Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 566,759	$ 554,376	$ 1,694,443	$ 1,612,911
Operating expenses	423,134	415,659	1,276,286	1,221,002
Depreciation and amortization	31,649	28,783	92,464	85,886
General and administrative expenses	49,074	37,483	143,866	108,448
Total operating income from segments	62,902	72,451	181,827	197,575
Interest income	14,648	7,928	38,971	18,387
Interest expense	(38,719)	(33,428)	(109,702)	(93,864)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	(15,885)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	38,831	46,951	111,096	106,213
Income tax provision	1,720	4,970	5,590	12,000
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,342	1,693	4,255	4,943
Income (loss) before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	38,453	43,674	109,761	99,156
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	38,453	43,674	109,761	99,156
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	36	46	123	123
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	38,489	43,720	109,884	99,279
Net income	38,453	43,674	109,761	99,156
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,625	483	4,761	(2,983)
Total comprehensive income	40,078	44,157	114,522	96,173
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	34	36	119	104
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	40,112	44,193	114,641	96,277
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	171,553	173,920	520,986	515,971
Operating expenses	139,165	144,748	406,576	418,261
Depreciation and amortization	6,104	6,339	18,319	18,866
General and administrative expenses	14,699	11,727	43,939	34,548
Total operating income from segments	11,585	11,106	52,152	44,296
Interest income	2,688	4,765	12,793	15,646
Interest expense	(18,148)	(16,324)	(51,391)	(49,031)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(15,885)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	(3,875)	(453)	13,554	(4,974)
Income tax provision	147	(9)	441	(101)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	(4,022)	(444)	13,113	(4,873)
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	42,475	44,118	96,648	104,029
Net income	38,453	43,674	109,761	99,156
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	38,453	43,674	109,761	99,156
Net income	38,453	43,674	109,761	99,156
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	38,453	43,674	109,761	99,156
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	38,453	43,674	109,761	99,156
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	464,140	410,329	1,342,620	1,215,469
Operating expenses	364,834	314,009	1,076,232	957,704
Depreciation and amortization	24,623	21,502	71,404	64,159
General and administrative expenses	28,066	18,180	78,479	53,396
Total operating income from segments	46,617	56,638	116,505	140,210
Interest income	1,629	422	2,858	1,440
Interest expense	(13,093)	(13,525)	(41,353)	(41,401)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	35,153	43,535	78,010	100,249
Income tax provision	811	4,032	3,058	9,323
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	34,342	39,503	74,952	90,926
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	34,342	39,503	74,952	90,926
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	34,342	39,503	74,952	90,926
Net income	34,342	39,503	74,952	90,926
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	64	33	175	98
Total comprehensive income	34,406	39,536	75,127	91,024
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	34,406	39,536	75,127	91,024
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	69,698	112,708	250,618	306,484
Operating expenses	57,767	99,483	213,259	270,050
Depreciation and amortization	922	942	2,741	2,861
General and administrative expenses	6,309	7,576	21,448	20,504
Total operating income from segments	4,700	4,707	13,170	13,069
Interest income	14,871	8,029	39,175	18,699
Interest expense	(12,018)	(8,867)	(32,813)	(20,830)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				0
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	7,553	3,869	19,532	10,938
Income tax provision	762	947	2,091	2,778
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,342	1,693	4,255	4,943
Income (loss) before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	8,133	4,615	21,696	13,103
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	8,133	4,615	21,696	13,103
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	36	46	123	123
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	8,169	4,661	21,819	13,226
Net income	8,133	4,615	21,696	13,103
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,561	450	4,586	(3,081)
Total comprehensive income	9,694	5,065	26,282	10,022
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	34	36	119	104
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	9,728	5,101	26,401	10,126
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(138,632)	(142,581)	(419,781)	(425,013)
Operating expenses	(138,632)	(142,581)	(419,781)	(425,013)
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	(4,540)	(5,288)	(15,855)	(17,398)
Interest expense	4,540	5,288	15,855	17,398
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				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 (loss) before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(42,475)	(44,118)	(96,648)	(104,029)
Net income	(42,475)	(44,118)	(96,648)	(104,029)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(42,475)	(44,118)	(96,648)	(104,029)
Net income	(42,475)	(44,118)	(96,648)	(104,029)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(42,475)	(44,118)	(96,648)	(104,029)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (42,475)	$ (44,118)	$ (96,648)	$ (104,029)