Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ 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
Income Statement [Abstract]
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 Expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)									1,650,281	1,363,782	1,245,700
Depreciation and Amortization									114,916	106,756	96,171
General and administrative expenses									148,709	137,040	115,018
Operating Income	68,008	72,452	65,957	59,167	66,745	63,031	53,281	52,672	265,584	235,729	234,731
Interest Income									28,496	11,578	4,747
Interest Expense									(128,718)	(106,136)	(87,368)
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt									(15,885)	0	0
Income Before Income Taxes and Equity in Earnings of Affiliates									149,477	141,171	152,110
Provision for Income Taxes									7,904	7,389	14,093
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates, net of income tax provision of $2,341, $2,038 and $2,302									6,925	5,533	5,823
Net Income	49,342	43,674	23,156	32,326	44,015	38,291	28,253	28,756	148,498	139,315	143,840
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									217	123	90
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
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)									74,043	73,696	72,270
Diluted (in shares)									74,323	73,995	72,547
Basic earnings per share
Net income per share — basic (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:
Net income per share — diluted (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
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)									$ 2.60	$ 2.51	$ 2.33