Business Segments and Geographic Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Revenues									$ 1,843,307	$ 1,691,620	$ 1,522,074
Payments for Purchase of Property Plant Equipment Facility Development and Expansions									117,581	114,224	117,566
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization									106,756	96,171	94,664
Operating Income:
General and administrative expense									(137,040)	(115,018)	(117,061)
Operating Income	$ 66,745	$ 63,031	$ 53,281	$ 52,672	$ 61,954	$ 63,318	$ 60,889	$ 48,570	235,729	234,731	185,484
Total segment assets	3,503,342				3,002,208				3,503,342	3,002,208
GEO Community Services
Revenues:
Revenues									340,918	329,253	302,094
Facility Constructions and Design
Revenues:
Revenues									107,047	55,978	0
Operating Segments
Revenues:
Revenues									1,843,307	1,691,620	1,522,074
Payments for Purchase of Property Plant Equipment Facility Development and Expansions									117,581	114,224	117,566
Operating Income:
Operating income from segments									372,769	349,749	302,545
Total segment assets	3,379,666				2,905,194				3,379,666	2,905,194
Operating Segments | U.S. Corrections and Detention
Revenues:
Revenues									1,240,440	1,108,397	1,011,818
Payments for Purchase of Property Plant Equipment Facility Development and Expansions									76,070	74,044	76,418
Operating Income:
Operating income from segments									281,945	263,027	217,918
Total segment assets	2,417,651				2,075,216				2,417,651	2,075,216
Operating Segments | GEO Community Services
Revenues:
Revenues									340,918	329,253	302,094
Payments for Purchase of Property Plant Equipment Facility Development and Expansions									39,523	36,747	39,645
Operating Income:
Operating income from segments									82,806	80,152	71,279
Total segment assets	722,248				675,166				722,248	675,166
Operating Segments | International Services
Revenues:
Revenues									154,902	197,992	208,162
Payments for Purchase of Property Plant Equipment Facility Development and Expansions									1,988	3,433	1,503
Operating Income:
Operating income from segments									7,666	6,130	13,348
Total segment assets	43,589				71,788				43,589	71,788
Operating Segments | Facility Constructions and Design
Revenues:
Revenues									107,047	55,978	0
Payments for Purchase of Property Plant Equipment Facility Development and Expansions									0	0	0
Operating Income:
Operating income from segments									352	440	0
Total segment assets	$ 196,178				$ 83,024				196,178	83,024
Segment Reconciling Items
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization									106,756	96,171	94,664
Operating Income:
General and administrative expense									(137,040)	(115,018)	(117,061)
Segment Reconciling Items | U.S. Corrections and Detention
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization									70,486	63,690	62,112
Segment Reconciling Items | GEO Community Services
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization									33,582	29,766	29,989
Segment Reconciling Items | International Services
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and Amortization									$ 2,688	$ 2,715	$ 2,563