<PAGE>   1
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 24, 2001
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-_____

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                     -------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                      UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                     -------

                            THE WACKENHUT CORPORATION

             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

-------------------------------------------      ----------------------------
                 FLORIDA                                 59-0857245
     (State or Other Jurisdiction of                  (I.R.S. Employer
      incorporation or Organization)                 Identification No.)
-------------------------------------------      ----------------------------

                            4200 WACKENHUT DRIVE #100
                     PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA 33410-4243
                                 (561) 622-5656
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                   KEY EMPLOYEE LONG-TERM INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                  F. E. FINIZIA
                            THE WACKENHUT CORPORATION
                            4200 WACKENHUT DRIVE #100
                     PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA 33410-4243
                                 (561) 622-5656
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                     -------

                        COPIES OF ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO:
                          STEPHEN K. RODDENBERRY, ESQ.
                       AKERMAN, SENTERFITT & EIDSON, P.A.
                          SUNTRUST INTERNATIONAL CENTER
                         ONE S.E. 3RD AVENUE, 28TH FLOOR
                            MIAMI, FLORIDA 33131-1704
                                 (305) 374-5600

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

====================================================================================================================
                                                         PROPOSED MAXIMUM      PROPOSED MAXIMUM
           TITLE OF                   AMOUNT TO         OFFERING PRICE PER    AGGREGATE OFFERING      AMOUNT OF
  SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED     BE REGISTERED(1)            SHARE                PRICE (3)       REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------------------- -------------------- ----------------------- -------------------- -----------------


<S>                                  <C>                      <C>                 <C>                   <C>
Series B Common Stock, par
value $.10 per share                 400,000(2)               $17.80              $7,120,000            $1,780
====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  This Registration Statement also covers any additional shares that may
     hereafter become issuable as a result of the adjustment provisions of the
     Registrant's Key Employee Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan (the "Plan").

(2)  Represents shares of the Series B Common Stock of the Registrant issuable
     pursuant to an amendment to the Plan.

(3)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in
     accordance with Rule 457 under the Securities Act. The proposed Maximum
     Offering Price is based on the average of the high and low prices of shares
     of Series B Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June
     19, 2001 of $17.80 per share.

<PAGE>   2


                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

         The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form
S-8 will be sent or given to participants in The Wackenhut Corporation Key
Employee Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan, as amended (the "Plan"), as specified
by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act").

         Such document(s) are not being filed with the Commission, but
constitute (along with the documents incorporated by reference into the
Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) a prospectus that
meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.


<PAGE>   3


                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed by Company with the Commission are
incorporated herein by reference.

         (a)      The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                  year ended December 31, 2000.

         (b)      The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                  quarterly period ended April 1, 2001.

         (c)      The description of the Registrant's Series B Common Stock
                  contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
                  filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November
                  19, 1992, and any amendment or report filed with the
                  Commission for the purpose of updating such description.

         In addition, all documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c),14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the
termination of the offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into
this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing
of such document with the Commission. Any statement contained in a document
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of the Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or superseded such
statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except
as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the Registration
Statement.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable. The class of securities to be offered is registered
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.


ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.


ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         The Registrant, a Florida corporation, is empowered by Section 607.0850
of the Florida Business Corporation Act, subject to the procedures and
limitations stated therein, to indemnify any person who was or is a party to any
proceeding other than any action by, or in the right of, the corporation, by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of
the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against liability incurred in connection with
such proceeding, including any appeal thereof, if he acted in good faith and in
a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, in the best
interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.


                                      II-1
<PAGE>   4


         Section 607.0850 also empowers a Florida corporation to indemnify any
person who was or is a party to any proceeding by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is
or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other
enterprise, against expenses and amounts paid in settlement not exceeding, in
the judgment of the board of directors, the estimated expense or litigating the
proceeding to conclusion, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with
the defense or settlement of such proceeding, including any appeal thereof, if
he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, except that no
indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
such person shall have been adjudged to be liable unless, and only to the extent
that, the court in which such proceeding was brought, or any other court of
competent jurisdiction, shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnify for such expenses which
such court shall deem proper. To the extent that a director, officer, employee
or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any proceeding referred to above, or in defense of any claim, issue
or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.

