Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ (17,527)	$ 60,745
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of LCS, cash consideration	0	(307,403)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	18	20
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0	700
Change in restricted cash and investments	(41,037)	(8,108)
Capital expenditures	(28,429)	(34,198)
Net cash used in investing activities	(69,448)	(348,989)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	117,000	371,000
Payments on long-term debt	(88,756)	(38,750)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(1,613)	(1,645)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	71,242	33,019
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(1,717)	(1,123)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	2,357	98
Debt issuance costs	(1,505)	(1,245)
Income tax deficiency (benefit) related to equity compensation	(818)	569
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	979	1,215
Cash dividends paid	(48,509)	(45,977)
Net cash provided by financing activities	48,660	317,161
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,902	(1,273)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(36,413)	27,644
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	59,638	41,337
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	23,225	68,981
The GEO Group, Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	(221)	35,300
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of LCS, cash consideration		(307,403)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property		0
Change in restricted cash and investments	90	102
Capital expenditures	(3,567)	(20,561)
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,477)	(327,862)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	117,000	371,000
Payments on long-term debt	(88,756)	(38,750)
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	0	0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(1,717)	(1,123)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	$ 98
Debt issuance costs	0
Income tax deficiency (benefit) related to equity compensation	(818)	$ 569
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	979	1,215
Cash dividends paid	(48,509)	(45,977)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(21,821)	287,032
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(25,519)	(5,530)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	37,077	18,492
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	11,558	12,962
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	25,317	$ 30,416
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of LCS, cash consideration
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	18	$ 20
Insurance proceeds - damaged property		700
Change in restricted cash and investments	(956)	(6,443)
Capital expenditures	(24,379)	(13,042)
Net cash used in investing activities	(25,317)	(18,765)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	$ 0
Payments on long-term debt	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	$ 0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	0	0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	0
Debt issuance costs	0	0
Income tax deficiency (benefit) related to equity compensation	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	0	0
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	11,651
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	0	782
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	0	12,433
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	(42,623)	(4,971)
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of LCS, cash consideration		0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property		0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(40,171)	(1,767)
Capital expenditures	(483)	(595)
Net cash used in investing activities	(40,654)	(2,362)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	(1,613)	(1,645)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	71,242	33,019
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	2,357	0
Debt issuance costs	(1,505)	(1,245)
Income tax deficiency (benefit) related to equity compensation	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	70,481	30,129
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,902	(1,273)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(10,894)	21,523
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	22,561	22,063
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	11,667	$ 43,586
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 0