Shareholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,006,738
Ending balance	966,404
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	2,062
Ending balance	(9,685)
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	(5,162)
Ending balance	(22,859)
Pension adjustments, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,960)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	98
Ending balance	(2,862)
Total
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(32,404)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(3,002)
Ending balance	$ (35,406)