Contracts Receivable	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Receivables [Abstract]
Contracts Receivable	Contract Receivable On September 16, 2014, GEO's newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Ravenhall Pty. Ltd., in its capacity as trustee of another newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Ravenhall Trust ("Project Co"), signed the Ravenhall Prison Project Agreement ("Ravenhall Contract") with the State of Victoria (the "State") for the development and operation of a new 1,000-bed facility in Ravenhall, a locality near Melbourne, Australia under a Public-Private Partnership financing structure. The facility will also have the capacity to house 1,300 inmates should the State have the need for additional beds in the future. The design and construction phase ("D&C Phase") of the agreement began in September 2014 with completion expected towards the end of 2017. Project Co is the primary developer during the D&C Phase and has subcontracted with a bonded international design and build contractor to design and construct the facility. Once constructed and commercially accepted, GEO's wholly-owned subsidiary, the GEO Group Australasia Pty. Ltd. ("GEO Australia") will operate the facility under a 25-year management contract ("Operating Phase"). During the D&C Phase, GEO Australia will also provide construction management and consultant services to the State. The cost of the project during the D&C Phase will be funded by debt financing along with a capital contribution by GEO in the amount of AUD 115 million, or $82.9 million, based on exchange rates at December 31, 2016, which was contributed in January 2017 (Refer to Note 13 - Debt). Another wholly-owned subsidiary of GEO, Ravenhall Finance Co Pty. Limited ("Finance Co"), has entered into a syndicated facility agreement with National Australia Bank Limited to provide the debt financing for the project. Refer to Note 13 - Debt. In order to fix the interest rate on this variable non-recourse debt, Finance Co has entered into interest rate swap agreements. Refer to Note 8 - Derivative Financial Instruments. Upon completion and commercial acceptance of the facility, in accordance with the Ravenhall Contract, the State will make a lump sum payment of AUD 310 million, or $224.0 million, based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2016, towards a portion of the outstanding balance. This payment is expected to be made by the State in December 2017 and the remaining balance will be paid over the life of the 25-year management contract. During the D&C Phase, the Company recognizes revenue as earned on a percentage of completion basis measured by the percentage of costs incurred to date as compared to the estimated total costs for the design and construction of the facility. Costs incurred and estimated earnings in excess of billings is classified as Contract Receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The total balance of the Contract Receivable at December 31, 2016 is $443.8 million which is recorded at net present value based on the timing of expected future settlement. Interest income is recorded as earned using an effective interest rate of 8.97%. As the primary contractor, Project Co is exposed to the various risks associated with the D&C Phase. Accordingly, the Company will record construction revenue on a gross basis and include the related costs of construction activities in operating expenses within the Facility Design & Construction segment. Reimbursable pass through costs are excluded from revenues and expenses.

Contract Receivable

On September 16, 2014, GEO's newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Ravenhall Pty. Ltd., in its capacity as trustee of another newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Ravenhall Trust ("Project Co"), signed the Ravenhall Prison Project Agreement ("Ravenhall Contract") with the State of Victoria (the "State") for the development and operation of a new 1,000-bed facility in Ravenhall, a locality near Melbourne, Australia under a Public-Private Partnership financing structure. The facility will also have the capacity to house 1,300 inmates should the State have the need for additional beds in the future. The design and construction phase ("D&C Phase") of the agreement began in September 2014 with completion expected towards the end of 2017. Project Co is the primary developer during the D&C Phase and has subcontracted with a bonded international design and build contractor to design and construct the facility. Once constructed and commercially accepted, GEO's wholly-owned subsidiary, the GEO Group Australasia Pty. Ltd. ("GEO Australia") will operate the facility under a 25-year management contract ("Operating Phase"). During the D&C Phase, GEO Australia will also provide construction management and consultant services to the State.

The cost of the project during the D&C Phase will be funded by debt financing along with a capital contribution by GEO in the amount of AUD 115 million, or $82.9 million, based on exchange rates at December 31, 2016, which was contributed in January 2017 (Refer to Note 13 - Debt). Another wholly-owned subsidiary of GEO, Ravenhall Finance Co Pty. Limited ("Finance Co"), has entered into a syndicated facility agreement with National Australia Bank Limited to provide the debt financing for the project. Refer to Note 13 - Debt. In order to fix the interest rate on this variable non-recourse debt, Finance Co has entered into interest rate swap agreements. Refer to Note 8 - Derivative Financial Instruments. Upon completion and commercial acceptance of the facility, in accordance with the Ravenhall Contract, the State will make a lump sum payment of AUD 310 million, or $224.0 million, based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2016, towards a portion of the outstanding balance. This payment is expected to be made by the State in December 2017 and the remaining balance will be paid over the life of the 25-year management contract.

During the D&C Phase, the Company recognizes revenue as earned on a percentage of completion basis measured by the percentage of costs incurred to date as compared to the estimated total costs for the design and construction of the facility. Costs incurred and estimated earnings in excess of billings is classified as Contract Receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The total balance of the Contract Receivable at December 31, 2016 is $443.8 million which is recorded at net present value based on the timing of expected future settlement. Interest income is recorded as earned using an effective interest rate of 8.97%. As the primary contractor, Project Co is exposed to the various risks associated with the D&C Phase. Accordingly, the Company will record construction revenue on a gross basis and include the related costs of construction activities in operating expenses within the Facility Design & Construction segment. Reimbursable pass through costs are excluded from revenues and expenses.