Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, 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
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
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 expenses													1,124,865	1,089,232	1,036,010
Depreciation and amortization													94,664	91,685	81,548
General and administrative expenses													117,061	113,792	110,015
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
Interest Income													3,324	6,716	7,032
Interest Expense													(83,004)	(82,189)	(75,378)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt													(20,657)	(8,462)	0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates, and discontinued operations													85,147	100,418	111,253
Provision for Income Taxes													(26,050)	(40,562)	43,172
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision													6,265	3,578	1,563
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries													117,462	144,558	69,644
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision													0	0	0
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
Net loss from discontinued operations	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
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests													(62)	852	1,162
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
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax													(7,199)	624	(8,253)
Total comprehensive income													107,998	134,522	69,210
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests													38	968	1,274
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.													108,036	135,490	70,484
The GEO Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues													494,631	605,091	556,163
Operating expenses													410,270	529,318	503,355
Depreciation and amortization													24,355	29,521	20,615
General and administrative expenses													36,336	44,214	39,445
Operating income													23,670	2,038	(7,252)
Interest Income													25,275	32,580	29,087
Interest Expense													(41,121)	(68,737)	(61,447)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt													(2,601)	0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates, and discontinued operations													5,223	(34,119)	(39,612)
Provision for Income Taxes													(34,835)	(11,303)	(15,158)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision													0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries													40,058	(22,816)	(24,454)
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision													77,404	167,374	94,098
Income from continuing operations													117,462	144,558	69,644
Net loss from discontinued operations													(2,265)	(10,660)	7,819
Net Income													115,197	133,898	77,463
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests													0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.													115,197	133,898	77,463
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax													0	(461)	(1,131)
Total comprehensive income													115,197	133,437	76,332
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests													0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.													115,197	133,437	76,332
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues													1,218,835	721,949	717,926
Operating expenses													950,605	451,564	448,057
Depreciation and amortization													65,524	54,719	53,458
General and administrative expenses													64,573	52,753	55,698
Operating income													138,133	162,913	160,713
Interest Income													1,960	1,713	2,608
Interest Expense													(59,518)	(33,204)	(30,720)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt													(18,056)	(8,462)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates, and discontinued operations													62,519	122,960	132,601
Provision for Income Taxes													4,454	(31,352)	51,518
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision													0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries													58,065	154,312	81,083
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision													0	0	0
Income from continuing operations													58,065	154,312	81,083
Net loss from discontinued operations													0	(5,942)	6,329
Net Income													58,065	148,370	87,412
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests													0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.													58,065	148,370	87,412
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax													914	0	0
Total comprehensive income													58,979	148,370	87,412
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests													0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.													58,979	148,370	87,412
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues													219,871	230,261	220,352
Operating expenses													175,253	186,589	171,867
Depreciation and amortization													4,785	7,445	7,475
General and administrative expenses													16,152	16,825	14,872
Operating income													23,681	19,402	26,138
Interest Income													2,566	6,122	6,462
Interest Expense													(8,842)	(13,947)	(14,336)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt													0	0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates, and discontinued operations													17,405	11,577	18,264
Provision for Income Taxes													4,331	2,093	6,812
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision													6,265	3,578	1,563
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries													19,339	13,062	13,015
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision													0	0	0
Income from continuing operations													19,339	13,062	13,015
Net loss from discontinued operations														447	473
Net Income													19,339	13,509	13,488
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests													(62)	852	1,162
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.													19,277	14,361	14,650
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax													(8,113)	1,085	(7,122)
Total comprehensive income													11,226	14,594	6,366
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests													38	968	1,274
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.													11,264	15,562	7,640
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues													(411,263)	(78,239)	(87,269)
Operating expenses													(411,263)	(78,239)	(87,269)
Depreciation and amortization													0	0	0
General and administrative expenses													0	0	0
Operating income													0	0	0
Interest Income													(26,477)	(33,699)	(31,125)
Interest Expense													26,477	33,699	31,125
Loss on early extinguishment of debt													0	0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates, and discontinued operations													0	0	0
Provision for Income Taxes													0	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision													0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries													0	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision													(77,404)	(167,374)	(94,098)
Income from continuing operations													(77,404)	(167,374)	(94,098)
Net loss from discontinued operations													0	5,495	(6,802)
Net Income													(77,404)	(161,879)	(100,900)
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests													0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.													(77,404)	(161,879)	(100,900)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax													0	0	0
Total comprehensive income													(77,404)	(161,879)	(100,900)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests													0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.													$ (77,404)	$ (161,879)	$ (100,900)

[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.