Shareholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 975,056
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	1,258
Ending balance	1,245,782
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(11,284)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	1,690
Ending balance	(9,594)
Unrealized (loss)/gain on derivatives, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(15,877)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	(479)
Ending balance	(16,356)
Pension adjustments, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(3,664)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	47
Ending balance	(3,617)
Total
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(30,825)
Ending balance	$ (29,567)