Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 583,509	$ 577,070	$ 1,148,426	$ 1,127,684
Operating expenses	437,797	438,445	864,506	853,152
Depreciation and amortization	31,313	31,866	63,239	60,815
General and administrative expenses	47,448	52,206	89,280	94,792
Total operating income from segments	66,951	54,553	131,401	118,925
Interest income	8,667	12,346	17,766	24,323
Interest expense	(36,919)	(35,983)	(72,788)	(70,983)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	38,699	30,916	76,379	72,265
Income tax provision	3,715	1,400	8,470	3,870
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	2,341	1,426	4,336	2,913
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	37,325	30,942	72,245	71,308
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	37,325	30,942	72,245	71,308
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	96	50	163	87
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	37,421	30,992	72,408	71,395
Net income	37,325	30,942	72,245	71,308
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,132)	1,872	(796)	3,133
Total comprehensive income	35,193	32,814	71,449	74,441
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	117	51	176	85
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	35,310	32,865	71,625	74,526
Reportable Legal Entities | The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	202,186	171,260	397,816	349,433
Operating expenses	161,122	135,244	312,944	267,411
Depreciation and amortization	6,564	6,065	13,024	12,215
General and administrative expenses	16,281	15,573	30,622	29,240
Total operating income from segments	18,219	14,378	41,226	40,567
Interest income	3,406	6,751	7,583	10,105
Interest expense	(19,647)	(17,451)	(38,269)	(33,243)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	1,978	3,678	10,540	17,429
Income tax provision	716	147	893	294
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	1,262	3,531	9,647	17,135
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	36,063	27,411	62,598	57,749
Net income	37,325	30,942	72,245	74,884
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	37,325	30,942	72,245	74,884
Net income	37,325	30,942	72,245	74,884
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	37,325	30,942	72,245	74,884
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	37,325	30,942	72,245	74,884
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	474,966	465,286	933,694	878,480
Operating expenses	381,040	373,399	759,006	711,398
Depreciation and amortization	23,695	24,906	48,138	46,781
General and administrative expenses	25,738	29,432	48,185	50,413
Total operating income from segments	44,493	37,549	78,365	69,888
Interest income	1,447	409	2,864	1,229
Interest expense	(13,959)	(15,775)	(28,419)	(28,260)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	31,981	22,183	52,810	42,857
Income tax provision	1,442	793	3,742	2,247
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	30,539	21,390	49,068	40,610
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	30,539	21,390	49,068	40,610
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	30,539	21,390	49,068	40,610
Net income	30,539	21,390	49,068	40,610
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	625	64	730	111
Total comprehensive income	31,164	21,454	49,798	40,721
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	31,164	21,454	49,798	40,721
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	67,256	79,436	136,062	180,920
Operating expenses	56,534	68,714	111,702	155,492
Depreciation and amortization	1,054	895	2,077	1,819
General and administrative expenses	5,429	7,201	10,473	15,139
Total operating income from segments	4,239	2,626	11,810	8,470
Interest income	8,908	12,476	18,292	24,304
Interest expense	(8,407)	(10,047)	(17,073)	(20,795)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	4,740	5,055	13,029	11,979
Income tax provision	1,557	460	3,835	1,329
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	2,341	1,426	4,336	2,913
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	5,524	6,021	13,530	13,563
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Net income	5,524	6,021	13,530	13,563
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	96	50	163	87
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	5,620	6,071	13,693	13,650
Net income	5,524	6,021	13,530	13,563
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,757)	1,808	(1,526)	3,022
Total comprehensive income	2,767	7,829	12,004	16,585
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	117	51	176	85
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	2,884	7,880	12,180	16,670
Eliminations
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(160,899)	(138,912)	(319,146)	(281,149)
Operating expenses	(160,899)	(138,912)	(319,146)	(281,149)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Total operating income from segments	0	0	0	0
Interest income	(5,094)	(7,290)	(10,973)	(11,315)
Interest expense	5,094	7,290	10,973	11,315
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(36,063)	(27,411)	(62,598)	(57,749)
Net income	(36,063)	(27,411)	(62,598)	(57,749)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(36,063)	(27,411)	(62,598)	(57,749)
Net income	(36,063)	(27,411)	(62,598)	(57,749)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(36,063)	(27,411)	(62,598)	(57,749)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (36,063)	$ (27,411)	$ (62,598)	$ (57,749)