         The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided pursuant to
Section 607.0850 are not exclusive, and a corporation may make any other or
further indemnification or advancement of expenses of any of its directors,
officers, employees or agents, under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders
or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in his official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
However, a director, officer, employee or agent is not entitled to
indemnification or advancement of expenses if a judgment or other final
adjudication establish that his actions, or omissions to act, were material to
the cause of action so adjudicated and constitute: (i) a violation of the
criminal law, unless the director, officer, employee or agent had reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful; (ii) a transaction from which the director, officer,
employee or agent derived an improper personal benefit; (iii) in the case of a
director, a circumstance under which the liability provisions of Section
607.0834 of the Florida Business Corporation Act, relating to a director's
liability for voting in favor of or asserting to an unlawful distribution, are
applicable; or (iv) willful misconduct or a conscious disregard for the best
interests of the corporation in a proceeding by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor or in a proceeding by or in the
right of a shareholder.

         The Registrant's bylaws provide that the Registrant shall indemnify
every person who was or is a party of or was threatened to be made a party to
any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact he is or was a director, officer, employee,
or agent of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the
Registrant as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise, against expenses including attorney's fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding, (except in such case involving
gross negligence or willful misconduct) in the performance of their duties to
the full extent permitted by applicable law. Such indemnification, in the
discretion of the Board of Directors, include advances of his expenses in
advance of final disposition subject to the provisions of applicable law. Such
right of indemnification shall not be exclusive or any right to which any
director, officer, employee, agent or controlling shareholder of the Registrant
may be entitled as a matter of law.

         Under the Registrant's indemnification agreements with its officers and
directors it is obligated to indemnify each of its officers and directors to the
fullest extent permitted by law with respect to all liability and loss suffered,
and reasonable expense incurred, by such person, in any action, suit or
proceeding in which such person was or is made or threatened to be a part or
otherwise involved by reason of the fact that such person was a director or
officer of the Registrant. The Registrant is also obligated to pay the
reasonable expense of indemnified directors or officers in defending such
proceeding if the indemnified party agrees to repay all amounts advance should
it be ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

         The Registrant maintains an insurance policy covering directors and
officers under which the insurer agrees to pay, subject to certain exclusions,
for any claim made against the directors and officers of the Registrant for a



                                      II-2
<PAGE>   5

wrongful act for which they may become legally obligated to pay or for which the
Registrant is required to indemnify its directors and officers.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.


ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         The exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement are as
follows:


EXHIBIT
NUMBER               DESCRIPTION
------               -----------


4.1        --         Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
                      Registrant, as amended, (incorporated by reference to the
                      Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No.
                      333-03249)).

4.2        --         Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to
                      the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                      year ended December 31, 1995).

4.3        --         Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by
                      reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                      Form 8-A filed with the Commission on November 19, 1992).

5.1        --         Opinion of Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.

10.1       --         Amendments to the Wackenhut Corporation Key Employee
                      Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan.*

23.1       --         Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.*

23.2       --         Consent of Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A. (included
                      in opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).*

24.1       --         Powers of Attorney -- included as part of the signature
                      page hereto.*

---------
* Filed herewith.


ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         A.       (1)      To file, during any period in which offers or sales
                           are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
                           Registration Statement:

                           (i)      To include any prospectus required by
                                    Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.




