Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Variable Interest Entities) (Details) £ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2011 GBP (£) director £ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2010 Bed	Dec. 31, 2015 GBP (£)	May. 29, 2011 USD ($)	May. 29, 2011 GBP (£)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of beds | Bed						1,030
Loss on early extinguishment of debt | $		$ 0	$ 0		$ (20,657)
Property and equipment, net | $		$ 1,916,386	1,772,166		$ 1,727,798
Variable interest entity ownership percentage in joint venture		50.00%
Partnership Interest Share Amount | £	£ 100
Units of Partnership Interest, Amount | shares	100
Value Per Partnership Interest Shares | £ / shares	£ 1
Directors appointed to board by each party | director	3
Line of Credit, amount outstanding | $		$ 485,000	70,000
GEO Amey
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Units of Partnership Interest, Amount | shares	50
Line of Credit, amount outstanding		$ 17,800					£ 12,000,000	$ 17,800	£ 12,000,000
Accrued interest included under line of credit			$ 1,500	£ 900,000
SACS
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Life term of contract		25 years
Reduction of Government Guarantee in Case of Default		80.00%
GEO UK
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entity ownership percentage in joint venture		50.00%
Units of Partnership Interest, Amount | shares	50
Kensani Corrections
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entity ownership percentage in joint venture		50.00%
LIBOR | GEO Amey
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Debt instrument basis spread on variable rate		3.00%
Base Rate, Bank of England | GEO Amey
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Debt instrument basis spread on variable rate		0.50%
Other Noncurrent Assets | GEO Amey
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Due from joint venture, current		$ 12,600					£ 8,500,000