Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Feb. 25, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 38,063		$ 52,125	$ 83,724	$ 31,755
Restricted cash and investments, current	14,094		11,518
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	275,764		250,530
Current deferred income tax assets	20,936		20,936
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	39,877		49,236
Total current assets	388,734		384,345
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	19,328		18,349
Property and equipment, net	1,726,869		1,727,798
Capital Leases, Lessor Balance Sheet, Net Investment in Direct Financing and Sales Type Leases, Noncurrent	15,869		16,944
Intercompany Receivable	0		0
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	4,821		4,821
Goodwill	493,911	3,700	490,196
Intangible Assets, Net	167,133	7,400	163,400
Investment in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Non-Current Assets	84,123		83,511
Total Assets	2,900,788		2,889,364
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	52,397		47,286
Accrued payroll and related taxes	49,113		38,726
Accrued expenses and other	116,520		114,950
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	22,527		22,163
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0
Total current liabilities	240,557		223,125
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	14,689		14,689
Intercompany Payable	0		0
Other Non-Current Liabilities	71,450		64,961
Capital Lease Obligations	10,665		10,924
Long-Term Debt	1,479,788		1,485,536
Non-recourse debt	65,377		66,153
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,017,806		1,023,522
Noncontrolling interests	456		454
Total shareholders’ equity	1,018,262		1,023,976
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	2,900,788		2,889,364
The GEO Group, Inc.
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	7,498		30,730	32,986	4,764
Restricted cash and investments, current	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	95,584		84,087
Current deferred income tax assets	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7,169		17,834
Total current assets	110,251		132,651
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	185		167
Property and equipment, net	687,560		686,005
Capital Leases, Lessor Balance Sheet, Net Investment in Direct Financing and Sales Type Leases, Noncurrent	0		0
Intercompany Receivable	932,983		947,916
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0		0
Goodwill	34		34
Intangible Assets, Net	0		0
Investment in Subsidiaries	928,874		898,333
Other Non-Current Assets	21,813		23,346
Total Assets	2,681,700		2,688,452
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	7,970		29,866
Accrued payroll and related taxes	207		207
Accrued expenses and other	36,088		26,963
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	3,000		3,000
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0
Total current liabilities	47,265		60,036
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	(2,230)		(120)
Intercompany Payable	133,555		114,208
Other Non-Current Liabilities	5,516		5,270
Capital Lease Obligations	0		0
Long-Term Debt	1,479,788		1,485,536
Non-recourse debt	0		0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,017,806		1,023,522
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,017,806		1,023,522
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	2,681,700		2,688,452
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	3,835		985	19,085	1,917
Restricted cash and investments, current	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	160,974		149,239
Current deferred income tax assets	19,236		19,236
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	17,956		21,032
Total current assets	202,001		190,492
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	11,874		11,158
Property and equipment, net	954,677		956,724
Capital Leases, Lessor Balance Sheet, Net Investment in Direct Financing and Sales Type Leases, Noncurrent	0		0
Intercompany Receivable	142,703		123,237
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0		0
Goodwill	493,189		489,501
Intangible Assets, Net	165,925		162,160
Investment in Subsidiaries	392,972		421,218
Other Non-Current Assets	104,700		104,241
Total Assets	2,468,041		2,458,731
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	40,770		13,895
Accrued payroll and related taxes	32,540		23,470
Accrued expenses and other	62,812		74,645
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	1,163		1,185
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0
Total current liabilities	137,285		113,195
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	16,902		14,792
Intercompany Payable	927,791		942,666
Other Non-Current Liabilities	140,148		138,743
Capital Lease Obligations	10,665		10,924
Long-Term Debt	0		0
Non-recourse debt	0		0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,235,250		1,238,411
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,235,250		1,238,411
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	2,468,041		2,458,731
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	26,730		20,410	31,653	25,074
Restricted cash and investments, current	14,094		11,518
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	19,206		17,204
Current deferred income tax assets	1,700		1,700
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	15,906		11,524
Total current assets	77,636		62,356
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	7,269		7,024
Property and equipment, net	84,632		85,069
Capital Leases, Lessor Balance Sheet, Net Investment in Direct Financing and Sales Type Leases, Noncurrent	15,869		16,944
Intercompany Receivable	(24)		0
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	4,821		4,821
Goodwill	688		661
Intangible Assets, Net	1,208		1,240
Investment in Subsidiaries	4		0
Other Non-Current Assets	37,297		35,615
Total Assets	229,400		213,730
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	3,657		3,525
Accrued payroll and related taxes	16,366		15,049
Accrued expenses and other	18,774		14,496
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	18,364		17,978
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0
Total current liabilities	57,161		51,048
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	17		17
Intercompany Payable	14,315		14,279
Other Non-Current Liabilities	5,566		639
Capital Lease Obligations	0		0
Long-Term Debt	0		0
Non-recourse debt	65,377		66,153
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	86,508		81,140
Noncontrolling interests	456		454
Total shareholders’ equity	86,964		81,594
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	229,400		213,730
Eliminations
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Restricted cash and investments, current	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	0		0
Current deferred income tax assets	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,154)		(1,154)
Total current assets	(1,154)		(1,154)
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	0		0
Property and equipment, net	0		0
Capital Leases, Lessor Balance Sheet, Net Investment in Direct Financing and Sales Type Leases, Noncurrent	0		0
Intercompany Receivable	(1,075,662)		(1,071,153)
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible Assets, Net	0		0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(1,321,850)		(1,319,551)
Other Non-Current Assets	(79,687)		(79,691)
Total Assets	(2,478,353)		(2,471,549)
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0		0
Accrued expenses and other	(1,154)		(1,154)
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	0		0
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0
Total current liabilities	(1,154)		(1,154)
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0		0
Intercompany Payable	(1,075,661)		(1,071,153)
Other Non-Current Liabilities	(79,780)		(79,691)
Capital Lease Obligations	0		0
Long-Term Debt	0		0
Non-recourse debt	0		0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(1,321,758)		(1,319,551)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders’ equity	(1,321,758)		(1,319,551)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ (2,478,353)		$ (2,471,549)