Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
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
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	74,108,000	73,757,000	74,010,000	73,658,000
Per share amount (USD per share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.52	$ 1.34	$ 1.29
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	74,108,000	73,757,000	74,010,000	73,658,000
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans (shares)	228,000	162,000	273,000	248,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	74,336,000	73,919,000	74,283,000	73,906,000
Income from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.52	$ 1.34	$ 1.29
Stock Options
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	614,128	403,695	566,610	192,079
Restricted Stock
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	238,561	258,688	222,521	201,102