Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2012	Apr. 03, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 412,342	$ 391,766
Operating Expenses	319,128	299,286
Depreciation and Amortization	23,215	18,802
General and Administrative Expenses	27,441	32,788
Operating income	42,558	40,890
Interest Income	1,807	1,569
Interest expense	(20,807)	(16,961)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	23,558	25,498
Provision for income taxes	9,247	9,780
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $321 and $1,024	748	662
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	15,059	16,380
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	15,059	16,380
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(34)	410
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	15,025	16,790
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,987	305
Total comprehensive income	17,046	16,685
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(62)	417
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	16,984	17,102
The GEO Group Inc. [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	148,975	143,391
Operating Expenses	139,440	131,874
Depreciation and Amortization	6,929	4,256
General and Administrative Expenses	9,396	11,465
Operating income	(6,790)	(4,204)
Interest Income	7,807	5,736
Interest expense	(16,917)	(13,353)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	(15,900)	(11,821)
Provision for income taxes	(5,716)	(4,568)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $321 and $1,024	0	0
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	(10,184)	(7,253)
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	25,243	23,633
Net income	15,059	16,380
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	15,059	16,380
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	30	9
Total comprehensive income	15,089	16,389
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	15,089	16,389
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	224,347	211,226
Operating Expenses	154,344	143,703
Depreciation and Amortization	14,128	12,690
General and Administrative Expenses	14,149	16,886
Operating income	41,726	37,947
Interest Income	492	325
Interest expense	(7,911)	(5,939)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	34,307	32,333
Provision for income taxes	12,990	12,493
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $321 and $1,024	0	0
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	21,317	19,840
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	21,317	19,840
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(17)	409
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	21,300	20,249
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income	21,317	19,840
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(17)	409
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	21,300	20,249
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	61,774	55,501
Operating Expenses	48,098	42,061
Depreciation and Amortization	2,158	1,856
General and Administrative Expenses	3,896	4,437
Operating income	7,622	7,147
Interest Income	1,601	1,463
Interest expense	(4,072)	(3,624)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	5,151	4,986
Provision for income taxes	1,973	1,855
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $321 and $1,024	748	662
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	3,926	3,793
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Net income	3,926	3,793
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(17)	1
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	3,909	3,794
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,957	296
Total comprehensive income	5,883	4,089
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(45)	8
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	5,838	4,097
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(22,754)	(18,352)
Operating Expenses	(22,754)	(18,352)
Depreciation and Amortization	0	0
General and Administrative Expenses	0	0
Operating income	0	0
Interest Income	(8,093)	(5,955)
Interest expense	8,093	5,955
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision of $321 and $1,024	0	0
Income (loss) before equity income of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(25,243)	(23,633)
Net income	(25,243)	(23,633)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(25,243)	(23,633)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(25,243)	(23,633)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (25,243)	$ (23,633)