Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Net income	$ 28,253	$ 38,898	$ 57,010	$ 66,894
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	38	0	58	(6)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 28,291	$ 38,898	$ 57,068	$ 66,888
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	73,665,000	71,749,000	73,607,000	71,599,000
Per share amount	$ 0.38	$ 0.54	$ 0.78	$ 0.93
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	73,665,000	71,749,000	73,607,000	71,599,000
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans (shares)	238,000	245,000	287,000	276,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	73,903,000	71,994,000	73,894,000	71,875,000
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 0.54	$ 0.77	$ 0.93
Restricted Stock
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share		177,391	176,319	177,318
Stock Options
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	249,510	214,071	166,860	147,776