Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jul. 01, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Fair value measurement policy

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04 which provides a consistent definition of fair value in US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and ensures that their respective fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are the same (except for minor differences in wording and style). The amendments change certain fair value measurement principles and enhance the disclosure requirements particularly for level 3 fair value measurements. The standard became effective for the Company during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and has been applied prospectively, where applicable. The implementation of this standard in the twenty-six weeks ended July 1, 2012 did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operation and cash flows.

ASU No. 2011-05 related to changes in stockholders' equity

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05 which requires an entity to present all non-owner changes in stockholders' equity either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. Regardless of whether an entity chooses to present comprehensive income in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements, the entity is required to present on the face of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statement(s) where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented. This standard became effective for the Company in fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and was applied retrospectively. The implementation of this standard in the twenty-six weeks ended July 1, 2012 did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operation and cash flows.

Consolidation policy

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

The Company evaluates its joint ventures and other entities in which it has a variable interest (a “VIE”), generally in the form of investments, loans, guarantees, or equity in order to determine if it has a controlling financial interest and is required to consolidate the entity as a result. The reporting entity with a variable interest that provides the entity with a controlling financial interest in the VIE will have both of the following characteristics: (i) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb the losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

The Company consolidates South Texas Local Development Corporation ("STLDC"), a VIE. STLDC was created to finance construction for the development of a 1,904-bed facility in Frio County, Texas. STLDC, the owner of the complex, issued $49.5 million in taxable revenue bonds and has an operating agreement with the Company, which provides the Company with the sole and exclusive right to operate and manage the detention center. The operating agreement and bond indenture require the revenue from the contract to be used to fund the periodic debt service requirements as they become due. The net revenues, if any, after various expenses such as trustee fees, property taxes and insurance premiums are distributed to the Company to cover operating expenses and management fees. The Company is responsible for the entire operations of the facility including the payment of all operating expenses whether or not there are sufficient revenues. The bonds have a ten-year term and are non-recourse to the Company. At the end of the ten-year term of the bonds, title and ownership of the facility transfers from STLDC to the Company. The carrying value of the facility as of July 1, 2012 and January 1, 2012 was $26.1 million and $26.4 million, respectively and is included in Property and Equipment in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

MCF was created in August 2001 as a special limited partnership for the purpose of acquiring, owning, leasing and operating low to medium security adult and juvenile correction and treatment facilities. At its inception, MCF purchased assets representing eleven facilities from certain wholly owned subsidiaries of Cornell Companies, Inc. ("Cornell"), a wholly owned GEO subsidiary, and leased those assets back to Cornell under a Master Lease Agreement (the “Lease”). These assets were purchased from Cornell using proceeds from the 8.47% Revenue Bonds due 2016. Under the terms of the Lease, the Company will lease the assets for the remainder of the 20-year base term, which ends in 2021, and has options at its sole discretion to renew the Lease for up to approximately 25 additional years. MCF’s sole source of revenue is from the Company and as such the Company has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its performance. The Company’s risk is generally limited to the rental obligations under the operating leases. This entity is included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and all intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation. MCF maintains separate financial statements and all of the assets to which MCF has title are included therein. It should be noted that even though the Company consolidates MCF for accounting purposes, this VIE is a separate entity owned by unrelated third parties. MCF’s assets and credit are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of the Company. On April 24, 2012, the Company signed a definitive agreement to purchase 100% of the partnership interests of MCF for approximately $27 million in cash plus the release of approximately $10 million in cash held in escrow for the benefit of MCF. In addition, in connection with the transaction, the Company will pay approximately $67 million, net of bond cash reserves and inclusive of a net make-whole premium of approximately $15 million, to redeem the MCF bonds. The Company expects to incur a one-time loss on extinguishment of debt in connection with the redemption of the bonds of approximately $8 million. Closing of the transaction is conditional on the Company redeeming the outstanding MCF bonds.The Company expects to close the transaction during its third fiscal quarter of 2012.

The Company does not consolidate its 50% owned South African joint venture interest in South African Custodial Services Pty. Limited (“SACS”), a VIE. SACS joint venture investors are GEO and Kensani Corrections, Pty. Ltd; each partner owns a 50% share. The Company has determined it is not the primary beneficiary of SACS since it does not have the power to direct the activities of SACS that most significantly impact its performance. As such, the Company's investment in this entity is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. SACS was established and subsequently, in 2001, was awarded a 25-year contract to design, finance and build the Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre in Louis Trichardt, South Africa. To fund the construction of the prison, SACS obtained long-term financing from its equity partners and lenders, the repayment of which is fully guaranteed by the South African government, except in the event of default, in which case the government guarantee is reduced to 80%. The Company’s maximum exposure for loss under this contract is limited to its investment in the joint venture of $8.1 million at July 1, 2012 and its guarantees related to SACS discussed in Note 11 - Debt.

The Company does not consolidate its 50% owned joint venture in the United Kingdom. In February 2011, The GEO Group Limited, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary in the United Kingdom (“GEO UK”), executed a Shareholders Agreement (the “Shareholders Agreement”) with Amey Community Limited (“Amey”) and Amey UK PLC (“Amey Guarantor”) to form GEO Amey PECS Limited (“GEOAmey”), a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. GEOAmey was formed by GEO UK and Amey for the purpose of performing prisoner escort and related custody services in England and Wales. In order to form this private company, GEOAmey issued share capital of £100 divided into 100 shares of £1 each and allocated the shares 50/50 to GEO UK and Amey. GEO UK and Amey each have three directors appointed to the Board of Directors and neither party has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the performance of GEOAmey. As such, the Company's investment in this entity is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Both parties provide lines of credit of £12 million, or $18.9 million as of July 1, 2012, to ensure that GEOAmey can comply with future contractual commitments related to the performance of its operations. As of July 1, 2012, $19.1 million, including accrued interest, was owed to the Company by GEOAmey under the line of credit. GEOAmey commenced operations on August 29, 2011. The Company has recorded $0.9 million and $1.4 million losses, net of tax impact, for GEOAmey’s operations during the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 1, 2012, respectively, which is included in Equity in earnings of affiliates in the accompanying consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Comprehensive Income [Policy Text Block]

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12 in order to defer only those changes in Update 2011-05 that relate to the presentation of reclassification adjustments. No other requirements in ASU 2011-05 were affected by this ASU, including the requirement to report comprehensive income either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements. ASU 2011-12 is effective for the Company in fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company's implementation of ASU 2011-12 in the twenty-six weeks ended July 1, 2012 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operation or cash flows. The Company does not expect the future impact of this standard, once the deferral period is over, to have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operation or cash flows.