Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 81,377	$ 68,038	$ 59,638	$ 41,337
Restricted cash and investments, current	44,932	17,133
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	389,916	356,255
Contract receivable, current portion	18,142	224,033
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	45,342	32,210
Total current assets	579,709	697,669
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	27,999	20,848
Property and equipment, net	2,078,123	1,897,241	1,916,386
Assets Held for Sale	3,915	0
Non-Current Contract Receivable	404,309	219,783
Intercompany Receivable	0	0
Deferred Income Tax Assets	26,277	30,039
Goodwill	778,951	615,433	615,438
Intangible Assets, Net	255,339	203,884
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other Non-Current Assets	72,286	64,512
Total Assets	4,226,908	3,749,409
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	92,587	79,637
Accrued payroll and related taxes	71,732	55,260
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	176,324	131,096
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	28,920	238,065
Total current liabilities	369,563	504,058
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	8,757	0
Intercompany Payable	0	0
Other Non-Current Liabilities	96,702	88,656
Capital Lease Obligations	6,059	7,431
Long-Term Debt	2,181,544	1,935,465
Non-Recourse Debt	365,364	238,842
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,199,241	975,056
Noncontrolling interests	(322)	(99)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,198,919	974,957	1,006,837	1,045,993
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	4,226,908	3,749,409
The GEO Group Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	54,666	45,566	37,077	18,492
Current Liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	842	0	782
Current Liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	26,711	21,630	$ 22,561	$ 22,063
Current Liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies
Reportable Legal Entities
ASSETS
Non-Current Contract Receivable		0
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	54,666	45,566
Restricted cash and investments, current	0	0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	130,354	139,571
Contract receivable, current portion	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,589	677
Total current assets	187,609	185,814
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	0	170
Property and equipment, net	777,404	735,104
Assets Held for Sale	0
Non-Current Contract Receivable	0	0
Intercompany Receivable	1,130,189	918,527
Deferred Income Tax Assets	863	764
Goodwill	0	79
Intangible Assets, Net	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,336,665	1,238,772
Other Non-Current Assets	11,141	15,011
Total Assets	3,443,871	3,094,241
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	20,643	8,402
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0	0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	40,344	36,792
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	8,000	3,000
Total current liabilities	68,987	48,194
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0	0
Intercompany Payable	79,984	133,039
Other Non-Current Liabilities	4,674	2,487
Capital Lease Obligations	0	0
Long-Term Debt	2,090,985	1,935,465
Non-Recourse Debt	0	0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,199,241	975,056
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,199,241	975,056
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,443,871	3,094,241
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	842
Restricted cash and investments, current	0	0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	225,029	200,239
Contract receivable, current portion	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	24,163	24,096
Total current assets	249,192	225,177
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	25,715	19,742
Property and equipment, net	1,209,816	1,078,220
Assets Held for Sale	3,915
Non-Current Contract Receivable	0	0
Intercompany Receivable	88,534	141,987
Deferred Income Tax Assets	23,913	17,918
Goodwill	778,504	614,941
Intangible Assets, Net	254,531	203,138
Investment in Subsidiaries	456,076	453,635
Other Non-Current Assets	115,330	108,434
Total Assets	3,205,526	2,863,192
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	65,475	50,200
Accrued payroll and related taxes	51,780	41,230
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	115,636	83,906
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	1,870	1,700
Total current liabilities	234,761	177,036
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0	0
Intercompany Payable	1,129,590	920,825
Other Non-Current Liabilities	157,200	144,383
Capital Lease Obligations	6,059	7,431
Long-Term Debt	0	0
Non-Recourse Debt	0	0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,677,916	1,613,517
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total shareholders’ equity	1,677,916	1,613,517
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	3,205,526	2,863,192
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	26,711	21,630
Restricted cash and investments, current	44,932	17,133
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	34,533	16,445
Contract receivable, current portion	18,142	224,033
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	18,590	7,437
Total current assets	142,908	286,678
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	2,284	936
Property and equipment, net	90,903	83,917
Assets Held for Sale	0
Non-Current Contract Receivable	404,309	219,783
Intercompany Receivable	28,218	27,290
Deferred Income Tax Assets	1,501	11,357
Goodwill	447	413
Intangible Assets, Net	808	746
Investment in Subsidiaries	2,190	2,190
Other Non-Current Assets	25,210	20,933
Total Assets	698,778	654,243
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	6,469	21,035
Accrued payroll and related taxes	19,952	14,030
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	20,344	10,398
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	19,050	233,365
Total current liabilities	65,815	278,828
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	8,757	0
Intercompany Payable	37,367	33,940
Other Non-Current Liabilities	14,223	21,652
Capital Lease Obligations	0	0
Long-Term Debt	90,559	0
Non-Recourse Debt	365,364	238,842
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	117,015	81,080
Noncontrolling interests	(322)	(99)
Total shareholders’ equity	116,693	80,981
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	698,778	654,243
Eliminations
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash and investments, current	0	0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	0	0
Contract receivable, current portion	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	0	0
Total current assets	0	0
Restricted cash and investments, non-current	0	0
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Assets Held for Sale	0
Non-Current Contract Receivable	0
Intercompany Receivable	(1,246,941)	(1,087,804)
Deferred Income Tax Assets	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible Assets, Net	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(1,794,931)	(1,694,597)
Other Non-Current Assets	(79,395)	(79,866)
Total Assets	(3,121,267)	(2,862,267)
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	0	0
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0	0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	0	0
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	0	0
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0	0
Intercompany Payable	(1,246,941)	(1,087,804)
Other Non-Current Liabilities	(79,395)	(79,866)
Capital Lease Obligations	0	0
Long-Term Debt	0	0
Non-Recourse Debt	0	0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(1,794,931)	(1,694,597)
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total shareholders’ equity	(1,794,931)	(1,694,597)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ (3,121,267)	$ (2,862,267)