Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 63,152	$ 45,437
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition , cash consideration	13,000
Payments to Acquire Assets, Investing Activities		0
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	165	4
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0	1,602
Change in restricted cash and investments	(3,273)	2,330
Capital expenditures	(17,531)	(11,402)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations		(7,466)
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations		0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(33,639)	(7,466)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	103,000	410,000
Payments on long-term debt	(110,393)	(358,438)
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock in connection with ESPP	84	66
Debt issuance costs	0	(5,650)
Income tax benefit related to equity compensation	558	1,127
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	3,275	3,049
Cash dividends paid	(41,139)	(35,711)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(44,615)	14,443
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,040	(445)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(14,062)	51,969
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	52,125	31,755
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	38,063	83,724
The GEO Group, Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	28,511	8,032
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition , cash consideration	0
Payments to Acquire Assets, Investing Activities		0
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(185)	(124)
Capital expenditures	(8,586)	(1,414)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations		(1,538)
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations		0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(8,771)	(1,538)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	103,000	410,000
Payments on long-term debt	(108,750)	(351,153)
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock in connection with ESPP	84	66
Debt issuance costs		(5,650)
Income tax benefit related to equity compensation	558	1,127
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	3,275	3,049
Cash dividends paid	(41,139)	(35,711)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(42,972)	21,728
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(23,232)	28,222
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	30,730	4,764
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	7,498	32,986
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	25,116	26,708
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition , cash consideration	13,000
Payments to Acquire Assets, Investing Activities		0
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	165	4
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		1,602
Change in restricted cash and investments	(549)	(1,145)
Capital expenditures	(8,642)	(9,624)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations		(9,163)
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations		0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(22,026)	(9,163)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	(240)	(377)
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock in connection with ESPP	0	0
Debt issuance costs		0
Income tax benefit related to equity compensation	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(240)	(377)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	2,850	17,168
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	985	1,917
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	3,835	19,085
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	9,525	10,697
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition , cash consideration	0
Payments to Acquire Assets, Investing Activities		0
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(2,539)	3,599
Capital expenditures	(303)	(364)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations		3,235
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations		0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(2,842)	3,235
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	(1,403)	(6,908)
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock in connection with ESPP	0	0
Debt issuance costs		0
Income tax benefit related to equity compensation	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,403)	(6,908)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,040	(445)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	6,320	6,579
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	20,410	25,074
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 26,730	$ 31,653