Free tool · Visiting
What to wear to a federal prison visit
FCI Estill
13 years old. Ask your loved one to check the copy posted in the unit before you drive.
| Skirts and dresses | Skirts, including slits, must extend below the knees. |
|---|---|
| Shorts | No shorts of any type; children under 10 may wear shorts. |
| Colors to avoid | No khaki button-down shirts or trousers like inmate issue (FCI). No green clothing like inmate issue (camp visiting room). |
| Leggings, spandex | No spandex tops or bottoms. No figure- or form-fitting (tight) clothing. |
| Bras and metal | No braless visitors. |
| Camouflage, military | No camouflage/combat military clothing. No combat military type clothing. |
| Shoes | Not in the written rules. |
| Children | Children under 10 may wear shorts; list applies to adult-bodied visitors. |
All 21 rules, in the BOP's own words
Length and fit
- Skirts, including slits, must extend below the knees.
All skirts, including splits in front, side or back, must extend below the knees
- No shorts of any type; children under 10 may wear shorts.
shorts of any type (children under the age of 10 may wear shorts);
- No sleeveless clothing or tank tops.
backless clothing; sleeveless clothing;
- No low-cut clothing.
Low-cut or see-through clothing;
- No bare midriffs.
braless; bare midriffs;
- No tube tops or backless clothing.
tube or tank tops; backless clothing;
- No see-through clothing.
see-through clothing; tube or tank tops;
- No figure- or form-fitting (tight) clothing.
figure- or form-fitting (tight) clothing of any type;
- No spandex tops or bottoms.
spandex type tops or bottoms;
- No bathing suits regardless of age.
bathing suits (bathing suits are not permitted regardless of age);
- No sweat pants or wind pants.
sweat pants; wind pants;
Colors and uniforms
- No khaki button-down shirts or trousers like inmate issue (FCI).
khaki-type/colored button-down shirts;
- No green clothing like inmate issue (camp visiting room).
green-colored clothing similar to institution-issued clothing (SPC
- No camouflage/combat military clothing.
camouflage/combat military type clothing;
- No combat military type clothing.
camouflage/combat military type clothing;
Bras, underwear and metal
- No braless visitors.
wear shorts); braless; bare midriffs;
Hats, hoods and coats
- No hats, hair wraps or scarves.
Hats, hair wraps, and scarves, with the exception of the “hijab,” are not permitted inside the institution.
- Hijab allowed.
with the exception of the “hijab,”
Children
- Children under 10 may wear shorts; list applies to adult-bodied visitors.
children under the age of 10 may wear shorts
Everything else
- No offensive logos, quotes or lettering.
inappropriate logos, quotes or lettering on clothing that is offensive;
If they say no
- Duty officer consulted before denying entry for attire.
The duty officer will be consulted prior to denying a visitor's entry into the institution because of his/her attire.
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.