Free tool · Visiting
What to wear to a federal prison visit
FCI Englewood
Official rules (PDF) No Spanish version posted
5 years old. Ask your loved one to check the copy posted in the unit before you drive.
These rules contradict themselves. When two rules disagree, dress by the stricter one.
| Skirts and dresses | Dresses (and slits) must reach back of knee: 0 inches above. |
|---|---|
| Shorts | Shorts no higher than three inches above the knee. |
| Colors to avoid | No solid khaki clothing. No solid green clothing. No orange clothing. No grey clothing or grey sweat suits. No solid white or brown; nothing resembling staff or inmate uniforms. |
| Leggings, spandex | No spandex, tights, yoga pants, or leggings. No skin-tight or figure hugging clothing. |
| Bras and metal | Not in the written rules. Some prisons ban underwire bras anyway, and the penalty can be more than being sent home. Wear a sports bra or a bra with no wire. |
| Camouflage, military | No camouflage clothing of any color. No military/tactical BDU style clothing. |
| Shoes | Shoes required, closed toe with a backing; heels max two inches. No flip flops, sandals, or Croc style footwear. |
| Children | No exceptions: children follow the same restrictions, including footwear. |
All 32 rules, in the BOP's own words
Length and fit
- Dresses (and slits) must reach back of knee: 0 inches above.
the length of the dress will not be shorter than the natural break of the wearer's leg, at the back of the knee.
- Shorts no higher than three inches above the knee.
Shorts must be no higher than three inches above the
- No tank tops or cap sleeves.
see-through/mesh clothing, tube tops, tank tops,
- No low-cut or V-neck tops; necklines within two inches of neck base.
Necklines must be within two inches of the notch/base of the neck.
- No crop tops.
tops, halter tops, crop tops, cap sleeves, backless
- No tube tops, halter tops, or backless clothing.
tops, halter tops, crop tops, cap sleeves, backless
- No see-through or mesh clothing.
includes; see-through/mesh clothing, tube tops, tank
- No skin-tight or figure hugging clothing.
revealing nature (e.g., skin-tight, figure hugging clothing, etc.).
- No spandex, tights, yoga pants, or leggings.
suits, break away pants, spandex, tights yoga pants, leggings,
- No swim suits.
clothing, and/or swim suits.
- No pajamas.
leggings, pajamas or any apparel of a suggestive or
- No sweat suits or break away pants.
No sweat suits, break away pants, spandex, tights yoga pants,
Colors and uniforms
- No solid khaki clothing.
solid khaki, green, white, orange , grey, or brown colored clothing.
- No solid green clothing.
solid khaki, green, white, orange , grey, or brown colored clothing.
- No orange clothing.
solid khaki, green, white, orange , grey, or brown colored clothing.
- No grey clothing or grey sweat suits.
solid khaki, green, white, orange , grey, or brown colored clothing. No grey sweat
- No solid white or brown; nothing resembling staff or inmate uniforms.
that resembles staff or inmate uniforms.
- No camouflage clothing of any color.
Visitors are prohibited from wearing camouflage clothing (of any color),
- No military/tactical BDU style clothing.
suits, military/tactical BDU style or any clothing
Bras, underwear and metal
- Appropriate undergarments required and must not be visible.
Appropriate undergarments are required and should not be visible.
- No watches or sports bands; jewelry kept to a minimum.
Jewelry must be kept to a minimum.
Shoes
- Shoes required, closed toe with a backing; heels max two inches.
Shoes must be closed toe and have a backing.
- No flip flops, sandals, or Croc style footwear.
No flip flops, sandals or "Croc" style footwear of any kind will be allowed.
Hats, hoods and coats
- No hoodies (Attachment A).
ba c k_ess c l othing, hoodies, spo rts
- No inclement weather attire in the visiting area.
Inclement weather attire will not be permitted within the visiting area.
Children
- No exceptions: children follow the same restrictions, including footwear.
Children are expected to be dressed with the same restrictions as adults.
Everything else
- No shirts with objectionable, gang, profane, obscene, or drug/alcohol images.
which depicts the following: controversial and/or objectionable, gang related, profanity, obscene and/or inappropriate, drug and/or alcohol related.
- No sports jerseys.
Sports Jersey's will not be permitted.
- No clothing with jewels or beading that trips metal detector.
Clothing with excessive detail (jewels, beading, etc ... ) that interferes with the metal detector will not be permitted.
- No sundresses.
Sundresses are not permitted.
If they say no
- Visits may be denied for noncompliance or provocative attire.
Visits may be denied by the Duty Officer or Operations Lieutenant for noncompliance.
- Questionable attire referred to Operations Lieutenant.
Any attire in question will be referred to the Operations Lieutenant for
What almost every prison bans
- Short skirts and dresses (each prison sets its own length)
- Sleeveless tops
- See-through or mesh clothing
- Shorts (kids are often an exception)
- Hats (religious head coverings usually allowed)
- Khaki, or anything like the inmate uniform
- Open-toe shoes
- Backless, strapless or halter tops
- Tight or form-fitting clothing
- Sweatpants and sweatshirts
- Leggings and spandex
- Flip-flops and sandals
- Offensive words, gang colors or symbols
- Low-cut tops
- Camouflage
- Anything showing the stomach
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 Scooter.