Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 01, 2012
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 23,438	$ 13,756
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18)	(34)
Net income from continuing operations attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 23,420	$ 13,722
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	70,850,000	60,768,000
Per share amount from continuing operations	$ 0.33	$ 0.23
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	70,850,000	60,768,000
Effect of dilutive securities: Stock options and restricted stock	562,000	161,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	71,412,000	60,929,000
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.33	$ 0.23
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	0
Restricted Stock [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share		1,262
Stock Options [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share		202,094