Revenue Recognition (Details)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) bed 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	$ 1,148,426,000	$ 1,127,684,000
Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	535,609,000	525,195,000
Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	84,312,000	62,613,000
Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	45,901,000	43,390,000
Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	325,288,000	269,280,000
Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 0	91,165,000
Interest income, effective interest rate	8.97%
Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 157,316,000	136,041,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	727,670,000	708,769,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	535,609,000	525,195,000
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	192,061,000	183,574,000
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	290,006,000	243,130,000
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	84,312,000	62,613,000
GEO Care | Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	45,901,000	43,390,000
GEO Care | Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	2,477,000	1,086,000
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	157,316,000	136,041,000
International Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	130,750,000	84,620,000
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	130,750,000	84,620,000
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	91,165,000
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	91,165,000
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	25 years