Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 83,724	$ 31,755
Restricted cash and investments (including VIEs of $6,308 and $6,182, respectively)	15,780	15,654
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,403 and $2,546, respectively	254,917	246,635
Current deferred income tax assets	18,290	18,290
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	25,649	24,849
Total current assets	398,360	337,183
Restricted Cash and Investments (including VIEs of $8,916 and $15,521, respectively)	30,337	32,756
Property and Equipment, Net (including VIEs of $25,692 and $25,840, respectively)	1,680,165	1,687,159
Assets Held for Sale	1,700	3,243
Direct Finance Lease Receivable	25,010	26,757
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Assets	2,532	2,532
Goodwill	490,312	490,308
Intangible Assets, Net	174,473	178,318
Other Non-Current Assets	85,193	80,938
Total Assets	2,888,082	2,839,194
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	52,152	50,110
Accrued payroll and related taxes	46,316	39,322
Accrued expenses	112,175	116,557
Current portion of capital lease obligations, long-term debt and non-recourse debt (including VIEs of $5,450 and $5,200, respectively)	59,627	53,882
Total current liabilities	270,270	259,871
Non-Current Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	15,703	15,703
Other Non-Current Liabilities	82,522	82,025
Capital Lease Obligations	11,678	11,926
Long-Term Debt	1,370,167	1,317,529
Non-Recourse Debt (including VIEs of $11,569 and $16,997 respectively)	97,964	104,836
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)
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, 86,188,835 and 86,007,433 issued and 71,600,440 and 71,417,034 outstanding, respectively	862	860
Additional paid-in capital	838,148	832,230
Earnings in excess of distributions	252,376	264,667
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,531	2,670
Treasury stock, 14,588,395 and 14,590,399 shares, at cost, respectively	(53,608)	(53,615)
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,039,309	1,046,812
Noncontrolling interests	469	492
Total shareholders’ equity	1,039,778	1,047,304
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ 2,888,082	$ 2,839,194