Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except 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
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
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
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests										(62)		852		1,162
Income from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.										$ 117,400		$ 145,410		$ 70,806
Basic earnings per share:
Basic										71,116,000		60,934,000		63,425,000
Per share amount from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:	$ 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]
Diluted earnings per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding										71,116,000		60,934,000		63,425,000
Diluted effect of equity incentive plans										489,000		331,000		315,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution										71,605,000		61,265,000		63,740,000
Per share amount from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:	$ 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]
Stock Options
Diluted earnings per share:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share										60,011		62,769		105,307
Restricted Stock Award
Diluted earnings per share:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share										0		0		0

[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.