Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 01, 2012		Jan. 01, 2012		Apr. 03, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 48,999		$ 44,753		$ 85,894	$ 39,664
Restricted cash and investments	38,398	[1]	42,535	[1]
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	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	61,379	[1]	57,912	[1]
Property and equipment, net	1,717,091	[1]	1,706,171	[1]
Assets Held for Sale	5,505		4,363
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	31,077		32,146
Intercompany Receivable	0		0
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	1,711		1,711
Goodwill	508,076		508,066
Intangible Assets, Net	195,652		200,342
Investment in Subsidiaries	0		0
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	56,020	[1]	53,666	[1]
Total current liabilities	272,494		288,818
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	125,209		125,209
Intercompany Payable	0		0
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	201,653	[1]	208,532	[1]
Commitments and Contingencies
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
The GEO Group Inc. [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	8,973		15,085		38,601	2,614
Restricted cash and investments	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	116,428		128,302
Deferred income tax assets, net	14,063		14,063
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	718		17,315
Total current assets	140,182		174,765
Restricted cash and investments	8,712		8,016
Property and equipment, net	637,198		620,821
Assets Held for Sale	3,083		3,083
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	0		0
Intercompany Receivable	393,297		386,026
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0		0
Goodwill	34		34
Intangible Assets, Net	0		0
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,333,093		1,333,885
Other Non-Current Assets	39,573		40,695
Total Assets	2,555,172		2,567,325
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	28,680		47,162
Accrued payroll and related taxes	21,372		3,223
Accrued expenses	54,876		69,756
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	20,884		19,037
Total current liabilities	125,812		139,178
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	42,879		42,879
Intercompany Payable	1,805		14,027
Other Non-Current Liabilities	31,649		29,384
Capital Lease Obligations	0		0
Long-Term Debt	1,312,465		1,318,639
Non-recourse debt	0		0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,040,562		1,023,218
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders' equity	1,040,562		1,023,218
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	2,555,172		2,567,325
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	2,524		3,155		3,441	221
Restricted cash and investments	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	140,912		141,671
Deferred income tax assets, net	10,875		10,875
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	20,972		23,832
Total current assets	175,283		179,533
Restricted cash and investments	0		0
Property and equipment, net	830,766		834,513
Assets Held for Sale	2,422		1,280
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	0		0
Intercompany Receivable	14,437		14,305
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0		0
Goodwill	507,272		507,272
Intangible Assets, Net	193,717		198,477
Investment in Subsidiaries	10,333		9,784
Other Non-Current Assets	77,885		73,480
Total Assets	1,812,115		1,818,644
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	23,795		18,549
Accrued payroll and related taxes	10,653		18,417
Accrued expenses	34,155		33,504
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	1,452		1,363
Total current liabilities	70,055		71,833
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	82,296		82,296
Intercompany Payable	380,387		378,005
Other Non-Current Liabilities	27,087		28,654
Capital Lease Obligations	12,719		13,087
Long-Term Debt	367		429
Non-recourse debt	0		0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,230,158		1,229,553
Noncontrolling interests	9,046		14,787
Total shareholders' equity	1,239,204		1,244,340
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	1,812,115		1,818,644
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	37,502		26,513		43,852	36,829
Restricted cash and investments	38,398		42,535
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	25,562		22,810
Deferred income tax assets, net	3,788		3,788
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,963		10,539
Total current assets	116,213		106,185
Restricted cash and investments	52,667		49,896
Property and equipment, net	249,127		250,837
Assets Held for Sale	0		0
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	31,077		32,146
Intercompany Receivable	1,805		14,028
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	1,711		1,711
Goodwill	770		760
Intangible Assets, Net	1,935		1,865
Investment in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Non-Current Assets	35,363		31,022
Total Assets	490,668		488,450
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	3,355		3,942
Accrued payroll and related taxes	16,635		17,002
Accrued expenses	24,226		24,751
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	33,684		33,266
Total current liabilities	77,900		78,961
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	34		34
Intercompany Payable	27,347		22,327
Other Non-Current Liabilities	69,905		63,964
Capital Lease Obligations	0		0
Long-Term Debt	0		0
Non-recourse debt	201,653		208,532
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	113,268		114,116
Noncontrolling interests	561		516
Total shareholders' equity	113,829		114,632
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	490,668		488,450
Eliminations [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Restricted cash and investments	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	0		0
Deferred income tax assets, net	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,273)		(1,154)
Total current assets	(1,273)		(1,154)
Restricted cash and investments	0		0
Property and equipment, net	0		0
Assets Held for Sale	0		0
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	0		0
Intercompany Receivable	(409,539)		(414,359)
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible Assets, Net	0		0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(1,343,426)		(1,343,669)
Other Non-Current Assets	(69,499)		(65,621)
Total Assets	(1,823,737)		(1,824,803)
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0		0
Accrued expenses	(1,273)		(1,154)
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	0		0
Total current liabilities	(1,273)		(1,154)
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0		0
Intercompany Payable	(409,539)		(414,359)
Other Non-Current Liabilities	(69,499)		(65,621)
Capital Lease Obligations	0		0
Long-Term Debt	0		0
Non-recourse debt	0		0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(1,343,426)		(1,343,669)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders' equity	(1,343,426)		(1,343,669)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$ (1,823,737)		$ (1,824,803)

[1] Variable interest entities or “VIEs”