Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 65,101	$ 47,882
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	689
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	3,797	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	4,504	0
Change in restricted investments	(505)	(2,058)
Capital expenditures	(52,147)	(34,421)
Net cash used in investing activities	(44,351)	(35,790)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	102,000	1,083,148
Payments on long-term debt	(43,000)	(918,500)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(5,600)	(67,171)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	0	36,020
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,356)	(3,434)
Payment for purchase of treasury shares	(40,182)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	140	122
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering	0	276,036
Debt issuance costs	0	(7,371)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	260	3,882
Cash dividends paid	(58,238)	(52,504)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(48,976)	350,228
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	3,930	2,679
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(24,296)	364,999
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	133,545	90,357
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	109,249	455,356
The GEO Group, Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	39,888	(22,988)
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		689
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(34,360)	(5,404)
Net cash used in investing activities	(34,360)	(4,715)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	102,000	1,083,148
Payments on long-term debt	(43,000)	(918,500)
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt		0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,356)	(3,434)
Payment for purchase of treasury shares	(40,182)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	140	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering		276,036
Debt issuance costs		(6,992)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	260	3,882
Cash dividends paid	(58,238)	(52,504)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(43,376)	381,636
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(37,848)	353,933
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	54,666	45,736
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	16,818	399,669
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	17,614	35,079
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	3,797
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	4,504
Change in restricted investments	(505)	(2,058)
Capital expenditures	(16,654)	(27,062)
Net cash used in investing activities	(8,858)	(29,120)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt		0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Payment for purchase of treasury shares	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering		0
Debt issuance costs		0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	0	0
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	8,756	5,959
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	4,952	4,922
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	13,708	10,881
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	7,599	35,791
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(1,133)	(1,955)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,133)	(1,955)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	(5,600)	(67,171)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt		36,020
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Payment for purchase of treasury shares	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	122
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering		0
Debt issuance costs		(379)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(5,600)	(31,408)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	3,930	2,679
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	4,796	5,107
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	73,927	39,699
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 78,723	$ 44,806