XML 56 R45.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

Shareholders' Equity - Dividends declared (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions | 9 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Jul. 20, 2016 | Apr. 20, 2016 | Feb. 03, 2016 | Nov. 03, 2015 | Jul. 31, 2015 | Apr. 29, 2015 | Feb. 06, 2015
Dividends declared/paid [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum percentage of taxable income to be distributed as REIT | 90.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Distribution Per Share (USD per share) |  | $ 0.65 | $ 0.65 | $ 0.65 | $ 0.65 | $ 0.62 | $ 0.62 | $ 0.62
Aggregate Payment Amount |  | $ 48.7 | $ 48.7 | $ 48.5 | $ 48.5 | $ 46.3 | $ 46.3 | $ 46.0

X
- Definition Dividends declared/paid [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | geo_DividendsdeclaredpaidAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | geo_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition MinimumPercentageOfTaxableIncomeToBeDistributedAsREIT + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | geo_MinimumPercentageOfTaxableIncomeToBeDistributedAsREIT
Namespace Prefix: | geo_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The per share amount of a dividend declared, but not paid, as of the financial reporting date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DividendsPayableAmountPerShare
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of dividends declared but unpaid on equity securities issued by the entity and outstanding. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph a -Article 7 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DividendsPayableCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant