Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Oct. 02, 2011

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Basic and diluted earnings per share

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
	October 2, 2011		October 3, 2010		October 2, 2011		October 3, 2010
Net income	$	21,293	$	5,010	$	58,836	$	39,743
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		225		271		1,050		227
Income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$	21,518	$	5,281	$	59,886	$	39,970
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding		63,340		57,799		64,028		52,428
Per share amount	$	0.34	$	0.09	$	0.94	$	0.76
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding		63,340		57,799		64,028		52,428
Effect of dilutive securities: Stock options and restricted stock		215		399		360		616
Weighted average shares assuming dilution		63,555		58,198		64,388		53,044
Per share amount	$	0.34	$	0.09	$	0.93	$	0.75