Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 01, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 377,031	$ 360,042
Operating expenses	280,797	270,720
Depreciation and amortization	22,935	22,239
General and administrative expenses	32,040	26,586
Operating income	41,259	40,497
Interest income	1,184	1,807
Interest expense	(19,341)	(20,806)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	23,102	21,498
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	881	8,490
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,217	748
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	23,438	13,756
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income from continuing operations	23,438	13,756
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	1,303
Net income	23,438	15,059
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18)	(34)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	23,420	15,025
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(1,180)	1,987
Total comprehensive income	22,258	17,046
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	23	(62)
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	22,281	16,984
The GEO Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	113,491	140,616
Operating expenses	99,409	131,006
Depreciation and amortization	5,824	6,855
General and administrative expenses	9,197	9,396
Operating income	(939)	(6,641)
Interest income	3,960	7,807
Interest expense	(9,920)	(16,915)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	(6,899)	(15,749)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(667)	(5,656)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	(6,232)	(10,093)
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	29,670	23,849
Income from continuing operations	23,438	13,756
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		1,303
Net income	23,438	15,059
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	23,438	15,059
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	30
Total comprehensive income	23,438	15,089
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	23,438	15,089
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	312,528	184,187
Operating expenses	240,477	117,666
Depreciation and amortization	15,881	13,252
General and administrative expenses	18,192	13,294
Operating income	37,978	39,975
Interest income	550	492
Interest expense	(11,431)	(7,911)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	27,097	32,556
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	406	12,311
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	26,691	20,245
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income from continuing operations	26,691	20,245
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		1,072
Net income	26,691	21,317
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	(17)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	26,691	21,300
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	40	0
Total comprehensive income	26,731	21,317
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	(17)
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	26,731	21,300
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	57,385	57,993
Operating expenses	47,284	44,802
Depreciation and amortization	1,230	2,132
General and administrative expenses	4,651	3,896
Operating income	4,220	7,163
Interest income	1,096	1,601
Interest expense	(2,412)	(4,073)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	2,904	4,691
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	1,142	1,835
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	1,217	748
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	2,979	3,604
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income from continuing operations	2,979	3,604
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		322
Net income	2,979	3,926
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18)	(17)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	2,961	3,909
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(1,220)	1,957
Total comprehensive income	1,759	5,883
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	23	(45)
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	1,782	5,838
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenues	(106,373)	(22,754)
Operating expenses	(106,373)	(22,754)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0
Operating income	0	0
Interest income	(4,422)	(8,093)
Interest expense	4,422	8,093
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of affiliates and discontinued operations	0	0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of income tax provision	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in income of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Income from consolidated subsidiaries, net of income tax provision	(29,670)	(23,849)
Income from continuing operations	(29,670)	(23,849)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		(1,394)
Net income	(29,670)	(25,243)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	(29,670)	(25,243)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(29,670)	(25,243)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ (29,670)	$ (25,243)