Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 393,137	$ 377,031
Operating expenses	291,923	280,797
Depreciation and amortization	24,142	22,935
General and administrative expenses	28,502	32,040
Operating income	48,570	41,259
Interest income	732	1,184
Interest expense	(20,652)	(19,341)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	28,650	23,102
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	2,138	881
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,484	1,217
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	27,996	23,438
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)	(18)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	27,990	23,420
Net income	27,996	23,438
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,046	(1,180)
Total comprehensive income	29,042	22,258
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2)	23
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	29,040	22,281
The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	134,754	113,491
Operating expenses	107,222	99,409
Depreciation and amortization	6,406	5,824
General and administrative expenses	9,339	9,197
Operating income	11,787	(939)
Interest income	5,536	3,960
Interest expense	(11,074)	(9,920)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	6,249	(6,899)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	(667)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	6,249	(6,232)
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	21,747	29,670
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	27,996	23,438
Net income	27,996	23,438
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Total comprehensive income	27,996	23,438
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	27,996	23,438
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	314,985	312,528
Operating expenses	250,680	240,477
Depreciation and amortization	16,634	15,881
General and administrative expenses	15,536	18,192
Operating income	32,135	37,978
Interest income	436	550
Interest expense	(13,763)	(11,431)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	18,808	27,097
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,294	406
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	17,514	26,691
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	17,514	26,691
Net income	17,514	26,691
Other comprehensive income (loss)	19	40
Total comprehensive income	17,533	26,731
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	17,533	26,731
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	52,331	57,385
Operating expenses	42,954	47,284
Depreciation and amortization	1,102	1,230
General and administrative expenses	3,627	4,651
Operating income	4,648	4,220
Interest income	679	1,096
Interest expense	(1,734)	(2,412)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	3,593	2,904
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	844	1,142
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,484	1,217
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	4,233	2,979
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)	(18)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	4,227	2,961
Net income	4,233	2,979
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,027	(1,220)
Total comprehensive income	5,260	1,759
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2)	23
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	5,258	1,782
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(108,933)	(106,373)
Operating expenses	(108,933)	(106,373)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0
Operating income	0	0
Interest income	(5,919)	(4,422)
Interest expense	5,919	4,422
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	(21,747)	(29,670)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(21,747)	(29,670)
Net income	(21,747)	(29,670)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(21,747)	(29,670)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (21,747)	$ (29,670)