Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 427,740	$ 457,900	$ 412,843	$ 393,137	$ 383,548	$ 379,842	$ 381,653	$ 377,031	$ 1,691,620	$ 1,522,074	$ 1,479,062
Operating expenses									1,245,700	1,124,865	1,089,232
Depreciation and amortization									96,171	94,664	91,685
General and administrative expenses									115,018	117,061	113,792
Operating income	61,954	63,318	60,889	48,570	48,009	44,829	51,387	41,259	234,731	185,484	184,353
Interest Income									4,747	3,324	6,716
Interest Expense									(87,368)	(83,004)	(82,189)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt									0	(20,657)	(8,462)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates, and discontinued operations									152,110	85,147	100,418
Provision for Income Taxes									14,093	(26,050)	(40,562)
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision									5,823	6,265	3,578
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries									143,840	117,462	144,558
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	37,981	38,965	38,898	27,996	27,631	32,174	34,219	23,438	143,840	117,462	144,558
Net loss from discontinued operations					0	(2,265)	0	0	0	(2,265)	(10,660)
Net Income	37,981	38,965	38,898	27,996	27,631	29,909	34,219	23,438	143,840	115,197	133,898
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									90	(62)	852
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	38,051	38,991	38,898	27,990	27,611	29,897	34,207	23,420	143,930	115,135	134,750
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax									(23,082)	(7,199)	624
Total comprehensive income									120,758	107,998	134,522
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									140	38	968
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									120,898	108,036	135,490
The GEO Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues									558,764	494,631	605,091
Operating expenses									449,805	410,270	529,318
Depreciation and amortization									25,605	24,355	29,521
General and administrative expenses									36,437	36,336	44,214
Operating income									46,917	23,670	2,038
Interest Income									22,327	25,275	32,580
Interest Expense									(47,622)	(41,121)	(68,737)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt										(2,601)	0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates, and discontinued operations									21,622	5,223	(34,119)
Provision for Income Taxes									729	(34,835)	(11,303)
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries									20,893	40,058	(22,816)
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									122,947	77,404	167,374
Income from continuing operations									143,840	117,462	144,558
Net loss from discontinued operations										(2,265)	(10,660)
Net Income									143,840	115,197	133,898
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									143,840	115,197	133,898
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax									0	0	(461)
Total comprehensive income									143,840	115,197	133,437
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									143,840	115,197	133,437
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues									1,315,024	1,218,835	721,949
Operating expenses									1,014,713	950,605	451,564
Depreciation and amortization									66,077	65,524	54,719
General and administrative expenses									61,351	64,573	52,753
Operating income									172,883	138,133	162,913
Interest Income									3,103	1,960	1,713
Interest Expense									(56,195)	(59,518)	(33,204)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt										(18,056)	(8,462)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates, and discontinued operations									119,791	62,519	122,960
Provision for Income Taxes									9,152	4,454	(31,352)
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries									110,639	58,065	154,312
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Income from continuing operations									110,639	58,065	154,312
Net loss from discontinued operations										0	(5,942)
Net Income									110,639	58,065	148,370
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									110,639	58,065	148,370
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax									(2,522)	914	0
Total comprehensive income									108,117	58,979	148,370
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									108,117	58,979	148,370
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues									264,216	219,871	230,261
Operating expenses									227,566	175,253	186,589
Depreciation and amortization									4,489	4,785	7,445
General and administrative expenses									17,230	16,152	16,825
Operating income									14,931	23,681	19,402
Interest Income									4,416	2,566	6,122
Interest Expense									(8,650)	(8,842)	(13,947)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt										0	0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates, and discontinued operations									10,697	17,405	11,577
Provision for Income Taxes									4,212	4,331	2,093
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision									5,823	6,265	3,578
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries									12,308	19,339	13,062
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Income from continuing operations									12,308	19,339	13,062
Net loss from discontinued operations										0	447
Net Income									12,308	19,339	13,509
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									90	(62)	852
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									12,398	19,277	14,361
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax									(20,560)	(8,113)	1,085
Total comprehensive income									(8,252)	11,226	14,594
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									140	38	968
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									(8,112)	11,264	15,562
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues									(446,384)	(411,263)	(78,239)
Operating expenses									(446,384)	(411,263)	(78,239)
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
General and administrative expenses									0	0	0
Operating income									0	0	0
Interest Income									(25,099)	(26,477)	(33,699)
Interest Expense									25,099	26,477	33,699
Loss on early extinguishment of debt										0	0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates, and discontinued operations									0	0	0
Provision for Income Taxes									0	0	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision									0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries									0	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									(122,947)	(77,404)	(167,374)
Income from continuing operations									(122,947)	(77,404)	(167,374)
Net loss from discontinued operations										0	5,495
Net Income									(122,947)	(77,404)	(161,879)
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests										0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									(122,947)	(77,404)	(161,879)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax									0	0	0
Total comprehensive income									(122,947)	(77,404)	(161,879)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									$ (122,947)	$ (77,404)	$ (161,879)