Shareholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,006,738
Ending balance	991,646
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(11,747)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	1,505
Ending balance	(10,242)
Unrealized (loss)/gain on derivatives, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(17,697)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(2,444)
Ending balance	(20,141)
Pension adjustments, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,960)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	33
Ending balance	(2,927)
Total
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(32,404)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(906)
Ending balance	$ (33,310)