<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF INCOME OF THE WACKENHUT
CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO FORM 10-Q FOR THE
QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 28, 1998.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-29-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-28-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          62,368
<SECURITIES>                                    23,575<F1>
<RECEIVABLES>                                  169,404
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,625
<INVENTORY>                                     12,336
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               272,253<F2>
<PP&E>                                          51,769
<DEPRECIATION>                                  17,897
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 431,269
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          144,993
<BONDS>                                          4,326
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,502
<OTHER-SE>                                     150,805
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   431,269<F3>
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               815,282
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  801,138
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   901
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,367
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,615
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,885
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,301<F4>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.42
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.41
<FN>
<F1>MARKETABLE SECURITIES ARE CLASSIFIED AS NON-CURRENT ASSETS ON THE BALANCE
SHEET.
<F2>INCLUDES $27,756 OF OTHER CURRENT ASSETS.
<F3>INCLUDES $46,614 RESERVES FOR LOSSES OF CASUALTY REINSURANCE SUBSIDIARY,
$52,311 MINORITY INTEREST, $15,631 DEFERRED REVENUES AND $15,087 OTHER
LIABILITIES.
<F4>INCLUDES MINORITY INTEREST AND EQUITY INCOME OF FOREIGN AFFILIATES - NET OF
INCOME TAXES OF $3,863 AND $(1,424) RESPECTIVELY.
</FN>