Shareholders' Equity Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		May 08, 2013
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (4,429,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to Parent	1,050,000
Ending Balance	(3,379,000)
Maximum common stock value authorized under prospectus supplement			100,000,000
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,441,000)	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to Parent	1,004,000	[1]
Ending Balance	(1,437,000)	[1]
Unrealized (loss)/gain on derivatives, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(274,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to Parent	27,000
Ending Balance	(247,000)
Pension adjustments, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,714,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to Parent	19,000
Ending Balance	$ (1,695,000)

[1] The foreign currency translation related to noncontrolling interests was not significant at March 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013.