Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 50,714	$ 38,252
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of CEC, net of cash acquired	(354,466)	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	648	43
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0	548	$ 548
Change in restricted cash and investments	(1,835)	(65,853)
Capital expenditures	(67,508)	(46,014)
Net cash used in investing activities	(423,161)	(111,276)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	1,158,574	641,000
Payments on long-term debt	(972,500)	(627,506)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(67,885)	(3,044)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	91,076	159,068
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,092)	(2,257)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	242	224
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement	275,867	0
Debt issuance costs	(7,587)	(19,497)
Income tax deficiency related to equity compensation	0	(791)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	6,150	2,057
Cash dividends paid	(110,859)	(97,247)
Net cash provided by financing activities	368,986	52,007
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,324	244
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(2,137)	(20,773)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	68,038	59,638
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	65,901	38,865	59,638
The GEO Group, Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,389	84,523
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of CEC, net of cash acquired	(354,466)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	648	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property			0
Change in restricted cash and investments	0	(12)
Capital expenditures	(9,709)	(5,137)
Net cash used in investing activities	(363,527)	(5,149)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	1,158,574	641,000
Payments on long-term debt	(972,500)	(627,506)
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	0	0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,092)	(2,257)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement	275,867
Debt issuance costs	(6,992)	(16,980)
Income tax deficiency related to equity compensation		(791)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	6,150	2,057
Cash dividends paid	(110,859)	(97,247)
Net cash provided by financing activities	346,148	(101,724)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(14,990)	(22,350)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	45,566	37,077
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	30,576	14,727	37,077
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	62,559	40,602
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of CEC, net of cash acquired	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	41
Insurance proceeds - damaged property			0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(2,890)	(1,565)
Capital expenditures	(53,629)	(39,078)
Net cash used in investing activities	(56,519)	(40,602)
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 Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	6,040	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	842	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	6,882	0	0
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	(14,234)	(86,873)
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of CEC, net of cash acquired	0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	2
Insurance proceeds - damaged property			548
Change in restricted cash and investments	1,055	(64,276)
Capital expenditures	(4,170)	(1,799)
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,115)	(65,525)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	(67,885)	(3,044)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	91,076	159,068
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	242	224
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under prospectus supplement	0
Debt issuance costs	(595)	(2,517)
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	22,838	153,731
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,324	244
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	6,813	1,577
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	21,630	22,561
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 28,443	$ 24,138	$ 22,561