Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 04, 2010	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 04, 2010
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 21,163	$ 17,025	$ 37,543	$ 34,733
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	415	(8)	825	(44)
Income from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	$ 21,578	$ 17,017	$ 38,368	$ 34,689
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group Inc.
Weighted average shares outstanding	64,455	48,776	64,373	49,743
Per share amount	$ 0.33	$ 0.35	$ 0.60	$ 0.70
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group Inc.
Weighted average shares outstanding	64,455	48,776	64,373	49,743
Stock options and restricted stock	403	538	414	737
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	64,858	49,314	64,787	50,480
Earnings per share diluted	$ 0.33	$ 0.35	$ 0.59	$ 0.69
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textuals) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	77,472	25,893	56,094	38,973
Restricted Stock [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textuals) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	0	0	0	0

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