                                      II-3
<PAGE>   6

                           (ii)     To reflect in the Prospectus any facts or
                                    events arising after the effective date of
                                    the Registration Statement (or the most
                                    recent post-effective amendment thereof)
                                    which, individually or in the aggregate,
                                    represent a fundamental change in the
                                    information set fort in the Registration
                                    Statement; and

                           (iii)    To include any material information with
                                    respect to the plan of distribution not
                                    previously disclosed in the Registration
                                    Statement or any material change to such
                                    information in the Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed or furnished to the Commission
by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

                  (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability
                           under the Securities Act, each such post-effective
                           amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
                           statement relating to the securities offered herein,
                           and the offering of such securities at that time
                           shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
                           thereof.

                  (3)      To remove from registration by means of a
                           post-effective amendment any of the securities being
                           registered which remain unsold at the termination of
                           the offering.

         B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and
is, therefore unenforceable in the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by; such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy and as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.



                                      II-4
<PAGE>   7


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf of the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the city of Palm Beach Gardens, state of Florida, on the 24th day
of July, 2001.

                                      THE WACKENHUT CORPORATION

                                      By: /s/ PHILIP L. MASLOWE
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         PHILIP L. MASLOWE
                                         Executive Vice President and
                                         Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Philip L. Maslowe and Juan D. Miyar, and
each of them, as true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
foregoing, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue thereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in their
capacities on July 24, 2001.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                     SIGNATURE                                                    TITLE
                     ---------                                                    -----
<S>                                                             <C>
/s/ RICHARD R. WACKENHUT                                        Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
-------------------------------------------------               Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
RICHARD R. WACKENHUT



/s/ PHILIP L. MASLOWE                                           Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
-------------------------------------------------               and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)
PHILIP L. MASLOWE



/s/ JUAN D. MIYAR                                               Vice President Corporate Controller (Principal
-------------------------------------------------               Accounting Officer)
JUAN D. MIYAR



/s/ JULIUS R. BECTON, JR.                                       Director
-------------------------------------------------
JULIUS R. BECTON, JR.

</TABLE>

                                      II-5
<PAGE>   8


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                     SIGNATURE                                  TITLE
                     ---------                                  -----
<S>                                                             <C>

/s/ ALAN B. BERNSTEIN                                           Director
-------------------------------------------------
ALAN B. BERNSTEIN



/s/ CARROLL A. CAMPBELL                                         Director
-------------------------------------------------
CARROLL A. CAMPBELL




/s/ BENJAMIN CIVILETTI                                          Director
-------------------------------------------------
BENJAMIN CIVILETTI



/s/ ANNE N. FOREMAN                                             Director
-------------------------------------------------
ANNE N. FOREMAN



/s/ EDWARD L. HENNESSY, JR.                                     Director
-------------------------------------------------
EDWARD L. HENNESSY, JR.



/s/ PAUL X. KELLEY                                              Director
-------------------------------------------------
PAUL X. KELLEY



/s/ NANCY CLARK REYNOLDS                                        Director
-------------------------------------------------
NANCY CLARK REYNOLDS



/s/ JOHN RUFFLE                                                 Director
-------------------------------------------------
JOHN RUFFLE



/s/ THOMAS P. STAFFORD                                          Director
-------------------------------------------------
THOMAS P. STAFFORD



/s/ GEORGE R. WACKENHUT                                         Director
-------------------------------------------------
GEORGE R. WACKENHUT



</TABLE>

                                      II-6
<PAGE>   9
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NUMBER        DESCRIPTION
--------------        -----------
4.1             --    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
                      Registrant, as amended, (incorporated by reference to the
                      Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-2 -- File
                      No. 333-03249).

4.2             --    Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to
                      the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                      year ended December 31, 1995).

4.3             --    Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by
                      reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                      Form 8-A filed with the Commission on November 19, 1992).

5.1             --    Opinion of Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.*

10.1            --    Amendments to the Wackenhut Corporation Key Employee
                      Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan.*

23.1            --    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.*

23.2            --    Consent of Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A. (included
                      in opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).*

24.1            --    Powers of Attorney -- included as part of the signature
                      page hereto.*

-----------------
*Filed herewith.




                                      II-7
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WACKENHUT CORP", "cik": "0000104030", "assigned-sic": "7381", "irs-number": "590857245", "state-of-incorporation": "FL", "fiscal-year-end": "0103"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-65766", "film-number": "1688369"}, "business-address": {"street1": "4200 WACKENHUT DRIVE", "street2": "#100", "city": "PALM BEACH GARDEN", "state": "FL", "zip": "33410", "phone": "5616225656"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "4200 WACKENHUT DR", "street2": "#100", "city": "PALM BEACH GARDEN", "state": "FL", "zip": "33410"}}
1
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 24, 2001
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-_____

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                     -------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                      UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                     -------

                            THE WACKENHUT CORPORATION

             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

-------------------------------------------      ----------------------------
                 FLORIDA                                 59-0857245
     (State or Other Jurisdiction of                  (I.R.S. Employer
      incorporation or Organization)                 Identification No.)
-------------------------------------------      ----------------------------

                            4200 WACKENHUT DRIVE #100
                     PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA 33410-4243
                                 (561) 622-5656
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                   KEY EMPLOYEE LONG-TERM INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                  F. E. FINIZIA
                            THE WACKENHUT CORPORATION
                            4200 WACKENHUT DRIVE #100
                     PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA 33410-4243
                                 (561) 622-5656
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                     -------

                        COPIES OF ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO:
                          STEPHEN K. RODDENBERRY, ESQ.
                       AKERMAN, SENTERFITT & EIDSON, P.A.
                          SUNTRUST INTERNATIONAL CENTER
                         ONE S.E. 3RD AVENUE, 28TH FLOOR
                            MIAMI, FLORIDA 33131-1704
                                 (305) 374-5600

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================
                                                         PROPOSED MAXIMUM      PROPOSED MAXIMUM
           TITLE OF                   AMOUNT TO         OFFERING PRICE PER    AGGREGATE OFFERING      AMOUNT OF
  SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED     BE REGISTERED(1)            SHARE                PRICE (3)       REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------------------- -------------------- ----------------------- -------------------- -----------------
Series B Common Stock, par
value $.10 per share                 400,000(2)               $17.80              $7,120,000            $1,780
====================================================================================================================
(1)  This Registration Statement also covers any additional shares that may
     hereafter become issuable as a result of the adjustment provisions of the
     Registrant's Key Employee Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan (the "Plan").

(2)  Represents shares of the Series B Common Stock of the Registrant issuable
     pursuant to an amendment to the Plan.

(3)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in
     accordance with Rule 457 under the Securities Act. The proposed Maximum
     Offering Price is based on the average of the high and low prices of shares
     of Series B Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June
     19, 2001 of $17.80 per share.
2

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

         The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form
S-8 will be sent or given to participants in The Wackenhut Corporation Key
Employee Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan, as amended (the "Plan"), as specified
by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act").

         Such document(s) are not being filed with the Commission, but
constitute (along with the documents incorporated by reference into the
Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) a prospectus that
meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
3

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed by Company with the Commission are
incorporated herein by reference.

         (a)      The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                  year ended December 31, 2000.

         (b)      The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                  quarterly period ended April 1, 2001.

         (c)      The description of the Registrant's Series B Common Stock
                  contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
                  filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November
                  19, 1992, and any amendment or report filed with the
                  Commission for the purpose of updating such description.

         In addition, all documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c),14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the
termination of the offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into
this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing
of such document with the Commission. Any statement contained in a document
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of the Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or superseded such
statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except
as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the Registration
Statement.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable. The class of securities to be offered is registered
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         The Registrant, a Florida corporation, is empowered by Section 607.0850
of the Florida Business Corporation Act, subject to the procedures and
limitations stated therein, to indemnify any person who was or is a party to any
proceeding other than any action by, or in the right of, the corporation, by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of
the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against liability incurred in connection with
such proceeding, including any appeal thereof, if he acted in good faith and in
a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, in the best
interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

                                      II-1
4

         Section 607.0850 also empowers a Florida corporation to indemnify any
person who was or is a party to any proceeding by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is
or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other
enterprise, against expenses and amounts paid in settlement not exceeding, in
the judgment of the board of directors, the estimated expense or litigating the
proceeding to conclusion, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with
the defense or settlement of such proceeding, including any appeal thereof, if
he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, except that no
indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
such person shall have been adjudged to be liable unless, and only to the extent
that, the court in which such proceeding was brought, or any other court of
competent jurisdiction, shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnify for such expenses which
such court shall deem proper. To the extent that a director, officer, employee
or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any proceeding referred to above, or in defense of any claim, issue
or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.

         The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided pursuant to
Section 607.0850 are not exclusive, and a corporation may make any other or
further indemnification or advancement of expenses of any of its directors,
officers, employees or agents, under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders
or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in his official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
However, a director, officer, employee or agent is not entitled to
indemnification or advancement of expenses if a judgment or other final
adjudication establish that his actions, or omissions to act, were material to
the cause of action so adjudicated and constitute: (i) a violation of the
criminal law, unless the director, officer, employee or agent had reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful; (ii) a transaction from which the director, officer,
employee or agent derived an improper personal benefit; (iii) in the case of a
director, a circumstance under which the liability provisions of Section
607.0834 of the Florida Business Corporation Act, relating to a director's
liability for voting in favor of or asserting to an unlawful distribution, are
applicable; or (iv) willful misconduct or a conscious disregard for the best
interests of the corporation in a proceeding by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor or in a proceeding by or in the
right of a shareholder.

         The Registrant's bylaws provide that the Registrant shall indemnify
every person who was or is a party of or was threatened to be made a party to
any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact he is or was a director, officer, employee,
or agent of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the
Registrant as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise, against expenses including attorney's fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding, (except in such case involving
gross negligence or willful misconduct) in the performance of their duties to
the full extent permitted by applicable law. Such indemnification, in the
discretion of the Board of Directors, include advances of his expenses in
advance of final disposition subject to the provisions of applicable law. Such
right of indemnification shall not be exclusive or any right to which any
director, officer, employee, agent or controlling shareholder of the Registrant
may be entitled as a matter of law.

         Under the Registrant's indemnification agreements with its officers and
directors it is obligated to indemnify each of its officers and directors to the
fullest extent permitted by law with respect to all liability and loss suffered,
and reasonable expense incurred, by such person, in any action, suit or
proceeding in which such person was or is made or threatened to be a part or
otherwise involved by reason of the fact that such person was a director or
officer of the Registrant. The Registrant is also obligated to pay the
reasonable expense of indemnified directors or officers in defending such
proceeding if the indemnified party agrees to repay all amounts advance should
it be ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

         The Registrant maintains an insurance policy covering directors and
officers under which the insurer agrees to pay, subject to certain exclusions,
for any claim made against the directors and officers of the Registrant for a

                                      II-2
5

wrongful act for which they may become legally obligated to pay or for which the
Registrant is required to indemnify its directors and officers.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         The exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement are as
follows:

EXHIBIT
NUMBER               DESCRIPTION
------               -----------

4.1        --         Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
                      Registrant, as amended, (incorporated by reference to the
                      Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No.
                      333-03249)).

4.2        --         Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to
                      the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                      year ended December 31, 1995).

4.3        --         Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by
                      reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                      Form 8-A filed with the Commission on November 19, 1992).

5.1        --         Opinion of Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.

10.1       --         Amendments to the Wackenhut Corporation Key Employee
                      Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan.*

23.1       --         Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.*

23.2       --         Consent of Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A. (included
                      in opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).*

24.1       --         Powers of Attorney -- included as part of the signature
                      page hereto.*

---------
* Filed herewith.

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         A.       (1)      To file, during any period in which offers or sales
                           are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
                           Registration Statement:

                           (i)      To include any prospectus required by
                                    Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.

                                      II-3
6

                           (ii)     To reflect in the Prospectus any facts or
                                    events arising after the effective date of
                                    the Registration Statement (or the most
                                    recent post-effective amendment thereof)
                                    which, individually or in the aggregate,
                                    represent a fundamental change in the
                                    information set fort in the Registration
                                    Statement; and

                           (iii)    To include any material information with
                                    respect to the plan of distribution not
                                    previously disclosed in the Registration
                                    Statement or any material change to such
                                    information in the Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed or furnished to the Commission
by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

                  (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability
                           under the Securities Act, each such post-effective
                           amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
                           statement relating to the securities offered herein,
                           and the offering of such securities at that time
                           shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
                           thereof.

                  (3)      To remove from registration by means of a
                           post-effective amendment any of the securities being
                           registered which remain unsold at the termination of
                           the offering.

         B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and
is, therefore unenforceable in the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by; such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy and as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-4
7

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf of the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the city of Palm Beach Gardens, state of Florida, on the 24th day
of July, 2001.

                                      THE WACKENHUT CORPORATION

                                      By: /s/ PHILIP L. MASLOWE
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         PHILIP L. MASLOWE
                                         Executive Vice President and
                                         Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Philip L. Maslowe and Juan D. Miyar, and
each of them, as true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
foregoing, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue thereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in their
capacities on July 24, 2001.
SIGNATURE                                                    TITLE
                     ---------                                                    -----
/s/ RICHARD R. WACKENHUT                                        Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
-------------------------------------------------               Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
RICHARD R. WACKENHUT

/s/ PHILIP L. MASLOWE                                           Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
-------------------------------------------------               and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)
PHILIP L. MASLOWE

/s/ JUAN D. MIYAR                                               Vice President Corporate Controller (Principal
-------------------------------------------------               Accounting Officer)
JUAN D. MIYAR

/s/ JULIUS R. BECTON, JR.                                       Director
-------------------------------------------------
JULIUS R. BECTON, JR.
II-5
8
SIGNATURE                                  TITLE
                     ---------                                  -----
/s/ ALAN B. BERNSTEIN                                           Director
-------------------------------------------------
ALAN B. BERNSTEIN

/s/ CARROLL A. CAMPBELL                                         Director
-------------------------------------------------
CARROLL A. CAMPBELL

/s/ BENJAMIN CIVILETTI                                          Director
-------------------------------------------------
BENJAMIN CIVILETTI

/s/ ANNE N. FOREMAN                                             Director
-------------------------------------------------
ANNE N. FOREMAN

/s/ EDWARD L. HENNESSY, JR.                                     Director
-------------------------------------------------
EDWARD L. HENNESSY, JR.

/s/ PAUL X. KELLEY                                              Director
-------------------------------------------------
PAUL X. KELLEY

/s/ NANCY CLARK REYNOLDS                                        Director
-------------------------------------------------
NANCY CLARK REYNOLDS

/s/ JOHN RUFFLE                                                 Director
-------------------------------------------------
JOHN RUFFLE

/s/ THOMAS P. STAFFORD                                          Director
-------------------------------------------------
THOMAS P. STAFFORD

/s/ GEORGE R. WACKENHUT                                         Director
-------------------------------------------------
GEORGE R. WACKENHUT
II-6
9
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NUMBER        DESCRIPTION
--------------        -----------
4.1             --    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
                      Registrant, as amended, (incorporated by reference to the
                      Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-2 -- File
                      No. 333-03249).

4.2             --    Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to
                      the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                      year ended December 31, 1995).

4.3             --    Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by
                      reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                      Form 8-A filed with the Commission on November 19, 1992).

5.1             --    Opinion of Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.*

10.1            --    Amendments to the Wackenhut Corporation Key Employee
                      Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan.*

23.1            --    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.*

23.2            --    Consent of Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A. (included
                      in opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).*

24.1            --    Powers of Attorney -- included as part of the signature
                      page hereto.*

-----------------
*Filed herewith.

                                      II-7