Development Of Number Of Bed Facility.

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Investment in Joint Venture.

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Life term of contract.

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Line of credit including accrued interest.

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Maximum period to which lease renewed.

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Partnership interest share amount.

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Reduction Of Government Guarantee In Case Of Default.

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Reminder base term of leased assets.

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Term period of non-recourse bonds of the Company.

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Value per partnership interest shares.

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Variable Interest Entities Long Term Debt Textual Abstract.

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Variable Interest Entities

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Variable Interest Entity Ownership Percentage In Joint Venture.

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Working capital line of credit.

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The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

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Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

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This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

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The number of units or equivalent units outstanding for all classes.

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Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

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Variable Interest Entities (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Variable Interest Entities (Details Textual)	Oct. 02, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 03, 2010 USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 03, 2010 USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2011 EUR (€)	Oct. 02, 2011 Taxable Revenue Bonds STLDC [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2011 MCFs Non Recourse Debt [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 GEO Amey [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2011 GEO Amey [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2011 GEO Amey [Member] GBP (£)	Oct. 02, 2011 SACS [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2011 SACS [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2011 SACS [Member] USD ($)
Variable Interest Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership percentage in South African Custodial Services Pty. Limited								50.00%			50.00%		50.00%
Subsequent Award Contracts duration													25 years
Reduction of government guarantee in case of default												80.00%
Loss is limited to Investment in joint venture											$ 9,400,000	$ 9,400,000	$ 9,400,000
Aggregate principal amount						49,500,000
Stated interest rate of bonds							8.47%
Issued share capital										100
Issued share capital divided in no of share										100
Par value of share issued										£ 1
Earnings for GEO Amey's operations	272,000	1,149,000	2,352,000	2,868,000				1,100,000	1,100,000
Amount including accrued interest under line of credit								9,900,000	9,900,000
Variable Interest Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Development of Number of bed facility	1,904
Term period of non-recourse bonds of the Company			10 years
Reminder base term of leased assets			20 years
Maximum period to which lease renewed			25 years
Not Consolidated Owned Joint Venture in United Kingdom			50.00%
Lines of credit provided by GEO UK and Amey	$ 18,700,000		$ 18,700,000		€ 12,000,000