Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 47,882	$ (17,527)
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	689	18
Change in restricted cash and investments	25	(41,037)
Capital expenditures	(34,421)	(28,429)
Net cash used in investing activities	(33,707)	(69,448)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	1,083,148	117,000
Payments on long-term debt	(918,500)	(88,756)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(67,171)	(1,613)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	36,020	71,242
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(3,434)	(1,717)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	122	2,357
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement	276,036	0
Debt issuance costs	(7,371)	(1,505)
Income tax deficiency related to equity compensation	0	(818)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	3,882	979
Cash dividends paid	(52,504)	(48,509)
Net cash provided by financing activities	350,228	48,660
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	2,118	1,902
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	366,521	(36,413)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	68,038	59,638
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	434,559	23,225
The GEO Group, Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	(22,988)	(221)
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	689	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(19)	90
Capital expenditures	(5,404)	(3,567)
Net cash used in investing activities	(4,734)	(3,477)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	1,083,148	117,000
Payments on long-term debt	(918,500)	(88,756)
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	0	0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(3,434)	(1,717)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement	276,036
Debt issuance costs	(6,992)	0
Income tax deficiency related to equity compensation		(818)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	3,882	979
Cash dividends paid	(52,504)	(48,509)
Net cash provided by financing activities	381,636	(21,821)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	353,914	(25,519)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	45,566	37,077
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	399,480	11,558
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	35,079	25,317
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	18
Change in restricted cash and investments	(1,305)	(956)
Capital expenditures	(27,062)	(24,379)
Net cash used in investing activities	(28,367)	(25,317)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	0	0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP		0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement	0
Debt issuance costs	0	0
Income tax deficiency related to equity compensation		0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid		0
Net cash provided by financing activities	0	0
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	6,712	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	842	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	7,554	0
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	35,791	(42,623)
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	1,349	(40,171)
Capital expenditures	(1,955)	(483)
Net cash used in investing activities	(606)	(40,654)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	(67,171)	(1,613)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	36,020	71,242
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	122	2,357
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement	0
Debt issuance costs	(379)	(1,505)
Income tax deficiency related to equity compensation		0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	(31,408)	70,481
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	2,118	1,902
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	5,895	(10,894)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	21,630	22,561
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 27,525	$ 11,667