Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 180,253	$ 50,714
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,717	648
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	3,797	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	4,036	0
Change in restricted investments	(1,490)	(2,963)
Capital expenditures	(107,064)	(67,508)
Net cash used in investing activities	(99,004)	(424,289)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	245,000	1,158,574
Payments on long-term debt	(134,000)	(972,500)
Payments on non-recourse debt	(7,490)	(67,885)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt	0	91,076
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,391)	(4,092)
Payment for repurchases of common stock	(70,446)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	264	242
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering	0	275,867
Debt issuance costs	(990)	(7,587)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	1,372	6,150
Cash dividends paid	(115,017)	(110,859)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(85,698)	368,986
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(1,881)	1,907
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(6,330)	(2,682)
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	127,215	87,675
The GEO Group, Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	118,354	2,389
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		648
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(68,607)	(9,709)
Net cash used in investing activities	(68,607)	(363,527)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	245,000	1,158,574
Payments on long-term debt	(134,000)	(972,500)
Payments on non-recourse debt	0	0
Proceeds from non-recourse debt		0
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	(4,391)	(4,092)
Payment for repurchases of common stock	(70,446)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	264	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering		275,867
Debt issuance costs	(990)	(6,992)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	1,372	6,150
Cash dividends paid	(115,017)	(110,859)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(78,208)	346,148
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(28,461)	(14,990)
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	26,205	30,746
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	37,087	62,559
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	4,036
Change in restricted investments	(1,490)	(2,963)
Capital expenditures	(36,998)	(53,629)
Net cash used in investing activities	(30,655)	(56,592)
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 repurchases of common stock	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering		0
Debt issuance costs	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0	0
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 in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	6,432	5,967
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	11,384	10,889
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	24,812	(14,234)
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0
Insurance proceeds - damaged property	0
Change in restricted investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(1,459)	(4,170)
Net cash used in investing activities	258	(4,170)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Payments on non-recourse debt	(7,490)	(67,885)
Proceeds from non-recourse debt		91,076
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards	0	0
Payment for repurchases of common stock	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ESPP	0	242
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with public offering		0
Debt issuance costs	0	(595)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(7,490)	22,838
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	(1,881)	1,907
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	15,699	6,341
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	$ 89,626	$ 46,040