Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 568,977	$ 566,759	$ 577,070	$ 550,614	$ 566,579	$ 554,376	$ 548,350	$ 510,185	$ 2,263,420	$ 2,179,490	$ 1,843,307
Operating Expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)									1,700,495	1,650,281	1,363,782
Depreciation and Amortization									124,297	114,916	106,756
General and administrative expenses									190,343	148,709	137,040
Operating Income	66,458	62,902	54,553	64,372	68,008	72,452	65,957	59,167	248,285	265,584	235,729
Interest Income									51,676	28,496	11,578
Interest Expense									(148,024)	(128,718)	(106,136)
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt									0	(15,885)	0
Income Before Income Taxes and Equity in Earnings of Affiliates									151,937	149,477	141,171
Provision for Income Taxes									17,958	7,904	7,389
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates, net of income tax (benefit) provision of $(3,699), $2,341 and $2,038									12,045	6,925	5,533
Net Income	36,263	38,453	30,942	40,366	49,342	43,674	23,156	32,326	146,024	148,498	139,315
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									217	217	123
Net Income Attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 36,357	$ 38,489	$ 30,992	$ 40,403	$ 49,436	$ 43,720	$ 23,209	$ 32,350	$ 146,241	$ 148,715	$ 139,438
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)									120,095	111,065	110,544
Diluted (in shares)									120,814	111,485	110,993
Basic earnings per share
Net income per share — basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.36	$ 0.44	$ 0.39	$ 0.21	$ 0.29	$ 1.22	$ 1.34	$ 1.26
Diluted:
Net income per share — diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0.31	$ 0.25	$ 0.35	$ 0.44	$ 0.39	$ 0.21	$ 0.29	1.21	1.33	1.25
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)									$ 1.88	$ 1.73	$ 1.67