Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events Asset Acquisition On February 25, 2014, Protocol Criminal Justice, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company's BI subsidiary entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with an unrelated entity, APAC Customer Services, Inc., to acquire certain tangible and intangible assets for a purchase price of $13.0 million and returns consistent with GEO's targeted returns on invested capital. These assets will be used to provide community corrections services to departments of correction and community services providers which include, supervision management, case management, document management, electronic monitoring, fee collection and reporting and analysis and warrant processing. The acquisition is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operations. Options and Restricted Stock Awards On February 20, 2014, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors resolved to grant approximately 240,000 options and 306,000 shares of restricted stock to certain employees of the Company to be effective March 1, 2014. Dividend On February 18, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.57 per share of common stock, which is to be paid on March 14, 2014 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 3, 2014. Contract Awards On February 3, 2014, the Company announced that it had assumed management of the 985-bed Moore Haven Correctional Facility, the 985-bed Bay Correctional Facility and the 1,884- bed Graceville Correctional Facility under contracts with the Florida Department of Management Services effective February 1, 2014. The managed-only agreements have contract terms of three years, with successive two-year renewal option periods. Also on February 3, 2014, the Company announced that it had increased the contracted capacity at the Company-owned Rio Grande Detention Center in Laredo, Texas from 1,500 beds to 1,900 beds under a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service.

Subsequent Events

Asset Acquisition

On February 25, 2014, Protocol Criminal Justice, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company's BI subsidiary entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with an unrelated entity, APAC Customer Services, Inc., to acquire certain tangible and intangible assets for a purchase price of $13.0 million and returns consistent with GEO's targeted returns on invested capital. These assets will be used to provide community corrections services to departments of correction and community services providers which include, supervision management, case management, document management, electronic monitoring, fee collection and reporting and analysis and warrant processing. The acquisition is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

Options and Restricted Stock Awards

On February 20, 2014, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors resolved to grant approximately 240,000 options and 306,000 shares of restricted stock to certain employees of the Company to be effective March 1, 2014.

Dividend

On February 18, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.57 per share of common stock, which is to be paid on March 14, 2014 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 3, 2014.

Contract Awards

On February 3, 2014, the Company announced that it had assumed management of the 985-bed Moore Haven Correctional Facility, the 985-bed Bay Correctional Facility and the 1,884- bed Graceville Correctional Facility under contracts with the Florida Department of Management Services effective February 1, 2014. The managed-only agreements have contract terms of three years, with successive two-year renewal option periods.

Also on February 3, 2014, the Company announced that it had increased the contracted capacity at the Company-owned Rio Grande Detention Center in Laredo, Texas from 1,500 beds to 1,900 beds under a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service.