Shareholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Nov. 10, 2014	May. 08, 2013
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ (27,461,000)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income			(851,000)
Ending Balance		$ (28,312,000)	$ (28,312,000)
Maximum common stock value authorized under prospectus supplement				$ 150,000,000	$ 100,000,000
Common Stock sold under prospectus supplement, in shares		1,500,000	0
Issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement		$ 54,724,000
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	[1]		$ (6,903,000)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	[1]		(1,945,000)
Ending Balance	[1]	(8,848,000)	(8,848,000)
Unrealized (loss)/gain on derivatives, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(16,322,000)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income			1,017,000
Ending Balance		(15,305,000)	(15,305,000)
Pension adjustments, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(4,236,000)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income			77,000
Ending Balance		$ (4,159,000)	$ (4,159,000)

[1] The foreign currency translation related to noncontrolling interests was not significant at June 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014.