Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except 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
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
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 attributable to noncontrolling interests									90	(62)	852
Income from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									$ 143,930	$ 117,400	$ 145,410
Basic earnings per share:
Basic									72,270,000	71,116,000	60,934,000
Per share amount from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:	$ 0.52	$ 0.54	$ 0.54	$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.45	$ 0.48	$ 0.33	$ 1.99	$ 1.65	$ 2.39	[1]
Diluted earnings per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding									72,270,000	71,116,000	60,934,000
Diluted effect of equity incentive plans									277,000	489,000	331,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution									72,547,000	71,605,000	61,265,000
Per share amount from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:	$ 0.52	$ 0.54	$ 0.54	$ 0.39	$ 0.38	$ 0.45	$ 0.48	$ 0.33	$ 1.98	$ 1.64	$ 2.37	[1]
Stock Options
Diluted earnings per share:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share									65,168	60,011	62,769
Restricted Stock Award
Diluted earnings per share:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share									0	0	0

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