Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 577,070	$ 548,350	$ 1,127,684	$ 1,058,535
Operating expenses	438,445	416,837	853,152	805,343
Depreciation and amortization	31,866	28,652	60,815	57,103
General and administrative expenses	52,206	36,904	94,792	70,965
Total operating income from segments	54,553	65,957	118,925	125,124
Interest income	12,346	5,902	24,323	10,459
Interest expense	(35,983)	(31,089)	(70,983)	(60,455)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	(15,866)	0	(15,866)	$ (15,866)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	30,916	24,904	72,265	59,262
Income tax provision	1,400	3,879	3,870	7,030
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,426	2,131	2,913	3,250
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	30,942	23,156	71,308	55,482
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	30,942	23,156	71,308	55,482
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	50	53	87	77
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	30,992	23,209	71,395	55,559
Net income	30,942	23,156	71,308	55,482
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,872	(2,578)	3,133	(3,476)
Total comprehensive income	32,814	20,578	74,441	52,006
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	51	52	85	68
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	32,865	20,630	74,526	52,074
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	171,260	174,414	349,433	342,051
Operating expenses	135,244	135,603	267,411	273,513
Depreciation and amortization	6,065	6,265	12,215	12,527
General and administrative expenses	15,573	14,846	29,240	22,821
Total operating income from segments	14,378	17,700	40,567	33,190
Interest income	6,751	5,440	10,105	10,881
Interest expense	(17,451)	(16,369)	(33,243)	(32,726)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(15,866)	(15,866)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	3,678	(9,095)	17,429	(4,521)
Income tax provision	147	(101)	294	(91)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	3,531	(8,994)	17,135	(4,430)
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	27,411	32,150	57,749	59,912
Net income	30,942	23,156	74,884	55,482
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	30,942	23,156	74,884	55,482
Net income	30,942	23,156	74,884	55,482
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	30,942	23,156	74,884	55,482
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	30,942	23,156	74,884	55,482
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	465,286	404,798	878,480	805,140
Operating expenses	373,399	323,791	711,398	643,695
Depreciation and amortization	24,906	21,424	46,781	42,657
General and administrative expenses	29,432	15,250	50,413	35,216
Total operating income from segments	37,549	44,333	69,888	83,572
Interest income	409	409	1,229	1,018
Interest expense	(15,775)	(13,932)	(28,260)	(27,876)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				0	0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	22,183	30,810	42,857	56,714
Income tax provision	793	3,099	2,247	5,290
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	21,390	27,711	40,610	51,424
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	21,390	27,711	40,610	51,424
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	21,390	27,711	40,610	51,424
Net income	21,390	27,711	40,610	51,424
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	64	33	111	65
Total comprehensive income	21,454	27,744	40,721	51,489
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	21,454	27,744	40,721	51,489
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	79,436	112,811	180,920	193,776
Operating expenses	68,714	101,116	155,492	170,567
Depreciation and amortization	895	963	1,819	1,919
General and administrative expenses	7,201	6,808	15,139	12,928
Total operating income from segments	2,626	3,924	8,470	8,362
Interest income	12,476	6,013	24,304	10,670
Interest expense	(10,047)	(6,748)	(20,795)	(11,963)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				0	0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	5,055	3,189	11,979	7,069
Income tax provision	460	881	1,329	1,831
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,426	2,131	2,913	3,250
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	6,021	4,439	13,563	8,488
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	6,021	4,439	13,563	8,488
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	50	53	87	77
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	6,071	4,492	13,650	8,565
Net income	6,021	4,439	13,563	8,488
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,808	(2,611)	3,022	(3,541)
Total comprehensive income	7,829	1,828	16,585	4,947
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	51	52	85	68
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	7,880	1,880	16,670	5,015
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(138,912)	(143,673)	(281,149)	(282,432)
Operating expenses	(138,912)	(143,673)	(281,149)	(282,432)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Total operating income from segments	0	0	0	0
Interest income	(7,290)	(5,960)	(11,315)	(12,110)
Interest expense	7,290	5,960	11,315	12,110
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				0	$ 0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(27,411)	(32,150)	(57,749)	(59,912)
Net income	(27,411)	(32,150)	(57,749)	(59,912)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(27,411)	(32,150)	(57,749)	(59,912)
Net income	(27,411)	(32,150)	(57,749)	(59,912)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(27,411)	(32,150)	(57,749)	(59,912)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (27,411)	$ (32,150)	$ (57,749)	$ (59,912)