Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net (Goodwill) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	$ 493,890	$ 490,196
Goodwill acquired	121,608	3,888
Foreign currency translation	(60)	(194)
Ending balance	615,438	493,890
U.S. Corrections and Detention
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	170,376	170,376
Goodwill acquired	107,398	0
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Ending balance	277,774	170,376
GEO Community Services
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	323,047	319,159
Goodwill acquired	14,210	3,888
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Ending balance	337,257	323,047
International Services
Changes in the Company's goodwill balances
Beginning balance	467	661
Goodwill acquired	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(60)	(194)
Ending balance	$ 407	$ 467

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

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Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

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Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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