Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 31,755	$ 43,378
Restricted cash and investments (including VIEs1 of $6,182 and $35,435, respectively)	15,654	42,534
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,546 and $2,426	246,635	265,250
Current deferred income tax assets, net	18,290	28,580
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	24,849	49,025
Current assets of discontinued operations	0	30,562
Total current assets	337,183	459,329
Restricted Cash and Investments (including VIEs of $15,521 and $38,930 , respectively)	32,756	56,925
Property and Equipment, Net (including VIEs of $25,840 and $162,665, respectively)	1,687,159	1,688,356
Assets Held for Sale	3,243	4,363
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	26,757	32,146
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	2,532	1,437
Goodwill	490,308	490,296
Intangible Assets, Net	178,318	195,716
Other Non-Current Assets	80,938	79,577
Non-Current Assets of Discontinued Operations	0	41,778
Total Assets	2,839,194	3,049,923
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	50,110	68,033
Accrued payroll and related taxes	39,322	34,806
Accrued expenses	116,557	125,836
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt (including VIEs of $5,200 and $20,770, respectively)	53,882	53,653
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0	6,490
Total current liabilities	259,871	288,818
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	15,703	125,516
Other Non-Current Liabilities	82,025	54,106
Capital Lease Obligations	11,926	13,064
Long-Term Debt	1,317,529	1,319,068
Non-Recourse Debt (including VIEs of $16,997 and $108,335, respectively)	104,836	208,532
Non-Current Liabilities of Discontinued Operations	0	2,298
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 19)
Shareholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 90,000,000 shares authorized, 86,007,433 and 85,185,158 issued and 71,417,034 and 61,181,172 outstanding, respectively	860	852
Additional paid-in capital	832,230	727,297
Retained earnings	264,667	507,170
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,670	1,930
Treasury stock, 14,590,399 and 24,003,986 shares, at cost, at December 31, 2012 and January 1, 2012, respectively	(53,615)	(214,031)
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,046,812	1,023,218
Noncontrolling interests	492	15,303
Total shareholders’ equity	1,047,304	1,038,521
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ 2,839,194	$ 3,049,923