Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Net income		$ 38,898		$ 34,219	$ 66,894	$ 57,657
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0		(12)	(6)	(30)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.		$ 38,898		$ 34,207	$ 66,888	$ 57,627
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	71,749,000	71,749,000	71,083,000	71,083,000	71,599,000	70,967,000
Per share amount		$ 0.54		$ 0.48	$ 0.93	$ 0.81
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	71,749,000	71,749,000	71,083,000	71,083,000	71,599,000	70,967,000
Effect of dilutive securities: Stock options and restricted stock		245,000		524,000	276,000	543,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	71,994,000	71,994,000	71,607,000	71,607,000	71,875,000	71,510,000
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.54		$ 0.48	$ 0.93	$ 0.81
Restricted Stock [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	177,391		0		177,318	0
Stock Options [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	214,071		0		147,776	0