Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 01, 2012
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 45,437	$ 66,283
Cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations	0	2,197
Net cash provided by operating activities	45,437	68,480
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	4	158
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	1,602	297
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		297
Change in restricted cash and investments	2,330	960
Capital expenditures	(11,402)	(47,916)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations	(7,466)	(46,501)
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations	0	(1,085)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(7,466)	(47,586)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	410,000	53,000
Income tax benefit of equity compensation	1,127	(342)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	0	(5,758)
Debt issuance costs	(5,650)	(44)
Payments on long-term debt	(358,438)	(64,075)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	3,049	231
Cash dividends paid	(35,711)	0
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock in connection with ESPP	66	0
Payments for retirement of common stock	0	(1,035)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	14,443	(18,023)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(445)	995
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	51,969	3,866
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	31,755	43,378
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	83,724	47,244
The GEO Group Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities		24,885
Cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations		1,738
Net cash provided by operating activities	8,032	26,623
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(124)	0
Capital expenditures	(1,414)	(27,046)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations		(27,046)
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations		(260)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(1,538)	(27,306)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	410,000	53,000
Income tax benefit of equity compensation	1,127	(342)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		0
Debt issuance costs	(5,650)	(6)
Payments on long-term debt	(351,153)	(57,278)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	3,049	231
Cash dividends paid	(35,711)
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock in connection with ESPP	66
Payments for retirement of common stock		(1,035)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	21,728	(5,430)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	28,222	(6,113)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	4,764	15,086
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	32,986	8,973
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities		19,198
Cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations		1,205
Net cash provided by operating activities	26,708	20,403
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	4	149
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	1,602
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		297
Change in restricted cash and investments	(1,145)	0
Capital expenditures	(9,624)	(20,316)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations		(19,870)
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations		(825)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(9,163)	(20,695)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	0	0
Income tax benefit of equity compensation	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		0
Debt issuance costs	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	(377)	(340)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock in connection with ESPP	0
Payments for retirement of common stock		0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(377)	(340)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	17,168	(632)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	1,917	3,092
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	19,085	2,460
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities		22,200
Cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations		(746)
Net cash provided by operating activities	10,697	21,454
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	9
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale
Change in restricted cash and investments	3,599	960
Capital expenditures	(364)	(554)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations		415
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations		0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	3,235	415
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	0	0
Income tax benefit of equity compensation	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		(5,758)
Debt issuance costs	0	(38)
Payments on long-term debt	(6,908)	(6,457)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0
Cash dividends paid	0
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock in connection with ESPP	0
Payments for retirement of common stock		0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(6,908)	(12,253)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(445)	995
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	6,579	10,611
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	25,074	25,200
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 31,653	$ 35,811