Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) detainees in Thousands, bed in Thousands, $ in Thousands, £ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) facility detainees bed Bed shares	Dec. 31, 2015 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2014 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2015 GBP (£) facility detainees bed Bed shares	Sep. 30, 2015 person	Dec. 31, 2014 GBP (£) shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	May. 29, 2011 USD ($)	May. 29, 2011 GBP (£)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Revenue based on performance of certain targets	1.00%	1.00%
Accumulated depreciation of leased facility	$ 8,100		$ 7,100
Summary of Business Organization
Number of beds | bed	87				87
Correctional, detention and residential treatment facilities including projects under development | facility	104				104
Provision of monitoring services tracking offenders (more than 139,000 offenders) | person						139,000
Provision of monitoring services tracking offenders using technology products | detainees	89				89
Common stock, shares authorized | shares	125,000,000		125,000,000		125,000,000		125,000,000	90,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 59,638		$ 41,337					$ 52,125	$ 31,755
Accounts Receivable
Minimum period for payment receivable in arrears for services	30 days	30 days
Maximum period for payment receivable in arrears for services	60 days	60 days
Notes Receivable
Interest rate for subordinated loan extended to the former joint venture partner	13.00%	13.00%
Line of Credit, amount outstanding	$ 485,000		70,000
Federal and state income tax overpayments			7,900
Asset Impairments
Property and equipment, net	$ 1,916,386		1,772,166					$ 1,727,798
Number of vacant beds at its idle facilities | Bed	3,300				3,300
Number of marketed idle facilities | facility	4				4
Carrying values of idle facilities	$ 35,200
Debt Issuance Costs
Deferred debt issuance cost, accumulated amortization	24,100		21,500
Debt issuance costs included in other non-current assets	$ 57,500		53,900
Facility Management Contracts
Other Intangible Assets
Amortization period	15 years 7 months 6 days	15 years 7 months 6 days
Foreign Subsidiaries
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 22,600		22,100
GEO Amey
Notes Receivable
Line of Credit, amount outstanding	17,800				£ 12.0					$ 17,800	£ 12.0
Principal payment received	$ 3,000	£ 2.0	2,300	£ 1.5
Accrued interest included under line of credit			1,500	£ 0.9
Minimum
Property and Equipment
Useful life	1 year	1 year
Minimum | Facility Management Contracts
Other Intangible Assets
Amortization period	3 years	3 years
Minimum | Technology
Other Intangible Assets
Amortization period	7 years	7 years
Maximum | Facility Management Contracts
Other Intangible Assets
Amortization period	20 years	20 years
Maximum | Technology
Other Intangible Assets
Amortization period	8 years	8 years
Building and Building Improvements | Minimum
Property and Equipment
Useful life	2 years	2 years
Building and Building Improvements | Maximum
Property and Equipment
Useful life	50 years	50 years
Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures | Minimum
Property and Equipment
Useful life	3 years	3 years
Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures | Maximum
Property and Equipment
Useful life	10 years	10 years
LIBOR | GEO Amey
Notes Receivable
Principal amount and accrued interest at LIBOR	3.00%	3.00%
Base Rate, Bank of England | GEO Amey
Notes Receivable
Principal amount and accrued interest at LIBOR	0.50%	0.50%
Cornell Companies, Inc.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable one year past due and still accruing	1 year	1 year
Other Noncurrent Assets
Accounts Receivable
Trade receivables	$ 1,600		500
Notes Receivable
Notes receivable from its former joint venture partner	800		1,300
Other Noncurrent Assets | GEO Amey
Notes Receivable
Due from joint venture, current	$ 12,600				£ 8.5
Due from joint venture, non-current			$ 16,300				£ 10.5
The GEO Group Australia | Ravenhall
Notes Receivable
Facility, number of beds | Bed	1,000				1,000