Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 411,524	$ 395,683	$ 1,225,129	$ 1,172,831
Operating expenses	305,832	297,700	919,127	885,957
Depreciation and amortization	23,761	21,850	70,643	61,496
General and Administrative Expenses	27,228	25,922	81,712	86,420
Operating income	54,703	50,211	153,647	138,958
Interest income	1,651	1,767	5,219	4,965
Interest expense	(20,606)	(19,327)	(62,030)	(55,700)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(8,462)	0	(8,462)	0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	27,286	32,651	88,374	88,223
Provision for income taxes	11,304	12,255	35,512	33,929
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	474	272	1,652	2,352
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	16,456	20,668	54,514	56,646
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	16,456	20,668	54,514	56,646
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,729)	625	(2,252)	2,190
Net income	14,727	21,293	52,262	58,836
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	890	225	881	1,050
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	15,617	21,518	53,143	59,886
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	115	(7,521)	(380)	(6,719)
Total comprehensive income	14,842	13,772	51,882	52,117
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	903	325	900	1,160
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	15,745	14,097	52,782	53,277
The GEO Group Inc. [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	152,627	141,084	446,997	414,896
Operating expenses	129,012	126,613	390,472	377,637
Depreciation and amortization	7,328	5,420	21,572	14,275
General and Administrative Expenses	9,625	9,091	28,405	30,055
Operating income	6,662	(40)	6,548	(7,071)
Interest income	8,178	7,754	23,833	21,258
Interest expense	(17,289)	(15,805)	(51,043)	(45,044)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0		0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	(2,449)	(8,091)	(20,662)	(30,857)
Provision for income taxes	(993)	(3,127)	(7,316)	(11,836)
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	(1,456)	(4,964)	(13,346)	(19,021)
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	17,912	25,632	67,860	75,667
Net income	14,727	21,293	52,262	58,836
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	14,727	21,293	52,262	58,836
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	30	9	89	28
Total comprehensive income	14,757	21,302	52,351	58,864
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	14,757	21,302	52,351	58,864
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	217,333	218,972	653,809	646,942
Operating expenses	144,573	148,313	439,448	434,589
Depreciation and amortization	14,465	14,574	42,783	41,633
General and Administrative Expenses	13,703	13,483	41,549	44,850
Operating income	44,592	42,602	130,029	125,870
Interest income	385	405	1,271	1,142
Interest expense	(8,433)	(8,065)	(24,270)	(21,987)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(8,462)		(8,462)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	28,082	34,942	98,568	105,025
Provision for income taxes	10,981	13,502	37,974	40,582
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	17,101	21,440	60,594	64,443
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	17,101	21,440	60,594	64,443
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(36)	207	187	710
Net income	17,065	21,647	60,781	65,153
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	(1)	0	1
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	17,065	21,646	60,781	65,154
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	17,065	21,647	60,781	65,153
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	17,065	21,647	60,781	65,153
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	61,846	55,389	185,020	168,404
Operating expenses	52,529	42,536	149,904	131,142
Depreciation and amortization	1,968	1,856	6,288	5,588
General and Administrative Expenses	3,900	3,348	11,758	11,515
Operating income	3,449	7,649	17,070	20,159
Interest income	1,640	1,648	4,902	4,673
Interest expense	(3,436)	(3,497)	(11,504)	(10,777)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0		0
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	1,653	5,800	10,468	14,055
Provision for income taxes	1,316	1,880	4,854	5,183
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	474	272	1,652	2,352
Income from Continuing Operations before Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	811	4,192	7,266	11,224
Equity in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	811	4,192	7,266	11,224
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Net income	811	4,192	7,266	11,224
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	890	226	881	1,049
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,701	4,418	8,147	12,273
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	85	(7,530)	(469)	(6,747)
Total comprehensive income	896	(3,338)	6,797	4,477
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	903	325	900	1,160
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,799	(3,013)	7,697	5,637
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(20,282)	(19,762)	(60,697)	(57,411)
Operating expenses	(20,282)	(19,762)	(60,697)	(57,411)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest income	(8,552)	(8,040)	(24,787)	(22,108)
Interest expense	8,552	8,040	24,787	22,108
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0		0
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	(17,912)	(25,632)	(67,860)	(75,667)
Income from continuing operations	(17,912)	(25,632)	(67,860)	(75,667)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	36	(207)	(187)	(710)
Net income	(17,876)	(25,839)	(68,047)	(76,377)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(17,876)	(25,839)	(68,047)	(76,377)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(17,876)	(25,839)	(68,047)	(76,377)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(17,876)	(25,839)	(68,047)	(76,377)
Parent [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	16,456	20,668	54,514	56,646
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ (1,729)	$ 625	$ (2,252)	$ 2,190