Contract Receivable (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 16, 2014 Bed inmate	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 AUD	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Contract receivable		$ 404,309		$ 219,783
Ravenhall
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Contract receivable		$ 422,500
Loan issued, interest rate		8.97%
Ravenhall | The GEO Group Australia
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Facility, number of beds | Bed	1,000
Number of inmates, capacity | inmate	1,300
Facility operation contract term	25 years
National Australia Bank Limited | Non Recourse Debt | Ravenhall
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Capital contribution		$ 89,800	AUD 115,000,000
Lump sum due at completion		$ 242,000	AUD 310,000,000