Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 564,917	$ 550,614
Operating expenses	426,709	414,707
Depreciation and amortization	31,926	28,949
General and administrative expenses	41,832	42,586
Total operating income from segments	64,450	64,372
Interest income	9,099	11,977
Interest expense	(35,869)	(35,000)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	37,680	41,349
Income tax provision	4,755	2,470
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,995	1,487
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	34,920	40,366
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	34,920	40,366
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	67	37
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	34,987	40,403
Net income	34,920	40,366
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,362	1,260
Total comprehensive income	36,282	41,626
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	59	35
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	36,341	41,661
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	195,630	178,173
Operating expenses	151,822	132,167
Depreciation and amortization	6,460	6,150
General and administrative expenses	14,341	13,667
Total operating income from segments	23,007	26,189
Interest income	4,177	3,354
Interest expense	(18,622)	(15,792)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	8,562	13,751
Income tax provision	177	147
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	8,385	13,604
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	26,535	26,762
Net income	34,920	40,366
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	34,920	40,366
Net income	34,920	40,366
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income	34,920	40,366
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	34,920	40,366
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	458,728	413,194
Operating expenses	377,966	337,999
Depreciation and amortization	24,443	21,875
General and administrative expenses	22,447	20,981
Total operating income from segments	33,872	32,339
Interest income	1,417	820
Interest expense	(14,460)	(12,485)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	20,829	20,674
Income tax provision	2,300	1,453
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	18,529	19,221
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	18,529	19,221
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	18,529	19,221
Net income	18,529	19,221
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	105	47
Total comprehensive income	18,634	19,268
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	18,634	19,268
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	68,806	101,484
Operating expenses	55,168	86,778
Depreciation and amortization	1,023	924
General and administrative expenses	5,044	7,938
Total operating income from segments	7,571	5,844
Interest income	9,384	11,828
Interest expense	(8,666)	(10,748)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	8,289	6,924
Income tax provision	2,278	870
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,995	1,487
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	8,006	7,541
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	8,006	7,541
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	67	37
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	8,073	7,578
Net income	8,006	7,541
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,257	1,213
Total comprehensive income	9,263	8,754
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	59	35
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	9,322	8,789
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(158,247)	(142,237)
Operating expenses	(158,247)	(142,237)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0
Total operating income from segments	0	0
Interest income	(5,879)	(4,025)
Interest expense	5,879	4,025
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0
Income tax provision	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(26,535)	(26,762)
Net income	(26,535)	(26,762)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(26,535)	(26,762)
Net income	(26,535)	(26,762)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(26,535)	(26,762)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (26,535)	$ (26,762)