Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 01, 2012		Jan. 01, 2012
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 48,999		$ 44,753
Restricted cash and investments (including VIEs of $29,373 and $35,435, respectively)	38,398	[1]	42,535	[1]
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,829 and $2,453	282,902		292,783
Deferred income tax assets, net	28,726		28,726
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	31,380		50,532
Total current assets	430,405		459,329
Restricted Cash and Investments (including VIEs of $33,624 and $38,930, respectively)	61,379	[1]	57,912	[1]
Property and Equipment, Net (including VIEs of $161,440 and $162,665, respectively)	1,717,091	[1]	1,706,171	[1]
Assets Held for Sale	5,505		4,363
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	31,077		32,146
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	1,711		1,711
Goodwill	508,076		508,066
Intangible Assets, Net	195,652		200,342
Other Non-Current Assets	83,322		79,576
Total Assets	3,034,218		3,049,616
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	55,830		69,653
Accrued payroll and related taxes	48,660		38,642
Accrued expenses	111,984		126,857
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt (including VIEs of $21,000 and $20,770, respectively)	56,020	[1]	53,666	[1]
Total current liabilities	272,494		288,818
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	125,209		125,209
Other Non-Current Liabilities	59,142		56,381
Capital Lease Obligations	12,719		13,087
Long-Term Debt	1,312,832		1,319,068
Non-Recourse Debt (including VIEs of $102,442 and $108,335, respectively)	201,653	[1]	208,532	[1]
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding	0		0
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 90,000,000 shares authorized, 85,439,378 and 85,185,158 issued and 61,435,392 and 61,181,172 outstanding, respectively	854		852
Additional paid-in capital	728,061		727,297
Retained earnings	521,789		507,170
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,889		1,930
Treasury stock 24,003,986 shares at cost	(214,031)		(214,031)
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,040,562		1,023,218
Noncontrolling interests	9,607		15,303
Total shareholders' equity	1,050,169		1,038,521
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$ 3,034,218		$ 3,049,616

[1] Variable interest entities or “VIEs”