Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012	Apr. 01, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012	Jan. 02, 2011
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Income from Continuing Operations	$ 95,413	$ 14,532	$ 20,858	$ 13,755	$ 17,176	$ 18,820	$ 18,620	$ 15,028	$ 144,558	$ 69,644	$ 54,371
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									852	1,162	678
Income from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.									$ 145,410	$ 70,806	$ 55,049
Basic earnings per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding									60,934,000	63,425,000	55,379,000
Per share amount from continuing operations:									$ 2.37	$ 1.10	$ 0.98
Per share amount from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:	$ 1.56	$ 0.25	$ 0.34	$ 0.23	$ 0.28	$ 0.30	$ 0.30	$ 0.24	$ 2.39	$ 1.12	$ 0.99
Diluted earnings per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding									60,934,000	63,425,000	55,379,000
Diluted effect of equity incentive plans									331,000	315,000	610,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution									61,265,000	63,740,000	55,989,000
Per share amount from continuing operations:									$ 2.36	$ 1.09	$ 0.97
Per share amount from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:	$ 1.55	$ 0.25	$ 0.34	$ 0.23	$ 0.28	$ 0.30	$ 0.29	$ 0.24	$ 2.37	$ 1.11	$ 0.98
Stock Options [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share									62,769	105,307	25,570
Restricted Stock [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share									0	0	0