Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands	Oct. 02, 2011		Jan. 02, 2011
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 43,956		$ 39,664
Restricted cash and investments (including VIEs of $34,048 and $34,049, respectively)	41,033	[1]	41,150	[1]
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,410 and $1,308	274,294		275,778
Deferred income tax assets, net	44,972		29,115
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	21,611		36,377
Total current assets	425,866		422,084
Restricted Cash and Investments (including VIEs of $30,078 and $33,266, respectively)	53,274		49,492
Property and Equipment, Net (including VIEs of $163,801 and $167,209, respectively)	1,673,851		1,511,292
Assets Held for Sale	3,998		9,970
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	31,673		37,544
Deferred Income Tax Asset, Net	936		936
Goodwill	512,669		236,594
Intangible Assets, Net	205,131		87,813
Other Non-Current Assets	83,192		56,648
Total Assets	2,990,590		2,412,373
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	72,216		73,880
Accrued payroll and related taxes	47,772		33,361
Accrued expenses	129,534		118,472
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt (including VIEs of $20,770 and $19,365, respectively)	51,204		41,574
Total current liabilities	300,726		267,287
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	99,142		55,318
Other Non-Current Liabilities	59,322		46,862
Capital Lease Obligations	13,363		13,686
Long-Term Debt	1,310,771		798,336
Non-Recourse Debt (including VIEs of $109,001 and $132,078, respectively)	162,033		191,394
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 90,000,000 shares authorized, 85,180,188 and 84,506,772 issued and 62,612,179 and 64,432,459 outstanding respectively	852		845
Additional paid-in capital	726,107		718,489
Retained earnings	488,431		428,545
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,462		10,071
Treasury stock 22,568,009 and 20,074,313 shares, at cost, at October 2, 2011 and January 2, 2011, respectively	(189,036)		(139,049)
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,029,816		1,018,901
Noncontrolling interests	15,417		20,589
Total shareholders' equity	1,045,233		1,039,490
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$ 2,990,590		$ 2,412,373

[1] Variable interest entities or "VIEs"