Shareholders' Equity Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		May 08, 2013
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (4,429,000)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	1,687,000
Ending Balance	(2,742,000)
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]
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	1,628,000	[1]
Ending Balance	(813,000)	[1]
Unrealized (loss)/gain on derivatives, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(274,000)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	20,000
Ending Balance	(254,000)
Pension adjustments, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,714,000)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	39,000
Ending Balance	$ (1,675,000)

[1] The foreign currency translation related to noncontrolling interests was not significant at June 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.