Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, 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
Income Statement [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 (excluding depreciation and amortization)									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 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 (Benefit) for Income Taxes									14,093	(26,050)	(40,562)
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates, net of income tax provision of $2,302, $2,389 and $1,660									5,823	6,265	3,578
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
Loss from Discontinued Operations, net of income tax provision (benefit) of $0, $0, and $(7,805)					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
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic									72,270	71,116	60,934
Diluted									72,547	71,605	61,265
Basic earnings per share
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.54	$ 0.54	$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.45	$ 0.48	$ 0.33	$ 1.99	$ 1.65	$ 2.39	[1]
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)					$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ (0.17)	[1]
Net income per share — basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.54	$ 0.54	$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.42	$ 0.48	$ 0.33	$ 1.99	$ 1.62	$ 2.21	[1]
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.54	$ 0.54	$ 0.39	$ 0.38	$ 0.45	$ 0.48	$ 0.33	$ 1.98	$ 1.64	$ 2.37	[1]
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)					$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ (0.17)	[1]
Net income per share — diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.54	$ 0.54	$ 0.39	$ 0.38	$ 0.42	$ 0.48	$ 0.33	$ 1.98	$ 1.61	$ 2.20	[1]

[1] Note that earnings per share tables may contain summation differences due to rounding.