Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 03, 2010 USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 03, 2010 USD ($)
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 406,847	$ 327,933	$ 1,206,430	$ 895,570
Operating expenses	307,721	251,100	915,651	694,348
Depreciation and amortization	21,974	13,384	61,832	32,096
General and administrative expenses	25,922	33,925	86,420	72,028
Operating income	51,230	29,524	142,527	97,098
Interest income	1,767	1,734	4,965	4,448
Interest expense	(19,327)	(11,917)	(55,700)	(28,178)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(7,933)		(7,933)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	33,670	11,408	91,792	65,435
Provision for income taxes	12,649	7,547	35,308	28,560
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $118, $449, $1,705 and $1,672	272	1,149	2,352	2,868
Net income	21,293	5,010	58,836	39,743
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	225	271	1,050	227
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	21,518	5,281	59,886	39,970
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	63,340	57,799	64,028	52,428
Diluted	63,555	58,198	64,388	53,044
Income per Common Share Attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.- Basic	$ 0.34	$ 0.09	$ 0.94	$ 0.76
Income per Common Share Attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.- Diluted	$ 0.34	$ 0.09	$ 0.93	$ 0.75
Comprehensive income:
Net income	21,293	5,010	58,836	39,743
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(7,521)	5,208	(6,719)	2,308
Total comprehensive income	13,772	10,218	52,117	42,051
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	325	214	1,160	185
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 14,097	$ 10,432	$ 53,277	$ 42,236