Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Company's quarterly financial data
Revenues	$ 566,579	$ 554,376	$ 548,350	$ 510,185	$ 500,127	$ 469,866	$ 445,945	$ 427,369	$ 2,179,490	$ 1,843,307	$ 1,691,620
Operating Income	68,008	72,452	65,957	59,167	66,745	63,031	53,281	52,672	265,584	235,729	234,731
Net Income	49,342	43,674	23,156	32,326	44,015	38,291	28,253	28,756	148,498	139,315	143,840
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 49,436	$ 43,720	$ 23,209	$ 32,350	$ 44,058	$ 38,312	$ 28,291	$ 28,777	$ 148,715	$ 139,438	$ 143,930
Basic earnings per share
Net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.67	$ 0.59	$ 0.31	$ 0.44	$ 0.60	$ 0.52	$ 0.38	$ 0.39	$ 2.01	$ 1.89	$ 1.99
Diluted earnings per share
Net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.66	$ 0.59	$ 0.31	$ 0.44	$ 0.59	$ 0.52	$ 0.38	$ 0.39	$ 2.00	$ 1.88	$ 1.98