Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 04, 2010	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 04, 2010
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Revenues	$ 407,817	$ 280,095	$ 799,583	$ 567,637
Operating expenses	308,644	216,916	607,930	443,248
Depreciation and amortization	21,056	9,474	39,858	18,712
General and administrative expenses	27,710	20,655	60,498	38,103
Operating income (loss)	50,407	33,050	91,297	67,574
Interest income	1,629	1,486	3,198	2,715
Interest expense	(19,412)	(8,447)	(36,373)	(16,261)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate	32,624	26,089	58,122	54,028
Provision for income taxes	12,879	10,192	22,659	21,013
Equity in earnings of affiliate, net of income tax provision of $563, $437, $1,587 and $1,223	1,418	1,128	2,080	1,718
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	21,163	17,025	37,543	34,733
Net income	21,163	17,025	37,543	34,733
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	415	(8)	825	(44)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	21,578	17,017	38,368	34,689
The GEO Group Inc. [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Revenues	146,733	154,754	290,124	307,614
Operating expenses	133,566	134,011	265,461	265,030
Depreciation and amortization	4,744	4,239	8,999	8,451
General and administrative expenses	9,520	10,878	20,964	19,758
Operating income (loss)	(1,097)	5,626	(5,300)	14,375
Interest income	7,767	310	13,504	611
Interest expense	(15,886)	(6,178)	(29,239)	(11,937)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate	(9,216)	(242)	(21,035)	3,049
Provision for income taxes	(3,560)	(105)	(8,128)	1,218
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	(5,656)	(137)	(12,907)	1,831
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	26,819	17,162	50,450	32,902
Net income	21,163	17,025	37,543	34,733
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	21,163	17,025	37,543	34,733
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Revenues	222,867	86,962	434,093	173,958
Operating expenses	147,831	53,826	291,512	109,801
Depreciation and amortization	14,436	4,281	27,127	8,328
General and administrative expenses	14,459	6,118	31,367	11,173
Operating income (loss)	46,141	22,737	84,087	44,656
Interest income	413	319	737	665
Interest expense	(7,983)	(516)	(13,922)	(1,024)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate	38,571	22,540	70,902	44,297
Provision for income taxes	14,904	8,823	27,397	17,573
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	23,667	13,717	43,505	26,724
Net income	23,667	13,717	43,505	26,724
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	23,667	13,717	43,505	26,724
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Revenues	57,514	51,174	113,015	111,664
Operating expenses	46,544	41,874	88,606	94,016
Depreciation and amortization	1,876	954	3,732	1,933
General and administrative expenses	3,731	3,659	8,167	7,172
Operating income (loss)	5,363	4,687	12,510	8,543
Interest income	1,562	1,450	3,025	2,619
Interest expense	(3,656)	(2,346)	(7,280)	(4,480)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate	3,269	3,791	8,255	6,682
Provision for income taxes	1,535	1,474	33,390	2,222
Equity in earnings of affiliate, net of income tax provision of $563, $437, $1,587 and $1,223	1,418	1,128	2,080	1,718
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	3,152	3,445	6,945	6,178
Net income	3,152	3,445	6,945	6,178
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	3,152	3,445	6,945	6,178
Eliminations [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Revenues	(19,297)	(12,795)	(37,649)	(25,599)
Operating expenses	(19,297)	(12,795)	(37,649)	(25,599)
Interest income	(8,113)	(593)	(14,068)	(1,180)
Interest expense	8,113	593	14,068	1,180
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(26,819)	(17,162)	(50,450)	(32,902)
Net income	(26,819)	(17,162)	(50,450)	(32,902)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	415	(8)	825	(44)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	$ (26,404)	$ (17,170)	$ (49,625)	$ (32,946)