34,219	23,438	81,636	[1]	14,727		22,476		15,059		115,197		133,898		77,463
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 27,611	$ 29,897	$ 34,207	$ 23,420	$ 81,608	[1]	$ 15,616		$ 22,501		$ 15,025		$ 115,135		$ 134,750		$ 78,625
Basic earnings per share
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.39	$ 0.45	$ 0.48	$ 0.33	$ 1.56	[1]	$ 0.25		$ 0.34		$ 0.23		$ 1.65	[2]	$ 2.39	[2]	$ 1.12	[2]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.23)	[1]	$ 0.00		$ 0.03		$ 0.02		$ (0.03)	[2]	$ (0.17)	[2]	$ 0.12	[2]
Net income per share	$ 0.39	$ 0.42	$ 0.48	$ 0.33	$ 1.33	[1]	$ 0.26		$ 0.37		$ 0.25		$ 1.62	[2]	$ 2.21	[2]	$ 1.24	[2]
Diluted earnings per share
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.38	$ 0.45	$ 0.48	$ 0.33	$ 1.55	[1]	$ 0.25		$ 0.34		$ 0.23		$ 1.64	[2]	$ 2.37	[2]	$ 1.11	[2]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.22)	[1]	$ 0.00		$ 0.03		$ 0.02		$ (0.03)	[2]	$ (0.17)	[2]	$ 0.12	[2]
Net income per share	$ 0.38	$ 0.42	$ 0.48	$ 0.33	$ 1.32	[1]	$ 0.25		$ 0.37		$ 0.25		$ 1.61	[2]	$ 2.20	[2]	$ 1.23	[2]

[1] In the Fourth Quarter of 2012, the Company completed a corporate restructuring in order to operate as a REIT effective January 1, 2013. In connection with the REIT conversion, the Company divested one of its operating segments, RTS, and recorded a loss of $14.6 million, net of tax. Refer to Note 2 - Discontinued Operations for additional information. Also, as a result of the REIT restructuring, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of approximately $79.0 million related to the reversal of certain net deferred tax liabilities. Refer to Note 17 - Income Taxes for additional information.

[2] Note that earnings per share tables may contain summation differences due to rounding.