Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jul. 01, 2012
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations	$ 101,314	$ 116,932
Cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations	0	10,034
Net cash provided by operating activities	101,314	126,966
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	51	231
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	1,968	297
Net working capital adjustment from RTS divestiture	(996)	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(5,910)	553
Capital expenditures	(89,921)	(69,536)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations	(94,808)	(68,455)
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations	0	(2,537)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(94,808)	(70,992)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	785,000	145,000
Income tax benefit (provision) of equity compensation	1,308	(270)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	0	(5,758)
Debt issuance costs	(17,017)	(44)
Payments on long-term debt	(697,748)	(169,282)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4,082	396
Cash dividends paid	(71,527)	0
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock in connection with ESPP	155	0
Payments for retirement of common stock	0	(1,035)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	4,253	(30,993)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(4,003)	(43)
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	6,756	24,938
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	31,755	43,378
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	38,511	68,316
The GEO Group Inc.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations		98,442
Cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations		752
Net cash provided by operating activities	58,343	99,194
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0	0
Net working capital adjustment from RTS divestiture	(996)
Change in restricted cash and investments	(134)	(484)
Capital expenditures	(69,567)	(53,933)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations		(54,417)
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations		(311)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(70,697)	(54,728)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	785,000	145,000
Income tax benefit (provision) of equity compensation	1,308	(270)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		0
Debt issuance costs	(17,017)	(6)
Payments on long-term debt	(688,675)	(160,556)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4,082	396
Cash dividends paid	(71,527)
Proceeds from reissuance of treasury stock in connection with ESPP	155
Payments for retirement of common stock		(1,035)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	13,326	(16,471)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	972	27,995
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	4,764	15,086
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	5,736	43,081
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations		11,721
Cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations		6,827
Net cash provided by operating activities	18,932	18,548
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	51	162
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	1,968	297
Net working capital adjustment from RTS divestiture	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(1,457)	(1,350)
Capital expenditures	(19,666)	(13,363)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations		(14,254)
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations		(2,226)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(19,104)	(16,480)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	0	0
Income tax benefit (provision) of equity compensation	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		0
Debt issuance costs	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	(661)	(693)
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	(661)	(693)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(833)	1,375
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	1,917	3,092
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	1,084	4,467
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flow from Operating Activities:
Cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations		6,769
Cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations		2,455
Net cash provided by operating activities	24,039	9,224
Cash Flow from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	69
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	0	0
Net working capital adjustment from RTS divestiture	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	(4,319)	2,387
Capital expenditures	(688)	(2,240)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities - continuing operations		216
Cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations		0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(5,007)	216
Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long term debt	0	0
Income tax benefit (provision) of equity compensation	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		(5,758)
Debt issuance costs	0	(38)
Payments on long-term debt	(8,412)	(8,033)
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	(8,412)	(13,829)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(4,003)	(43)
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	6,617	(4,432)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period	25,074	25,200
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period	$ 31,691	$ 20,768