Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Jul. 04, 2010	Apr. 04, 2010	Jan. 01, 2012	Jan. 02, 2011	Jan. 03, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 406,469	$ 406,847	$ 407,817	$ 391,766	$ 374,398	$ 327,933	$ 280,095	$ 287,542	$ 1,612,899	$ 1,269,968	$ 1,141,090
Operating Expenses									1,221,580	975,020	897,099
Depreciation and Amortization									85,341	48,111	39,306
General and Administrative Expenses									113,809	106,364	69,240
Operating income (loss)	49,642	51,230	50,407	40,890	43,375	29,524	33,050	34,524	192,169	140,473	135,445
Interest Income									7,038	6,271	4,943
Interest Expense									(75,382)	(40,707)	(28,518)
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt									0	(7,933)	(6,839)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate									123,825	98,104	105,031
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes									47,925	39,532	42,079
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates, net of income tax provision of $2165, $2212, and $1368									1,563	4,218	3,517
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries									77,463	62,790	66,469
Income from Continuing Operations	18,627	21,293	21,163	16,380	23,047	5,010	17,025	17,708	77,463	62,790	66,469
Net Income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.	18,739	21,518	21,578	16,790	23,498	5,281	17,017	17,672			(346)
Net income									77,463	62,790	66,123
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									1,162	678	(169)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.									78,625	63,468	65,954
The GEO Group Inc. [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues									589,250	589,009	620,271
Operating Expenses									534,464	518,387	523,820
Depreciation and Amortization									20,935	17,011	17,877
General and Administrative Expenses									39,445	46,840	36,042
Operating income (loss)									(5,594)	6,771	42,532
Interest Income									29,087	5,309	202
Interest Expense									61,447	(29,484)	(19,709)
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt										(7,933)	(6,839)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate									(37,954)	(25,337)	(16,186)
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes									(14,517)	(6,775)	6,439
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries									(23,437)	(18,562)	9,747
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									100,900	81,352	56,722
Income from Continuing Operations											66,469
Net Income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.											(346)
Net income									77,463	62,790	66,123
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.									77,463	62,790	66,123
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues									876,450	522,526	335,588
Operating Expenses									589,967	344,046	218,679
Depreciation and Amortization									56,865	25,787	17,128
General and Administrative Expenses									58,669	41,552	19,500
Operating income (loss)									170,949	111,141	80,281
Interest Income									2,614	1,326	12
Interest Expense									(30,724)	(6,126)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate									142,839	106,341	80,293
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes									55,427	41,090	31,937
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries									87,412	65,251	48,356
Income from Continuing Operations											48,356
Net Income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.											(193)
Net income									87,412	65,251	48,163
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.									87,412	65,251	48,163
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues									234,468	226,005	235,747
Operating Expenses									184,418	180,159	205,116
Depreciation and Amortization									7,541	5,313	4,301
General and Administrative Expenses									15,695	17,972	13,698
Operating income (loss)									26,814	22,561	12,632
Interest Income									6,462	5,836	4,729
Interest Expense									(14,336)	(11,297)	(8,809)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliate									18,940	17,100	8,552
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes									7,015	5,217	3,703
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates, net of income tax provision of $2165, $2212, and $1368									1,563	4,218	3,517
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries									13,488	16,101	8,366
Income from Continuing Operations											8,366
Net income									13,488	16,101	8,366
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.									13,488	16,101	8,366
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues									(87,269)	(67,572)	(50,516)
Operating Expenses									(87,269)	(67,572)	(50,516)
Interest Income									(31,125)	(6,200)
Interest Expense									31,125	6,200
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision									(100,900)	(81,352)	(56,722)
Income from Continuing Operations											(56,722)
Net Income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.											193
Net income									(100,900)	(81,352)	(56,529)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									1,162	678	(169)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group Inc.									$ (99,738)	$ (80,674)	$ (56,698)