Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 The GEO Group, Inc.	Jun. 30, 2013 The GEO Group, Inc.	Jun. 30, 2014 Combined Subsidiary Guarantors	Jun. 30, 2013 Combined Subsidiary Guarantors	Jun. 30, 2014 Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	Jun. 30, 2013 Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	Jun. 30, 2014 Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 132,144	$ 101,314	$ 76,863	$ 58,343	$ 33,090	$ 18,932	$ 22,191	$ 24,039
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition , cash consideration	(13,000)		0		(13,000)		0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	514	51	0	0	514	51	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0	1,968		0		1,968		0
Net working capital adjustment from RTS divestiture		996		996		0		0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(8,936)	(5,910)	(207)	(134)	(1,917)	(1,457)	(6,812)	(4,319)
Capital expenditures	(41,122)	(89,921)	(24,197)	(69,567)	(16,671)	(19,666)	(254)	(688)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(62,544)	(94,808)	(24,404)	(70,697)	(31,074)	(19,104)	(7,066)	(5,007)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	9,000	785,000	9,000	785,000	0	0	0	0
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest	(1,416)		(1,416)		0		0
Income tax benefit related to equity compensation	1,351	1,308	1,351	1,308	0	0	0	0
Debt issuance costs	0	(17,017)		(17,017)		0		0
Payments on long-term debt	(17,179)	(697,748)	(14,000)	(688,675)	(82)	(661)	(3,097)	(8,412)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	5,531	4,082	5,531	4,082	0	0	0	0
Cash dividends paid	(82,656)	(71,527)	(82,656)	(71,527)	0	0	0	0
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock in connection with ESPP	185	155	185	155	0	0	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(85,184)	4,253	(82,005)	13,326	(82)	(661)	(3,097)	(8,412)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	819	(4,003)	0	0	0	0	819	(4,003)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(14,765)	6,756	(29,546)	972	1,934	(833)	12,847	6,617
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	52,125	31,755	30,730	4,764	985	1,917	20,410	25,074	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 37,360	$ 38,511	$ 1,184	$ 5,736	$ 2,919	$ 1,084	$ 33,257	$ 31,691	$ 0	$ 0