Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2012	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 01, 2012	Jul. 03, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 412,348	$ 396,804	$ 813,605	$ 777,148
Operating expenses	305,035	299,236	613,295	588,257
Depreciation and amortization	23,807	20,945	46,882	39,646
General and Administrative Expenses	27,043	27,710	54,484	60,498
Operating income	56,463	48,913	98,944	88,747
Interest income	1,761	1,629	3,568	3,198
Interest expense	(20,617)	(19,412)	(41,424)	(36,373)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	37,607	31,130	61,088	55,572
Provision for income taxes	14,991	12,302	24,208	21,674
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	430	1,418	1,178	2,080
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	23,046	20,246	38,058	35,978
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	23,046	20,246	38,058	35,978
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(570)	917	(523)	1,565
Net income	22,476	21,163	37,535	37,543
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	25	415	(9)	825
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	22,501	21,578	37,526	38,368
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,469)	499	(482)	802
Total comprehensive income	20,007	21,662	37,053	38,345
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	58	418	(4)	835
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	20,065	22,080	37,049	39,180
The GEO Group Inc. [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	153,754	138,571	294,370	273,812
Operating expenses	130,229	126,590	261,460	251,024
Depreciation and amortization	7,390	4,668	14,244	8,855
General and Administrative Expenses	9,609	9,520	18,780	20,964
Operating income	6,526	(2,207)	(114)	(7,031)
Interest income	7,848	7,767	15,655	13,504
Interest expense	(16,836)	(15,886)	(33,754)	(29,239)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	(2,462)	(10,326)	(18,213)	(22,766)
Provision for income taxes	(663)	(3,902)	(6,323)	(8,709)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	(1,799)	(6,424)	(11,890)	(14,057)
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	24,845	26,670	49,948	50,035
Net income	22,476	21,163	37,535	37,543
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	22,476	21,163	37,535	37,543
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	29	10	59	19
Total comprehensive income	22,505	21,173	37,594	37,562
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	22,505	21,173	37,594	37,562
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	217,573	220,016	436,476	427,970
Operating expenses	145,784	145,399	294,875	286,276
Depreciation and amortization	14,255	14,401	28,318	27,059
General and Administrative Expenses	13,597	14,459	27,846	31,367
Operating income	43,937	45,757	85,437	83,268
Interest income	393	413	886	737
Interest expense	(7,926)	(7,983)	(15,837)	(13,922)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	36,404	38,187	70,486	70,083
Provision for income taxes	14,089	14,756	26,993	27,080
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	22,315	23,431	43,493	43,003
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	22,315	23,431	43,493	43,003
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	85	236	223	503
Net income	22,400	23,667	43,716	43,506
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	1	0	2
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	22,400	23,668	43,716	43,508
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	22,400	23,667	43,716	43,506
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		1	0	9
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	22,400	23,668	43,716	43,515
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	61,400	57,514	123,174	113,015
Operating expenses	49,401	46,544	97,375	88,606
Depreciation and amortization	2,162	1,876	4,320	3,732
General and Administrative Expenses	3,837	3,731	7,858	8,167
Operating income	6,000	5,363	13,621	12,510
Interest income	1,661	1,562	3,262	3,025
Interest expense	(3,996)	(3,656)	(8,068)	(7,280)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	3,665	3,269	8,815	8,255
Provision for income taxes	1,565	1,448	3,538	3,303
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	430	1,418	1,178	2,080
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	2,530	3,239	6,455	7,032
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	2,530	3,239	6,455	7,032
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Net income	2,530	3,239	6,455	7,032
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	25	414	(9)	823
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	2,555	3,653	6,446	7,855
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,498)	489	(541)	783
Total comprehensive income	32	3,728	5,914	7,815
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	58	417	(4)	826
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	90	4,145	5,910	8,641
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(20,379)	(19,297)	(40,415)	(37,649)
Operating expenses	(20,379)	(19,297)	(40,415)	(37,649)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest income	(8,141)	(8,113)	(16,235)	(14,068)
Interest expense	8,141	8,113	16,235	14,068
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0	0	0
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	(24,845)	(26,670)	(49,948)	(50,035)
Income from continuing operations	(24,845)	(26,670)	(49,948)	(50,035)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(85)	(236)	(223)	(503)
Net income	(24,930)	(26,906)	(50,171)	(50,538)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(24,930)	(26,906)	(50,171)	(50,538)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(24,930)	(26,906)	(50,171)	(50,538)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(24,930)	(26,906)	(50,171)	(50,538)
Parent [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	23,046	20,246	38,058	35,978
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ (570)	$ 917	$ (523)	$ 1,565