Earnings Per Share (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
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 49,342	$ 43,674	$ 23,156	$ 32,326	$ 44,015	$ 38,291	$ 28,253	$ 28,756	$ 148,498	$ 139,315	$ 143,840
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
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)									74,043,000	73,696,000	72,270,000
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 earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)									74,043,000	73,696,000	72,270,000
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plans (in shares)									280,000	299,000	277,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution (in shares)									74,323,000	73,995,000	72,547,000
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
Stock Options
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share									575,309	240,462	65,168
Restricted Stock Award
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share									178,030	210,074	0