Revenue Recognition (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) bed	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) contract
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Domestic performance based revenues percent of consolidated domestic revenues (less than 1%)	1.00%
Performance obligation, expected timing of satisfaction, period	1 year
Performance obligation, payment required, period	30 days
Total Revenues	$ 564,917,000	$ 550,614,000
Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	263,558,000	265,412,000
Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	41,335,000	16,942,000
Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	22,385,000	21,467,000
Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	162,504,000	124,211,000
Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 0	57,225,000
Interest income, effective interest rate	8.97%
Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 75,135,000	65,357,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	358,681,000	347,931,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	263,558,000	265,412,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	95,123,000	82,519,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
GEO Care
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	140,078,000	103,766,000
GEO Care | Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
GEO Care | Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	41,335,000	16,942,000
GEO Care | Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	22,385,000	21,467,000
GEO Care | Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,223,000	0
GEO Care | Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
GEO Care | Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	75,135,000	65,357,000
International Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	66,158,000	41,692,000
International Services | Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
International Services | Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
International Services | Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
International Services | Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	66,158,000	41,692,000
International Services | Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
International Services | Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	57,225,000
Facility Construction and Design | Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
Facility Construction and Design | Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
Facility Construction and Design | Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
Facility Construction and Design | Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	0
Facility Construction and Design | Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	57,225,000
Facility Construction and Design | Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	0	$ 0
Department Of Justice, State Of Victoria | Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 0
Number of contracts | contract		1
Number of beds in detention facility | bed	1,300
Contract term	25 years