Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Variable Interest Entities) (Details)	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended								12 Months Ended					9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2011 USD ($) director	Aug. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)		Jan. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2010 Bed	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 GEO Amey USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 GEO Amey GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2012 GEO Amey USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 GEO Amey GBP (£)	Feb. 28, 2011 GEO Amey	Sep. 30, 2013 STLDC USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 SACS USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 SACS USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 GEO UK	Feb. 28, 2011 GEO UK	Dec. 31, 2013 Kensani Corrections	Sep. 30, 2013 Frio County, Texas STLDC Bed	Dec. 31, 2013 Frio County, Texas STLDC USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Frio County, Texas STLDC USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 LIBOR GEO Amey	Dec. 31, 2013 Base Rate, Bank of England GEO Amey
Consolidation
Ownership percentage									100.00%	0.00%	50.00%	50.00%
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests			$ 8,100,000
Acquisition of ownership interests			0		35,154,000		0
Percentage interest acquired									100.00%
Number of beds								1,030														1,904
Taxable revenue bond																49,500,000
Term of bonds																10 years
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			(20,657,000)		(8,462,000)		0									(1,500,000)
Property and equipment, net			1,727,798,000	[1]	1,687,159,000	[1]																	25,200,000	25,800,000
Stated interest rate		8.47%
Company lease assets term		20 years
Maximum period to lease renewal		25 years
Debt instrument basis spread on variable rate																									3.00%	0.50%
Line of Credit, amount outstanding											19,800,000	12,000,000	20,400,000	12,600,000
Accrued interest included under line of credit											1,500,000	900,000	1,000,000
Deferred tax assets recorded			0		10,015,000		0
Professional fees					1,600,000
Variable interest entity ownership percentage in joint venture			50.00%																50.00%		50.00%
Life term of contract																	25 years
Reduction of Government Guarantee in Case of Default			80.00%
Investment in Joint Ventures											(3,000,000)		(4,100,000)				8,100,000	7,800,000
Partnership Interest Share Amount	$ 100
Units of Partnership Interest, Amount	100														50					50
Directors appointed to board by each party	3
Value Per Partnership Interest Shares	$ 1

[1] As of December 31, 2013 and 2012 Canada did not have any significant long-lived assets.