Revenue Recognition (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) 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			P1Y
Performance obligation, payment required, period			30 days
Total Revenues	$ 583,530,000	$ 566,759,000	$ 1,731,956,000	$ 1,694,443,000
Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues			817,666,000	789,230,000
Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues			127,615,000	106,996,000
Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues			68,590,000	65,408,000
Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues			486,195,000	417,149,000
Facility Construction and Design
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues			$ 0	112,602,000
Interest income, effective interest rate			8.97%
Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues			$ 231,890,000	203,058,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues			1,107,016,000	1,073,840,000
U.S. Corrections & Detention | Owned and Leased: Corrections & Detention
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues			817,666,000	789,230,000
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			289,350,000	284,610,000
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			431,819,000	377,740,000
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			127,615,000	106,996,000
GEO Care | Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues			68,590,000	65,408,000
GEO Care | Managed Only
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues			3,724,000	2,278,000
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			231,890,000	203,058,000
International Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues			193,121,000	130,261,000
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			193,121,000	130,261,000
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	112,602,000
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	112,602,000
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