Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 38,252	$ 79,798
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of SoberLink, cash consideration	0	(24,402)
Acquisition of LCS, cash consideration	0	(307,403)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	43	123
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	548	901
Change in restricted cash and investments	(65,853)	(5,417)
Capital expenditures	(46,014)	(71,694)
Net cash used in investing activities	(111,276)	(407,892)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	641,000	518,000
Payments on long-term debt	(627,506)	(134,744)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(3,044)	(4,513)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	159,068	49,731
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(2,257)	(1,784)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	224	218
Debt issuance costs	(19,497)	(2,438)
Income tax (deficiency) benefit related to equity compensation	(791)	651
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	2,057	2,037
Cash dividends paid	(97,247)	(92,254)
Net cash provided by financing activities	52,007	334,904
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	244	(1,103)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(20,773)	5,707
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	59,638	41,337
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	38,865	47,044
The GEO Group, Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	84,523	39,103
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of SoberLink, cash consideration
Acquisition of LCS, cash consideration		(307,403)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(12)	(97)
Capital expenditures	(5,137)	(36,367)
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,149)	(343,867)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	641,000	518,000
Payments on long-term debt	(627,506)	(134,744)
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	0	0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(2,257)	(1,784)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	218
Debt issuance costs	(16,980)
Income tax (deficiency) benefit related to equity compensation	(791)	651
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	2,057	2,037
Cash dividends paid	(97,247)	(92,254)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(101,724)	292,124
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(22,350)	(12,640)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	37,077	18,492
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	14,727	5,852
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	40,602	62,486
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of SoberLink, cash consideration		(24,402)
Acquisition of LCS, cash consideration
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	41	123
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0	901
Change in restricted cash and investments	(1,565)	2,396
Capital expenditures	(39,078)	(34,273)
Net cash used in investing activities	(40,602)	(55,255)
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
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
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	7,231
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	0	782
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	0	8,013
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	(86,873)	(21,791)
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of SoberLink, cash consideration
Acquisition of LCS, cash consideration		0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	548	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(64,276)	(7,716)
Capital expenditures	(1,799)	(1,054)
Net cash used in investing activities	(65,525)	(8,770)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	(3,044)	(4,513)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	159,068	49,731
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	224	0
Debt issuance costs	(2,517)	(2,438)
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	153,731	42,780
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	244	(1,103)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,577	11,116
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	22,561	22,063
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 24,138	$ 33,179