Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Equity [Abstract]

Dividends Declared

During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, GEO declared and paid the following regular cash distributions to its stockholders which were treated for federal income taxes as follows:

					Ordinary Dividends
Declaration Date	Payment Date	Record Date	Distribution Per Share		Qualified (1)		Non-Qualified		Nondividend Distributions (2)		Aggregate Payment Amount (millions)
February 18, 2014	March 14, 2014	March 3, 2014	$	0.57	$	0.0448272	$	0.4154156	$	0.1097572	$	41.1
April 28, 2014	May 27, 2014	May 15, 2014	$	0.57	$	0.0448272	$	0.4154156	$	0.1097572	$	41.5
August 5, 2014	August 29, 2014	August 18, 2014	$	0.57	$	0.0448272	$	0.4154156	$	0.1097572	$	41.4
November 5, 2014	November 26, 2014	November 17, 2014	$	0.62	$	0.0487594	$	0.4518556	$	0.1193850	$	46.0
February 6, 2015	February 27, 2015	February 17, 2015	$	0.62	$	0.0529749	$	0.4139721	$	0.1530530	$	46.0
April 29, 2015	May 21, 2015	May 11, 2015	$	0.62	$	0.0529749	$	0.4139721	$	0.1530530	$	46.3
July 31, 2015	August 24, 2015	August 14, 2015	$	0.62	$	0.0529749	$	0.4139721	$	0.1530530	$	46.3
November 3, 2015	November 25, 2015	November 16, 2015	$	0.65	$	0.0555382	$	0.434003	$	0.1604588	$	48.5
February 3, 2016	February 26, 2016	February 16, 2016	$	0.65	$	0.0740419	$	0.4329602	$	0.1429979	$	48.5
April 20, 2016	May 12, 2016	May 2, 2016	$	0.65	$	0.0740419	$	0.4329602	$	0.1429979	$	48.7
July 20, 2016	August 12, 2016	August 1, 2016	$	0.65	$	0.0740419	$	0.4329602	$	0.1429979	$	48.7
October 18, 2016	November 10, 2016	October 31, 2016	$	0.65	$	0.0740419	$	0.4329602	$	0.1429979	$	48.8

(1) The amount constitutes a "Qualified Dividend", as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.

(2) The amount constitutes a "Return of Capital", as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.