Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 554,376	$ 469,866	$ 1,612,911	$ 1,343,181
Operating expenses	415,659	345,966	1,221,002	997,812
Depreciation and amortization	28,783	27,127	85,886	78,628
General and administrative expenses	37,483	33,742	108,448	97,764
Operating income	72,451	63,031	197,575	168,977
Interest income	7,928	2,992	18,387	7,933
Interest expense	(33,428)	(27,314)	(93,864)	(78,610)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(15,885)	0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	46,951	38,709	106,213	98,300
Provision for income taxes	4,970	1,758	12,000	6,954
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $650, $583, $1,850 and $1,712, respectively	1,693	1,340	4,943	3,949
Net income	43,674	38,291	99,156	95,295
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	46	21	123	79
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 43,720	$ 38,312	$ 99,279	$ 95,374
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	74,108	73,757	74,010	73,658
Diluted (in shares)	74,336	73,919	74,283	73,906
Basic:
Income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.52	$ 1.34	$ 1.29
Diluted:
Income per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.59	0.52	1.34	1.29
Dividends declared per share (in US dollars per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.62	$ 1.95	$ 1.86