Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012		Aug. 31, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012		Oct. 02, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 69,085			$ 44,753		$ 43,956	$ 39,664
Restricted cash and investments	15,530	[1]		42,535	[1]
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	251,459			285,810
Deferred income tax assets, net	31,199			28,726
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	25,046			50,346
Current assets of discontinued operations	6,328			7,159
Total current assets	398,647			459,329
Restricted cash and investments	44,284	[1]		57,912	[1]
Property and equipment, net	1,709,628	[1]		1,705,306	[1]
Assets Held for Sale	6,590			4,363
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	28,128			32,146
Intercompany Receivable	0			0
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	1,711			1,711
Goodwill	508,078			508,066
Intangible Assets, Net	186,229			200,342
Investment in Subsidiaries	0			0
Other Non-Current Assets	84,274			79,576
Non-Current Assets of Discontinued Operations	0			865
Total Assets	2,967,569			3,049,616
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	53,643			69,632
Accrued payroll and related taxes	50,416			38,130
Accrued expenses	134,606			126,682
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	47,840	[1]		53,666	[1]
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	319			708
Total current liabilities	286,824			288,818
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	119,470			125,209
Intercompany Payable	0			0
Other Non-Current Liabilities	59,206			56,381
Capital Lease Obligations	12,192			13,087
Long-Term Debt	1,324,902			1,319,068
Non-Recourse Debt	113,136	[1]		208,532	[1]
Non-recourse debt	131,248		77,900	241,798
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,051,279			1,023,218
Noncontrolling interests	560			15,303
Total shareholders' equity	1,051,839			1,038,521
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	2,967,569			3,049,616
The GEO Group Inc. [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	45,827			15,085		3,161	2,614
Restricted cash and investments	0			0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	117,313			123,426
Deferred income tax assets, net	14,063			14,063
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,781			17,170
Current assets of discontinued operations	5,346
Total current assets	188,330			174,765
Restricted cash and investments	9,460			8,016
Property and equipment, net	633,794			620,124
Assets Held for Sale	3,083			3,083
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	0			0
Intercompany Receivable	475,241			386,026
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0			0
Goodwill	34			34
Intangible Assets, Net	0			0
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,264,286			1,333,885
Other Non-Current Assets	38,329			40,695
Total Assets	2,612,557			2,567,325
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	12,846			47,159
Accrued payroll and related taxes	20,218			2,855
Accrued expenses	89,808			69,585
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	28,328			19,037
Total current liabilities	151,515			139,178
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	42,879			42,879
Intercompany Payable	9,866			14,027
Other Non-Current Liabilities	32,365			29,384
Capital Lease Obligations	0			0
Long-Term Debt	1,324,653			1,318,639
Non-Recourse Debt	0			0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,051,279			1,023,218
Noncontrolling interests	0			0
Total shareholders' equity	1,051,279			1,023,218
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	2,612,557			2,567,325
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	4,402			3,155		3,794	221
Restricted cash and investments	0			0
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	113,123			139,574
Deferred income tax assets, net	13,348			10,875
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	6,425			23,791
Current assets of discontinued operations	982			2,138
Total current assets	138,280			179,533
Restricted cash and investments	0			0
Property and equipment, net	961,568			834,345
Assets Held for Sale	3,507			1,280
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	0			0
Intercompany Receivable	14,212			14,305
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0			0
Goodwill	507,272			507,272
Intangible Assets, Net	184,513			198,477
Investment in Subsidiaries	38,702			9,784
Other Non-Current Assets	86,930			73,480
Non-Current Assets of Discontinued Operations	0			168
Total Assets	1,934,984			1,818,644
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	37,950			18,531
Accrued payroll and related taxes	11,039			18,273
Accrued expenses	23,645			33,500
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	1,400			1,363
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	4			166
Total current liabilities	74,038			71,833
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	76,557			82,296
Intercompany Payable	472,038			378,005
Other Non-Current Liabilities	103,393			28,654
Capital Lease Obligations	12,192			13,087
Long-Term Debt	249			429
Non-Recourse Debt	0			0
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,196,510			1,229,553
Noncontrolling interests	7			14,787
Total shareholders' equity	1,196,517			1,244,340
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	1,934,984			1,818,644
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	18,856			26,513		37,001	36,829
Restricted cash and investments	15,530			42,535
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	21,023			22,810
Deferred income tax assets, net	3,788			3,788
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	13,994			10,539
Current assets of discontinued operations	0			0
Total current assets	73,191			106,185
Restricted cash and investments	34,824			49,896
Property and equipment, net	114,266			250,837
Assets Held for Sale	0			0
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	28,128			32,146
Intercompany Receivable	9,866			14,028
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	1,711			1,711
Goodwill	772			760
Intangible Assets, Net	1,716			1,865
Investment in Subsidiaries	0			0
Other Non-Current Assets	37,995			31,022
Non-Current Assets of Discontinued Operations	0			0
Total Assets	302,469			488,450
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	2,847			3,942
Accrued payroll and related taxes	19,159			17,002
Accrued expenses	22,307			24,751
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt	18,112			33,266
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0			0
Total current liabilities	62,425			78,961
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	34			34
Intercompany Payable	17,415			22,327
Other Non-Current Liabilities	2,428			63,964
Capital Lease Obligations	0			0
Long-Term Debt	0			0
Non-Recourse Debt	113,136			208,532
Commitments and Contingencies
Total shareholders' equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	106,478			114,116
Noncontrolling interests	553			516
Total shareholders' equity	107,031			114,632
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	302,469			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	(499,319)			(414,359)
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net	0			0
Goodwill	0			0
Intangible Assets, Net	0			0
Investment in Subsidiaries	(1,302,988)			(1,343,669)
Other Non-Current Assets	(78,980)			(65,621)
Non-Current Assets of Discontinued Operations	0			0
Total Assets	(1,882,441)			(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	(499,319)			(414,359)
Other Non-Current Liabilities	(78,980)			(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.	(1,302,988)			(1,343,669)
Noncontrolling interests	0			0
Total shareholders' equity	(1,302,988)			(1,343,669)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	(1,882,441)			(1,824,803)
Parent [Member]
Assets
Current assets of discontinued operations				5,021
Non-Current Assets of Discontinued Operations	0			697
Current Liabilities
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	$ 315			$ 542

[1] Variable interest entities or “VIEs”