Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 412,843	$ 381,653	$ 805,980	$ 758,684
Operating expenses	300,058	279,246	591,981	560,043
Depreciation and amortization	23,748	23,657	47,890	46,592
General and administrative expenses	28,148	27,363	56,650	59,403
Operating income	60,889	51,387	109,459	92,646
Interest income	824	1,165	1,556	2,349
Interest expense	(20,602)	(21,103)	(41,254)	(40,444)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(5,527)	0	(5,527)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	41,111	25,922	69,761	49,024
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	3,387	(7,268)	5,525	(6,387)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,174	1,029	2,658	2,246
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	38,898	34,219	66,894	57,657
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	(12)	(6)	(30)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	38,898	34,207	66,888	57,627
Net income	38,898	34,219	66,894	57,657
Other comprehensive income (loss)	641	(5,260)	1,683	(6,440)
Total comprehensive income	39,539	28,959	68,577	51,217
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	5	19	2	42
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	39,544	28,978	68,579	51,259
The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	139,083	118,859	273,837	232,348
Operating expenses	111,191	102,108	218,413	201,518
Depreciation and amortization	6,441	5,875	12,847	11,697
General and administrative expenses	9,082	8,156	18,421	17,354
Operating income	12,369	2,720	24,156	1,779
Interest income	5,079	4,029	10,615	7,989
Interest expense	(11,123)	(10,373)	(22,197)	(20,292)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(2,600)		(2,600)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	6,325	(6,224)	12,574	(13,124)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	(8,339)	0	(9,006)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	6,325	2,115	12,574	(4,118)
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	32,573	32,104	54,320	61,775
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	38,898	34,219	66,894	57,657
Net income	38,898	34,219	66,894	57,657
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	38,898	34,219	66,894	57,657
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	38,898	34,219	66,894	57,657
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	327,427	314,120	642,412	626,649
Operating expenses	251,833	239,194	502,513	479,671
Depreciation and amortization	16,169	16,556	32,803	32,438
General and administrative expenses	15,355	15,420	30,891	33,612
Operating income	44,070	42,950	76,205	80,928
Interest income	615	359	1,051	909
Interest expense	(13,357)	(12,708)	(27,121)	(24,139)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(2,927)		(2,927)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	31,328	27,674	50,135	54,771
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	2,671	226	3,965	632
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	28,657	27,448	46,170	54,139
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	28,657	27,448	46,170	54,139
Net income	28,657	27,448	46,170	54,139
Other comprehensive income (loss)	20	40	39	80
Total comprehensive income	28,677	27,488	46,209	54,219
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	28,677	27,488	46,209	54,219
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	56,760	55,585	109,091	112,970
Operating expenses	47,461	44,855	90,415	92,137
Depreciation and amortization	1,138	1,226	2,240	2,457
General and administrative expenses	3,711	3,787	7,338	8,437
Operating income	4,450	5,717	9,098	9,939
Interest income	750	1,123	1,429	2,219
Interest expense	(1,742)	(2,368)	(3,475)	(4,781)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		0		0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	3,458	4,472	7,052	7,377
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	716	845	1,560	1,987
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,174	1,029	2,658	2,246
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	3,916	4,656	8,150	7,636
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(12)	(6)	(30)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	3,916	4,644	8,144	7,606
Net income	3,916	4,656	8,150	7,636
Other comprehensive income (loss)	621	(5,300)	1,644	(6,520)
Total comprehensive income	4,537	(644)	9,794	1,116
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	5	19	2	42
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	4,542	(625)	9,796	1,158
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(110,427)	(106,911)	(219,360)	(213,283)
Operating expenses	(110,427)	(106,911)	(219,360)	(213,283)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest income	(5,620)	(4,346)	(11,539)	(8,768)
Interest expense	5,620	4,346	11,539	8,768
Loss on extinguishment of debt		0		0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	(32,573)	(32,104)	(54,320)	(61,775)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(32,573)	(32,104)	(54,320)	(61,775)
Net income	(32,573)	(32,104)	(54,320)	(61,775)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(32,573)	(32,104)	(54,320)	(61,775)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (32,573)	$ (32,104)	$ (54,320)	$ (61,775)