Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2012	Jul. 03, 2011
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 125,813	$ 95,262
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition, cash consideration, net of cash acquired		(409,607)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	231	619
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	297	6,640
Change in restricted cash and investments	333	(11,478)
Capital expenditures	(71,853)	(87,362)
Net cash used in investing activities	(70,992)	(501,188)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(169,282)	(46,832)
Proceeds from long-term debt	145,000	482,260
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	(5,758)	(4,012)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	396	2,209
Income tax (provision) benefit of equity compensation	(270)	392
Payments for Retirement of Common Stock	(1,035)	0
Debt issuance costs	(44)	(10,771)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(30,993)	423,246
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(43)	469
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	23,785	17,789
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	44,753	39,664
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	68,538	57,453
The GEO Group Inc. [Member]
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	98,491	64,488
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	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(54,024)	(82,994)
Net cash used in investing activities	(54,024)	(492,601)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(160,556)	(38,638)
Proceeds from long-term debt	145,000	482,260
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	396	2,209
Income tax (provision) benefit of equity compensation	(270)	392
Debt issuance costs	(6)	(10,771)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(16,471)	435,452
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	27,996	7,339
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	15,085	2,614
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	43,081	9,953
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	17,218	(1,202)
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition, cash consideration, net of cash acquired		0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	162	619
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	297	6,640
Change in restricted cash and investments	0	0
Capital expenditures	(15,589)	(3,236)
Net cash used in investing activities	(15,130)	4,023
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(693)	(576)
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
Payments for Retirement of Common Stock	0
Debt issuance costs	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(693)	(576)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,395	2,245
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	3,155	221
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	4,550	2,466
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	10,104	31,976
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Acquisition, cash consideration, net of cash acquired		0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	69	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	333	(11,478)
Capital expenditures	(2,240)	(1,132)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,838)	(12,610)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(8,033)	(7,618)
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
Payments for Retirement of Common Stock	0
Debt issuance costs	(38)	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(13,829)	(11,630)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(43)	469
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(5,606)	8,205
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	26,513	36,829
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	20,907	45,034
Parent [Member]
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Payments for Retirement of Common Stock	$ 1,035