Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Revenues	$ 406,847,000	$ 327,933,000	$ 1,206,430,000	$ 895,570,000
Operating expenses	307,721,000	251,100,000	915,651,000	694,348,000
Depreciation and amortization	21,974,000	13,384,000	61,832,000	32,096,000
General and administrative expenses	25,922,000	33,925,000	86,420,000	72,028,000
Operating income (loss)	51,230,000	29,524,000	142,527,000	97,098,000
Interest income	1,767,000	1,734,000	4,965,000	4,448,000
Interest expense	(19,327,000)	(11,917,000)	(55,700,000)	(28,178,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(7,933,000)		(7,933,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate	33,670,000	11,408,000	91,792,000	65,435,000
Provision (Benefit) for income taxes	12,649,000	7,547,000	35,308,000	28,560,000
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $118, $449, $1,705 and $1,672	272,000	1,149,000	2,352,000	2,868,000
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	21,293,000	5,010,000	58,836,000	39,743,000
Net income	21,293,000	5,010,000	58,836,000	39,743,000
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	225,000	271,000	1,050,000	227,000
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	21,518,000	5,281,000	59,886,000	39,970,000
The GEO Group Inc. [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Revenues	149,413,000	151,656,000	439,537,000	459,271,000
Operating expenses	134,178,000	137,612,000	399,639,000	402,167,000
Depreciation and amortization	5,502,000	4,503,000	14,501,000	12,953,000
General and administrative expenses	9,091,000	14,820,000	30,055,000	35,053,000
Operating income (loss)	642,000	(5,279,000)	(4,658,000)	9,098,000
Interest income	7,754,000	302,000	21,258,000	912,000
Interest expense	(15,805,000)	(8,793,000)	(45,044,000)	(20,728,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate	(7,409,000)	(21,703,000)	(28,444,000)	(18,651,000)
Provision (Benefit) for income taxes	(2,863,000)	(4,663,000)	(10,904,000)	(3,445,000)
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	(4,546,000)	(17,040,000)	(17,540,000)	(15,206,000)
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	25,839,000	22,050,000	76,376,000	54,949,000
Net income	21,293,000	5,010,000	58,836,000	39,743,000
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	21,293,000	5,010,000	58,836,000	39,743,000
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Revenues	221,807,000	142,293,000	655,900,000	316,251,000
Operating expenses	150,769,000	92,057,000	442,281,000	202,799,000
Depreciation and amortization	14,616,000	7,370,000	41,743,000	15,698,000
General and administrative expenses	13,483,000	13,905,000	44,850,000	24,138,000
Operating income (loss)	42,939,000	28,961,000	127,026,000	73,616,000
Interest income	405,000	343,000	1,142,000	1,008,000
Interest expense	(8,065,000)	(512,000)	(21,987,000)	(1,536,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate	35,279,000	28,792,000	106,181,000	73,088,000
Provision (Benefit) for income taxes	13,632,000	10,486,000	41,029,000	27,864,000
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	21,647,000	18,306,000	65,152,000	45,224,000
Net income	21,647,000	18,306,000	65,152,000	45,224,000
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	21,647,000	18,306,000	65,152,000	45,224,000
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Revenues	55,389,000	53,209,000	168,404,000	168,186,000
Operating expenses	42,536,000	40,656,000	131,142,000	137,520,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,856,000	1,511,000	5,588,000	3,445,000
General and administrative expenses	3,348,000	5,200,000	11,515,000	12,837,000
Operating income (loss)	7,649,000	5,842,000	20,159,000	14,384,000
Interest income	1,648,000	1,608,000	4,673,000	4,226,000
Interest expense	(3,497,000)	(3,131,000)	(10,777,000)	(7,612,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate	5,800,000	4,319,000	14,055,000	10,998,000
Provision (Benefit) for income taxes	1,880,000	1,724,000	5,183,000	4,141,000
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $118, $449, $1,705 and $1,672	272,000	1,149,000	2,352,000	2,868,000
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	4,192,000	3,744,000	11,224,000	9,725,000
Net income	4,192,000	3,744,000	11,224,000	9,725,000
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	4,192,000	3,744,000	11,224,000	9,725,000
Eliminations [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Revenues	(19,762,000)	(19,225,000)	(57,411,000)	(48,138,000)
Operating expenses	(19,762,000)	(19,225,000)	(57,411,000)	(48,138,000)
Interest income	(8,040,000)	(519,000)	(22,108,000)	(1,698,000)
Interest expense	8,040,000	519,000	22,108,000	1,698,000
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(25,839,000)	(22,050,000)	(76,376,000)	(54,949,000)
Net income	(25,839,000)	(22,050,000)	(76,376,000)	(54,949,000)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	225,000	271,000	1,050,000	227,000
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	$ (25,614,000)	$ (21,779,000)	$ (75,326,000)	$ (54,722,000)