Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2012	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 01, 2012	Jul. 03, 2011	Jan. 01, 2012
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 23,046,000	$ 20,246,000	$ 38,058,000	$ 35,978,000
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	25,000	415,000	(9,000)	825,000
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	22,501,000	21,578,000	37,526,000	38,368,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	23,071,000	20,661,000	38,049,000	36,803,000
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	60,839,000	64,455,000	60,803,000	64,373,000
Per share amount	$ 0.38	$ 0.32	$ 0.63	$ 0.57
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	60,839,000	64,455,000	60,803,000	64,373,000
Effect of dilutive securities: Stock options and restricted stock	227,000	403,000	181,000	414,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	61,066,000	64,858,000	60,984,000	64,787,000
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.38	$ 0.32	$ 0.62	$ 0.57
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount			100,000,000
Shares purchased			0		3,900,000
Common stock repurchased, at cost					$ 75,000,000
Restricted Stock [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	1,642	0	1,584	0
Stock Options [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	57,934	77,472	112,428	56,094