Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 457,900	$ 379,842	$ 1,263,880	$ 1,138,526
Operating expenses	342,216	283,903	934,197	843,946
Depreciation and amortization	24,079	23,888	71,969	70,480
General and administrative expenses	28,287	27,222	84,937	86,625
Operating income	63,318	44,829	172,777	137,475
Interest income	1,048	1,084	2,604	3,433
Interest expense	(21,408)	(21,569)	(62,662)	(62,013)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(1,451)	0	(6,978)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	42,958	22,893	112,719	71,917
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	5,537	(7,755)	11,062	(14,142)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,544	1,526	4,202	3,772
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	38,965	32,174	105,859	89,831
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	38,965	32,174	105,859	89,831
Net income from discontinued operations	0	(2,265)	0	(2,265)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	26	(12)	20	(42)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	38,991	29,897	105,879	87,524
Net income	38,965	29,909	105,859	87,566
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(7,983)	648	(6,301)	(5,791)
Total comprehensive income	30,982	30,557	99,558	81,775
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	49	(4)	51	38
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	31,031	30,553	99,609	81,813
The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	141,631	131,159	415,468	363,508
Operating expenses	115,580	115,671	333,992	317,189
Depreciation and amortization	6,395	6,266	19,242	17,963
General and administrative expenses	8,352	9,235	26,773	26,589
Operating income	11,304	(13)	35,461	1,767
Interest income	5,593	11,358	16,208	19,347
Interest expense	(11,716)	(10,650)	(33,913)	(30,942)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		0		(2,600)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	5,181	695	17,756	(12,428)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	(5,673)	0	(14,679)
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	5,181	6,368	17,756	2,251
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	33,784	25,806	88,103	87,580
Income from continuing operations		32,174		89,831
Net income from discontinued operations		(2,265)		(2,265)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	38,965	29,909	105,859	87,566
Net income	38,965	29,909	105,859	87,566
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	38,965	29,909	105,859	87,566
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	38,965	29,909	105,859	87,566
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	337,769	301,244	980,181	927,893
Operating expenses	257,645	233,143	760,159	712,814
Depreciation and amortization	16,554	16,411	49,357	48,849
General and administrative expenses	14,295	14,314	45,186	47,926
Operating income	49,275	37,376	125,479	118,304
Interest income	966	382	2,017	1,291
Interest expense	(14,258)	(20,328)	(41,379)	(44,467)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(1,451)		(4,378)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	35,983	15,979	86,117	70,750
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	4,528	(3,300)	8,493	(2,668)
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	31,455	19,279	77,624	73,418
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations		19,279		73,418
Net income from discontinued operations		0		0
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	31,455	19,279	77,624	73,418
Net income	31,455	19,279	77,624	73,418
Other comprehensive income (loss)	19	40	58	121
Total comprehensive income	31,474	19,319	77,682	73,539
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	31,474	19,319	77,682	73,539
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	92,300	52,584	201,391	165,553
Operating expenses	82,791	40,234	173,206	132,371
Depreciation and amortization	1,130	1,211	3,370	3,668
General and administrative expenses	5,640	3,673	12,978	12,110
Operating income	2,739	7,466	11,837	17,404
Interest income	953	980	2,382	3,199
Interest expense	(1,898)	(2,227)	(5,373)	(7,008)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		0		0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	1,794	6,219	8,846	13,595
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,009	1,218	2,569	3,205
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,544	1,526	4,202	3,772
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	2,329	6,527	10,479	14,162
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations		6,527		14,162
Net income from discontinued operations		0		0
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	26	(12)	20	(42)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	2,355	6,515	10,499	14,120
Net income	2,329	6,527	10,479	14,162
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(8,002)	608	(6,359)	(5,912)
Total comprehensive income	(5,673)	7,135	4,120	8,250
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	49	(4)	51	38
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(5,624)	7,131	4,171	8,288
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(113,800)	(105,145)	(333,160)	(318,428)
Operating expenses	(113,800)	(105,145)	(333,160)	(318,428)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest income	(6,464)	(11,636)	(18,003)	(20,404)
Interest expense	6,464	11,636	18,003	20,404
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	(33,784)	(25,806)	(88,103)	(87,580)
Income from continuing operations		(25,806)		(87,580)
Net income from discontinued operations		0		0
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(33,784)	(25,806)	(88,103)	(87,580)
Net income	(33,784)	(25,806)	(88,103)	(87,580)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(33,784)	(25,806)	(88,103)	(87,580)
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (33,784)	$ (25,806)	$ (88,103)	$ (87,580)