Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 550,614	$ 510,185
Operating expenses	414,707	388,506
Depreciation and amortization	28,949	28,451
General and administrative expenses	42,586	34,061
Total operating income from segments	64,372	59,167
Interest income	11,977	4,557
Interest expense	(35,000)	(29,366)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	41,349	34,358
Income tax provision	2,470	3,151
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,487	1,119
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	40,366	32,326
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	40,366	32,326
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	37	24
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	40,403	32,350
Net income	40,366	32,326
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,260	(898)
Total comprehensive income	41,626	31,428
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	35	16
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	41,661	31,444
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	178,173	167,637
Operating expenses	132,167	137,910
Depreciation and amortization	6,150	6,262
General and administrative expenses	13,667	7,975
Total operating income from segments	26,189	15,490
Interest income	3,354	5,441
Interest expense	(15,792)	(16,357)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	13,751	4,574
Income tax provision	147	10
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	13,604	4,564
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	26,762	27,763
Net income	40,366	32,327
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	40,366	32,327
Net income	40,366	32,327
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income	40,366	32,327
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	40,366	32,327
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	413,194	400,342
Operating expenses	337,999	319,904
Depreciation and amortization	21,875	21,233
General and administrative expenses	20,981	19,966
Total operating income from segments	32,339	39,239
Interest income	820	609
Interest expense	(12,485)	(13,944)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	20,674	25,904
Income tax provision	1,453	2,191
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	19,221	23,713
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	19,221	23,713
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	19,221	23,713
Net income	19,221	23,713
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	47	33
Total comprehensive income	19,268	23,746
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	19,268	23,746
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	101,484	80,965
Operating expenses	86,778	69,451
Depreciation and amortization	924	956
General and administrative expenses	7,938	6,120
Total operating income from segments	5,844	4,438
Interest income	11,828	4,657
Interest expense	(10,748)	(5,215)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	6,924	3,880
Income tax provision	870	950
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,487	1,119
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	7,541	4,049
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	7,541	4,049
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	37	24
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	7,578	4,073
Net income	7,541	4,049
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,213	(931)
Total comprehensive income	8,754	3,118
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	35	16
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	8,789	3,134
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(142,237)	(138,759)
Operating expenses	(142,237)	(138,759)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0
Total operating income from segments	0	0
Interest income	(4,025)	(6,150)
Interest expense	4,025	6,150
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0
Income tax provision	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(26,762)	(27,763)
Net income	(26,762)	(27,763)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(26,762)	(27,763)
Net income	(26,762)	(27,763)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(26,762)	(27,763)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (26,762)	$ (27,763)