Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net (Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 01, 2012
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	$ 490,196us-gaap_Goodwill		$ 490,308us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill acquired	3,888us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Foreign currency translation	(194)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments	(112)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Ending balance	493,890us-gaap_Goodwill	490,196us-gaap_Goodwill	490,308us-gaap_Goodwill
U.S. Corrections and Detention
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	170,376		170,376
Goodwill acquired	0
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Ending balance	170,376	170,376	170,376
GEO Community Services
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	319,159		319,159
Goodwill acquired	3,888
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Ending balance	323,047	319,159	319,159
International Services
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	661		773
Goodwill acquired	0
Foreign currency translation	(194)	(112)
Ending balance	$ 467	$ 661	$ 773

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

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Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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