Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 510,185	$ 427,369
Operating expenses	388,506	317,909
Depreciation and amortization	28,451	24,940
General and administrative expenses	34,061	31,848
Total operating income from segments	59,167	52,672
Interest income	4,557	2,073
Interest expense	(29,366)	(24,646)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	34,358	30,099
Income tax provision	3,151	2,828
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,119	1,485
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	32,326	28,756
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	32,326	28,756
Net income	32,326	28,756
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	24	21
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	32,350	28,777
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(898)	(5,721)
Total comprehensive income	31,428	23,035
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	16	37
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	31,444	23,072
The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	167,637	144,383
Operating expenses	137,910	116,225
Depreciation and amortization	6,262	6,203
General and administrative expenses	7,975	10,323
Total operating income from segments	15,490	11,632
Interest income	5,441	6,178
Interest expense	(16,357)	(14,310)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	4,574	3,500
Income tax provision	10	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	4,564	3,500
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	27,763	25,256
Net income	32,327	28,756
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	32,327	28,756
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income	32,327	28,756
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	32,327	28,756
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	400,342	339,887
Operating expenses	319,904	268,781
Depreciation and amortization	21,233	17,697
General and administrative expenses	19,966	16,880
Total operating income from segments	39,239	36,529
Interest income	609	1,231
Interest expense	(13,944)	(14,636)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	25,904	23,124
Income tax provision	2,191	1,740
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	23,713	21,384
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	23,713	21,384
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	23,713	21,384
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	33	40
Total comprehensive income	23,746	21,424
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	23,746	21,424
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	80,965	64,967
Operating expenses	69,451	54,771
Depreciation and amortization	956	1,040
General and administrative expenses	6,120	4,645
Total operating income from segments	4,438	4,511
Interest income	4,657	2,137
Interest expense	(5,215)	(3,173)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	3,880	3,475
Income tax provision	950	1,088
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,119	1,485
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	4,049	3,872
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	4,049	3,872
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	24	21
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	4,073	3,893
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(931)	(5,761)
Total comprehensive income	3,118	(1,889)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	16	37
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	3,134	(1,852)
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(138,759)	(121,868)
Operating expenses	(138,759)	(121,868)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0
Total operating income from segments	0	0
Interest income	(6,150)	(7,473)
Interest expense	6,150	7,473
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0
Income tax provision	0	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(27,763)	(25,256)
Net income	(27,763)	(25,256)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(27,763)	(25,256)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(27,763)	(25,256)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (27,763)	$ (25,256)