Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 59,638	$ 41,337	$ 52,125	$ 31,755
Restricted cash and investments, current	8,489	4,341
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	314,097	269,038
Current deferred income tax assets	27,914	25,884
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	28,208	36,806
Total current assets	438,346	377,406
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	20,236	19,578
Property and equipment, net	1,916,386	1,772,166	1,727,798
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	1,826	9,256
Contract Receivable	174,141	66,229
Intercompany Receivable	0	0
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	7,399	5,873
Goodwill	615,438	493,890	490,196
Intangible Assets, Net	224,148	155,275
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other Non-Current Assets	105,422	102,535
Total Assets	3,503,342	3,002,208
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	77,523	58,155
Accrued payroll and related taxes	48,477	38,556
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	135,483	140,612
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	17,141	16,752
Total current liabilities	278,624	254,075
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	11,471	10,068
Intercompany Payable	0	0
Other Non-Current Liabilities	87,694	87,429
Capital Lease Obligations	8,693	9,856
Long-Term Debt	1,875,556	1,462,819
Non-Recourse Debt	$ 234,467	$ 131,968
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 1,006,738	$ 1,045,679
Noncontrolling interests	99	314
Total shareholders’ equity	1,006,837	1,045,993	1,023,976	1,047,304
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,503,342	3,002,208
The GEO Group Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	37,077	18,492	30,730	4,764
Restricted cash and investments, current	0	0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	131,747	92,456
Current deferred income tax assets	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,190	7,022
Total current assets	170,014	117,970
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	138	228
Property and equipment, net	746,478	726,238
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	0	0
Contract Receivable	0	0
Intercompany Receivable	971,291	962,314
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	710	0
Goodwill	79	34
Intangible Assets, Net	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,106,546	855,870
Other Non-Current Assets	22,133	25,635
Total Assets	3,017,389	2,688,289
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	9,731	7,549
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0	0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	43,043	47,637
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	3,000	3,001
Total current liabilities	$ 55,774	58,187
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities		(4,095)
Intercompany Payable	$ 76,427	121,327
Other Non-Current Liabilities	2,894	4,372
Capital Lease Obligations	0	0
Long-Term Debt	1,875,556	1,462,819
Non-Recourse Debt	$ 0	$ 0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 1,006,738	$ 1,045,679
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,006,738	1,045,679
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,017,389	2,688,289
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	782	985	1,917
Restricted cash and investments, current	0	0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	162,538	159,505
Current deferred income tax assets	23,120	21,657
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	17,917	19,593
Total current assets	203,575	201,537
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	16,386	13,729
Property and equipment, net	1,088,417	961,896
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	0	0
Contract Receivable	0	0
Intercompany Receivable	86,519	119,414
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	(102)	0
Goodwill	614,941	493,389
Intangible Assets, Net	223,426	154,237
Investment in Subsidiaries	453,636	438,243
Other Non-Current Assets	116,561	110,105
Total Assets	2,803,359	2,492,550
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	54,675	47,130
Accrued payroll and related taxes	35,516	24,184
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	78,510	75,574
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	1,477	1,170
Total current liabilities	170,178	148,058
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	11,120	14,170
Intercompany Payable	967,048	942,071
Other Non-Current Liabilities	143,887	143,584
Capital Lease Obligations	8,693	9,856
Long-Term Debt	0	0
Non-Recourse Debt	$ 0	$ 0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 1,502,433	$ 1,234,811
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,502,433	1,234,811
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	2,803,359	2,492,550
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	22,561	22,063	$ 20,410	$ 25,074
Restricted cash and investments, current	8,489	4,341
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	19,812	17,077
Current deferred income tax assets	4,794	4,227
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,310	11,345
Total current assets	65,966	59,053
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	3,712	5,621
Property and equipment, net	81,491	84,032
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	1,826	9,256
Contract Receivable	174,141	66,229
Intercompany Receivable	0	0
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	6,791	5,873
Goodwill	418	467
Intangible Assets, Net	722	1,038
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other Non-Current Assets	46,855	46,838
Total Assets	381,922	278,407
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	13,117	3,476
Accrued payroll and related taxes	12,961	14,372
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	15,139	18,555
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	12,664	12,581
Total current liabilities	53,881	48,984
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	351	(7)
Intercompany Payable	14,335	18,330
Other Non-Current Liabilities	21,040	19,507
Capital Lease Obligations	0	0
Long-Term Debt	0	0
Non-Recourse Debt	$ 234,467	$ 131,968
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 57,749	$ 59,311
Noncontrolling interests	99	314
Total shareholders’ equity	57,848	59,625
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	381,922	278,407
Eliminations
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash and investments, current	0	0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	0	0
Current deferred income tax assets	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,209)	(1,154)
Total current assets	(1,209)	(1,154)
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	0	0
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	0	0
Contract Receivable	0	0
Intercompany Receivable	(1,057,810)	(1,081,728)
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible Assets, Net	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(1,560,182)	(1,294,113)
Other Non-Current Assets	(80,127)	(80,043)
Total Assets	(2,699,328)	(2,457,038)
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	0	0
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0	0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(1,209)	(1,154)
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	(1,209)	(1,154)
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0	0
Intercompany Payable	(1,057,810)	(1,081,728)
Other Non-Current Liabilities	(80,127)	(80,034)
Capital Lease Obligations	0	0
Long-Term Debt	0	0
Non-Recourse Debt	$ 0	$ 0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (1,560,182)	$ (1,294,122)
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total shareholders’ equity	(1,560,182)	(1,294,122)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ (2,699,328)	$ (2,457,038)