Shareholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 975,056
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	3,131
Ending balance	1,226,883
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	2,204
Ending balance	(9,080)
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	816
Ending balance	(15,061)
Pension adjustments, net of tax
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(3,664)
Current-period other comprehensive (loss) income	111
Ending balance	(3,553)
Total
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(30,825)
Ending balance	$ (27,694)