Incremental Shares Granted due to Anti-dilution Provision

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Number of annual performance metrics for the performance-based equity grants under GEO's equity incentive plans.

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Number of Employees in Stock-based Compensation Plan

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Number of Employees with Unvested Stock Awards

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Schedule of Share-based compensation, Options, Share Conversion Ratio

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Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage Weighted Towards Capital Performance Targets

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Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage Weighted Towards Earnings Per Share Performance

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- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award non vested stock options outstanding number.

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- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award, Vesting Percentage of Target

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- Definition

Stock option vest immediately for the Chief Executive Officer.

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- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 14

-Section F

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- Definition

Aggregate number of common shares reserved for future issuance.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)

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- Definition

Number of common shares reserved for future issuance related to deferred compensation arrangements with individuals.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

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- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

Discount rate from fair value on purchase date that participants pay for shares.

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- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

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- Definition

The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

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- Definition

Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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- Definition

The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

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- Definition

The number of shares reserved for issuance pertaining to the outstanding stock options as of the balance sheet date for all option plans in the customized range of exercise prices.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

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- Definition

Number of shares issued during the period as a result of an employee stock purchase plan.

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

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Equity Incentive Plans (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012 Person	Dec. 31, 2012 person	Feb. 04, 2013	Feb. 03, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized					5,087,385	4,400,000
Options outstanding, Number outstanding	664,000
Vesting period	4 years
Stock Option Vest Immediately for the Chief Executive Officer		100.00%
Expiration period	10 years
Conversion ratio			1.156
Number of employees in stock-based compensation plan			313
Incremental shares granted due to anti-dilution provision			200,000
Residential Treatment Services
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of employees with unvested stock awards			19	19
Share based compensation expense				$ 0.3
Restricted Stock Award
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unvested awards other than options	724,000	734,000
Unrecognized compensation costs related to awards	14.9
Expected weighted average period to recognize expense	2 years 6 months
Granted shares	306,000
Restricted Stock Award \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
Restricted Stock Award \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	4 years
Restricted Stock Award \| Certain Employees and Executive Officers
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted shares	306,150	345,060	315,000
Restricted Stock Award \| Residential Treatment Services
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unvested awards other than options			8,375	8,375
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation costs related to awards	0.7
Expected weighted average period to recognize expense	2 years 2 months 12 days
Stock Options \| Residential Treatment Services
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unvested options			24,100	24,100
Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period		3 years
Number of annual performance metrics		2	2	2
Vesting rights, percentage weighted towards EPS performance		75.00%	75.00%	75.00%
Vesting rights, percentage weighted towards capital performance		25.00%	25.00%	25.00%
Performance Shares \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting percentage of target		0.00%
Performance Shares \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting percentage of target		200.00%
Performance Shares \| Certain Employees and Executive Officers
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted shares	90,000	92,810	205,000
Employee Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Discount on purchase of Common Stock for employee from the current market price	5.00%
Capital shares reserved for future issuance	500,000
Shares issued for ESPP	11,196	9,794	22,760
2014 Stock Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized	3,083,353
Common stock available for the issuance of awards	2,000,000
Common stock reserved for future issuance	3,747,271
2006 Stock Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock available for the issuance of awards	1,083,353
Options outstanding, Number outstanding	663,918