Amounts received from the disposal of the long-lived asset during or after the reporting period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2941-110230

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 33, 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleProceedsFromSale
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Assets Held for Sale (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 01, 2012 U.S. Corrections and Detention	Jan. 31, 2013 GEO Community Services	Dec. 31, 2012 GEO Community Services facility	Jan. 01, 2012 GEO Community Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Cornell Companies, Inc. [Member]	Jan. 01, 2012 Cornell Companies, Inc. [Member] Coke County Juvenile Justice Center [Member]	Jan. 01, 2012 Cornell Companies, Inc. [Member] International Building [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Correctional Services Corporation [Member] Washington D.C. Facility [Member]
Assets Held for Sale (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of Facilities Acquired and Kept as Assets Held for Sale			4
Assets Held For Sale, Number of Assets			1
Aggregate carrying value	$ 0.4		$ 1.5	$ 0.1	$ 4.5	$ 2.8		$ 6.9
Selling Price	$ 0.4	$ 1.6			$ 5.3		$ 0.5	$ 6.6