Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2012	Apr. 03, 2011
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 68,860	$ 69,077
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition, cash consideration, net of cash acquired		(409,607)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	158	250
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	297	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	791	3,199
Capital expenditures	(48,832)	(38,696)
Net cash used in investing activities	(47,586)	(444,854)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(64,075)	(21,666)
Proceeds from long-term debt	53,000	461,000
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	(5,758)	(4,012)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	231	983
Income tax (provision) benefit of equity compensation	(342)	172
Debt issuance costs	(44)	(9,277)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(18,023)	427,200
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	995	(5,193)
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	4,246	46,230
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	44,753	39,664
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	48,999	85,894
The GEO Group Inc. [Member]
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	26,364	41,403
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition, cash consideration, net of cash acquired		(409,607)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(27,046)	(33,312)
Net cash used in investing activities	(27,046)	(442,919)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(57,278)	(15,375)
Proceeds from long-term debt	53,000	461,000
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	231	983
Income tax (provision) benefit of equity compensation	(342)	172
Debt issuance costs	(6)	(9,277)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(5,430)	437,503
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(6,112)	35,987
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	15,085	2,614
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	8,973	38,601
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	20,495	8,025
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition, cash consideration, net of cash acquired		0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	149	250
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	297
Change in restricted cash and investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(21,232)	(4,848)
Net cash used in investing activities	(20,786)	(4,598)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(340)	(207)
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Income tax (provision) benefit of equity compensation	0	0
Debt issuance costs	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(340)	(207)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(631)	3,220
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	3,155	221
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	2,524	3,441
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	22,001	19,649
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition, cash consideration, net of cash acquired		0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	9	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	791	3,199
Capital expenditures	(554)	(536)
Net cash used in investing activities	246	2,663
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(6,457)	(6,084)
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	(5,758)	(4,012)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Income tax (provision) benefit of equity compensation	0	0
Debt issuance costs	(38)	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(12,253)	(10,096)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	995	(5,193)
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	10,989	7,023
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	26,513	36,829
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 37,502	$ 43,852