Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 01, 2012		Jan. 01, 2012		Jul. 03, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 68,538		$ 44,753		$ 57,453	$ 39,664
Restricted cash and investments	40,071	[1]	42,535	[1]
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	284,431		285,810
Deferred income tax assets, net	28,726		28,726
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	23,383		50,346
Current assets of discontinued operations	6,713		7,159
Total current assets	451,862		459,329
Restricted cash and investments	60,070	[1]	57,912	[1]
Property and equipment, net	1,718,392	[1]	1,705,306	[1]
Assets Held for Sale	5,390		4,363
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	29,253		32,146
Intercompany Receivable	0		0
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	1,711		1,711
Goodwill	508,068		508,066
Intangible Assets, Net	190,743		200,342
Investment in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Non-Current Assets	83,163		79,576
Non-Current Assets of Discontinued Operations	576		865
Total Assets	3,049,228		3,049,616
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	63,681		69,632
Accrued payroll and related taxes	37,209		38,130
Accrued expenses	121,604		126,682
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	59,758	[1]	53,666	[1]
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	702		708
Total current liabilities	282,954		288,818
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	125,209		125,209
Intercompany Payable	0		0
Other Non-Current Liabilities	58,938		56,381
Capital Lease Obligations	12,456		13,087
Long-Term Debt	1,298,030		1,319,068
Non-recourse debt	198,995	[1]	208,532	[1]
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,063,097		1,023,218
Noncontrolling interests	9,549		15,303
Total shareholders' equity	1,072,646		1,038,521
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	3,049,228		3,049,616
The GEO Group Inc. [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	43,081		15,085		9,953	2,614
Restricted cash and investments	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	122,746		123,426
Deferred income tax assets, net	13,891		14,063
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	6,878		17,170
Total current assets	191,336		174,765
Restricted cash and investments	8,941		8,016
Property and equipment, net	638,967		620,124
Assets Held for Sale	3,083		3,083
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	0		0
Intercompany Receivable	378,861		386,026
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0		0
Goodwill	34		34
Intangible Assets, Net	0		0
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,317,002		1,333,885
Other Non-Current Assets	38,680		40,695
Total Assets	2,577,445		2,567,325
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	27,396		47,159
Accrued payroll and related taxes	2,829		2,855
Accrued expenses	73,968		69,585
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	24,606		19,037
Total current liabilities	129,345		139,178
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	42,879		42,879
Intercompany Payable	12,708		14,027
Other Non-Current Liabilities	31,692		29,384
Capital Lease Obligations	0		0
Long-Term Debt	1,297,724		1,318,639
Non-recourse debt	0		0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,063,097		1,023,218
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders' equity	1,063,097		1,023,218
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	2,577,445		2,567,325
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	4,550		3,155		2,466	221
Restricted cash and investments	1,350		0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	138,653		139,574
Deferred income tax assets, net	11,047		10,875
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7,094		23,791
Current assets of discontinued operations	1,973		2,138
Total current assets	164,667		179,533
Restricted cash and investments	0		0
Property and equipment, net	830,739		834,345
Assets Held for Sale	2,307		1,280
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	0		0
Intercompany Receivable	14,380		14,305
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0		0
Goodwill	507,272		507,272
Intangible Assets, Net	188,957		198,477
Investment in Subsidiaries	16,615		9,784
Other Non-Current Assets	81,700		73,480
Non-Current Assets of Discontinued Operations	35		168
Total Assets	1,806,672		1,818,644
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	33,154		18,531
Accrued payroll and related taxes	16,911		18,273
Accrued expenses	21,626		33,500
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	1,424		1,363
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	156		166
Total current liabilities	73,271		71,833
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	82,296		82,296
Intercompany Payable	375,695		378,005
Other Non-Current Liabilities	26,798		28,654
Capital Lease Obligations	12,456		13,087
Long-Term Debt	306		429
Non-recourse debt	0		0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,226,841		1,229,553
Noncontrolling interests	9,009		14,787
Total shareholders' equity	1,235,850		1,244,340
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	1,806,672		1,818,644
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	20,907		26,513		45,034	36,829
Restricted cash and investments	38,721		42,535
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	23,032		22,810
Deferred income tax assets, net	3,788		3,788
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,565		10,539
Current assets of discontinued operations	0		0
Total current assets	97,013		106,185
Restricted cash and investments	51,129		49,896
Property and equipment, net	248,686		250,837
Assets Held for Sale	0		0
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	29,253		32,146
Intercompany Receivable	12,708		14,028
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	1,711		1,711
Goodwill	762		760
Intangible Assets, Net	1,786		1,865
Investment in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Non-Current Assets	37,104		31,022
Non-Current Assets of Discontinued Operations	0		0
Total Assets	480,152		488,450
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	3,131		3,942
Accrued payroll and related taxes	17,469		17,002
Accrued expenses	27,164		24,751
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	33,728		33,266
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0		0
Total current liabilities	81,492		78,961
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	34		34
Intercompany Payable	17,546		22,327
Other Non-Current Liabilities	74,769		63,964
Capital Lease Obligations	0		0
Long-Term Debt	0		0
Non-recourse debt	198,995		208,532
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	106,776		114,116
Noncontrolling interests	540		516
Total shareholders' equity	107,316		114,632
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	480,152		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	(1,154)		(1,154)
Current assets of discontinued operations	0		0
Total current assets	(1,154)		(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	(405,949)		(414,359)
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible Assets, Net	0		0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(1,333,617)		(1,343,669)
Other Non-Current Assets	(74,321)		(65,621)
Non-Current Assets of Discontinued Operations	0		0
Total Assets	(1,815,041)		(1,824,803)
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued payroll and related taxes	0		0
Accrued expenses	(1,154)		(1,154)
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	0		0
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0		0
Total current liabilities	(1,154)		(1,154)
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	0		0
Intercompany Payable	(405,949)		(414,359)
Other Non-Current Liabilities	(74,321)		(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.	(1,333,617)		(1,343,669)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total shareholders' equity	(1,333,617)		(1,343,669)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	(1,815,041)		(1,824,803)
Parent [Member]
Assets
Current assets of discontinued operations	4,740		5,021
Non-Current Assets of Discontinued Operations	541		697
Current Liabilities
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	$ 546		$ 542

[1] Variable interest entities or “VIEs”