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Free tool · Visiting

What to wear to a federal prison visit

FCI Estill

Rules dated March 2013 (13 years old) · from the prisoners' handbook; no visiting rules posted

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

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.