XML 49 R61.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Shareholders' Equity (Common Stock, Distributions, Prospectus Supplement, Preferred Stock, and Rights Agreement) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Nov. 10, 2014
May 08, 2013
Equity [Abstract]        
Common stock, voting rights one vote per share      
minimum % of REIT taxable income to be paid as dividend annually 90.00%geo_MinimumofREITtaxableincometobepaidasdividendannually      
Special dividend, amount of cash payable above lottery   20.00%geo_SpecialDividendMaximumAmountOfCashPayableAboveLotteryAmount    
Special dividend, amount   $ 352,200,000geo_CapitalDistributionSpecialDividendAmount    
Special dividend (dollars per share)   $ 5.68us-gaap_PartnersCapitalDistributionAmountPerShare    
Dividends - Stock, Shares   9,688,568us-gaap_StockDividendsShares    
Special Dividend, amount paid in cash   77,800,000geo_CapitalDistributionSpecialDividendAmountPaidInCash    
Maximum common stock value authorized under prospectus supplement     150,000,000geo_MaximumCommonStockValueAuthorizedUnderProspectusSupplement 100,000,000geo_MaximumCommonStockValueAuthorizedUnderProspectusSupplement
Preferred stock, shares authorized 30,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized 30,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized    
Shares issued under prospectus supplement 1,500,000geo_CommonStockSharesIssuedUnderProspectusSupplement 0geo_CommonStockSharesIssuedUnderProspectusSupplement    
Issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement $ 54,725,000geo_ProceedsfromIssuanceofCommonStockUnderProspectusSupplement $ 0geo_ProceedsfromIssuanceofCommonStockUnderProspectusSupplement