XML 16 R112.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 segment | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Jan. 01, 2012
Company's quarterly financial data |  |  |  |
Number of divested operating segments | 1 |  |  |
Loss on sale of discontinued operation, net of tax |  | $ 0 | $ 22,566 | $ 0
Impact of REIT election | 79,000 | 14,946 | 79,033 | 0
Residential Treatment Services |  |  |  |
Company's quarterly financial data |  |  |  |
Loss on sale of discontinued operation, net of tax | $ 14,600 |  |  |

X
- Definition Income Tax Reconciliation, Impact Of REIT Election + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | geo_IncomeTaxReconciliationImpactOfReitElection
Namespace Prefix: | geo_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Operating Segments Sold + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | geo_NumberOfOperatingSegmentsSold
Namespace Prefix: | geo_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of gain (loss), after tax expense or benefit and not previously recognized, resulting from the sale of a business component. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SelectedQuarterlyFinancialInformationAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration