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What to wear to a federal prison visit

FCI Allenwood Medium

Rules dated March 15, 2024 (2 years old)

2 years old. Ask your loved one to check the copy posted in the unit before you drive.

Skirts and dresses Shorts, skirts, dresses no more than one inch above the knee, including slits.
Shorts Not in the written rules.
Colors to avoid No khaki-like colors: brown, light brown, beige, khaki, tan. No green clothing resembling inmate jackets. No grey sweat pants or shirts.
Leggings, spandex No tight-fitting or stretch clothing.
Bras and metal Underwire bras may set off detector and need removal. Female visitors must wear a bra.
Camouflage, military No camouflage clothing.
Shoes No open-toe shoes or open-back slip-on shoes. No flip-flop style shoes.
Children Not in the written rules.
All 29 rules, in the BOP's own words

Length and fit

  • Shorts, skirts, dresses no more than one inch above the knee, including slits.Shorts, skirts, and dresses will be at a maximum of no more than one inch above the knee to include any slits in the dresses or skirts.
  • No tank tops, muscle or sleeveless shirts; shoulders must be covered.No tank tops/ muscle shirts / sleeveless shirts - All shirts and blouses must cover the shoulders (both male/female)
  • No revealing or low-cut shirts.No revealing shirts, low cut shirts, halter tops, or shirts revealing the mid-drift
  • No shirts revealing the midriff.shirts revealing the mid-drift
  • No halter tops.No revealing shirts, low cut shirts, halter tops,
  • No see-through clothing; revealing white clothing counts as see-through.No see-through clothing (if white-colored clothing is revealing, it will be considered see-through)
  • No tight-fitting or stretch clothing.No tight-fitting or stretch clothing
  • No torn or ripped clothing.No torn or ripped clothing
  • No hoodies, athletic or sweat pants, or jogging shorts.No hoodies, athletic or sweat pants, jogging shorts.

Colors and uniforms

  • No khaki-like colors: brown, light brown, beige, khaki, tan.Any visitor wearing clothes similarly-colored (brown, light brown, beige, khaki, tan, or green) will not be allowed to enter the visiting room.
  • No green clothing resembling inmate jackets.resembles the khaki-colored inmate uniform or green inmate jackets.
  • No grey sweat pants or shirts.No grey colored sweat pants or shirts
  • No camouflage clothing.No camouflage type clothing

Bras, underwear and metal

  • Female visitors must wear a bra.All female visitors must wear undergarments (bra).
  • Undergarments are required for admission.UNDERGARMENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION.
  • Underwire bras may set off detector and need removal.Undergarments containing metal (i.e. under wire bra) could activate the metal detector and may need to be removed;
  • No watches of any kind.No watches of any kind

Shoes

  • No open-toe shoes or open-back slip-on shoes.No flip-flop style/ open toe shoes / open back slip on shoes
  • No flip-flop style shoes.No flip-flop style/ open toe shoes

Hats, hoods and coats

  • No ball caps, hats, bandanas, sweat bands, do-rags or other head gear.No ball caps, hats, bandanas, sweat bands, do-rags, or any other type of head gear is authorized
  • Approved religious headwear allowed; may need removal for screening or ID.Approved religious headwear may be worn but may require removal to successfully clear the walk-through metal detector
  • No hooded shirts or jackets.No hooded shirts or jackets
  • Prohibited items may not be worn under coats or jackets.The wearing of prohibited clothing items under coats or jackets is also prohibited.

Everything else

  • No club, gang or organization symbols; no pro sports team items.The wearing of any type of club, gang, or other organization symbols is strictly prohibited.
  • No wrap-around or button up/down skirts.No wrap-around skirts
  • No sunglasses or scarves.No sunglasses e No scarfs
  • No plain white T-shirt as the only shirt.Visitors will not be allowed to wear plain white T-shirts as their only shirt.

If they say no

  • Not following the dress code means the visit is disallowed.Failure of visitors to recognize and adhere to these requirements will be reason to disallow the visit.
  • Operations Lieutenant/Duty Officer may bar other items of poor taste.Any other item of clothing which is determined by the Operations Lieutenant and/or the Complex Duty Officer to be of poor taste,

What almost every prison bans

An outfit that passes almost everywhere: jeans or slacks with no holes, a plain t-shirt with sleeves (no words, not khaki or green), closed-toe shoes, a sports bra, no hat.

From each prison's visiting rules on bop.gov, checked November 2, 2026. Turned away for something not in the rules? Tell us.