Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified																																					12 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011		Jul. 03, 2011 U.S. Detention & Corrections [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 U.S. Detention & Corrections [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 U.S. Detention & Corrections [Member] Facility Management Contracts [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 U.S. Detention & Corrections [Member] Facility Management Contracts [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 U.S. Detention & Corrections [Member] Facility Management Contracts [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 U.S. Detention & Corrections [Member] Covenants not to compete [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 U.S. Detention & Corrections [Member] Covenants not to compete [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 U.S. Detention & Corrections [Member] Covenants not to compete [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 U.S. Detention & Corrections [Member] Technology [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 U.S. Detention & Corrections [Member] Technology [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 U.S. Detention & Corrections [Member] Foreign currency translation [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 International services [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 International services [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 International services [Member] Facility Management Contracts [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 International services [Member] Facility Management Contracts [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 International services [Member] Facility Management Contracts [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 International services [Member] Covenants not to compete [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 International services [Member] Covenants not to compete [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 International services [Member] Covenants not to compete [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 International services [Member] Technology [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 International services [Member] Technology [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 International services [Member] Foreign currency translation [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 GEO Care [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 GEO Care [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 GEO Care [Member] Facility Management Contracts [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 GEO Care [Member] Facility Management Contracts [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 GEO Care [Member] Facility Management Contracts [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 GEO Care [Member] Covenants not to compete [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 GEO Care [Member] Covenants not to compete [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 GEO Care [Member] Covenants not to compete [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 GEO Care [Member] Technology [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 GEO Care [Member] Technology [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 GEO Care [Member] Foreign currency translation [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Facility Management Contracts [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Facility Management Contracts [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Facility Management Contracts [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Covenants not to compete [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Covenants not to compete [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Covenants not to compete [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Technology [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Technology [Member] BI Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Foreign currency translation [Member]
Intangible assets
Useful Life in Years, Minimum																																					1		11	1
Useful Life in Years, Maximum																																					17		14	4		2		7
Gross carrying value	$ 227,333	$ 101,074		$ 54,199	$ 54,199		$ 49,850	$ 0		$ 4,349	$ 0		$ 0	$ 0	$ 2,713	$ 2,754		$ 2,754	$ 0		$ 0	$ 0		$ 0	$ (41)	$ 170,421	$ 44,121		$ 41,300	$ 61,000		$ 2,821	$ 1,400		$ 21,800	$ 0	$ 93,904		$ 61,000	$ 7,170		$ 1,400		$ 21,800	$ (41)
Accumulated amortization expense	(22,360)			(13,135)		(11,639)			(1,496)			0			(394)		(394)			0			0			(8,831)		(5,870)			(1,741)			(1,220)				(17,903)			(3,237)		(1,220)
Net carrying value at July 3, 2011	$ 204,973	$ 87,813	[1]	$ 41,064											$ 2,319											$ 161,590

[1] Derived from audited financial statements.