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What to wear to a federal prison visit

FCI Forrest City Low

Rules dated August 19, 2025 (1 year old)

Skirts and dresses Skirts below the knee standing and seated; slits no higher than knee.
Shorts No form-fitting shorts; no thigh-revealing clothing.
Colors to avoid No khaki shirt and pant combination at Medium and Low.
Leggings, spandex No stretch pants or spandex for adult visitors. No form-fitting shirts, blouses, dresses, skirts, pants or shorts.
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.
Shoes No open-toe footwear. No flip flops or sandals.
Children Not in the written rules.
All 25 rules, in the BOP's own words

Length and fit

  • Skirts below the knee standing and seated; slits no higher than knee.must be below the knee in a standing and seated
  • No form-fitting shorts; no thigh-revealing clothing.No formfitting pants or shorts . To include
  • No sleeveless or semi-short sleeve shirts; underarms must be covered.Sleeveless shirts may not be worn .
  • No tops revealing the stomach, including crop tops.No shirts , blouses , or dresses that revea l the
  • No halter tops, tops revealing the back, or backless outfits.No backless outfits .
  • No see-through material, including revealing lace.No clothing made from "see throughu material ;
  • No form-fitting shirts, blouses, dresses, skirts, pants or shorts.short sleeve shirts/blouses ; no formfitting
  • No stretch pants or spandex for adult visitors.stretch pants or spandex for adult visitors .
  • No holes in clothing.including revealing lace , and ho les in clothing .
  • No swim suits.(fl No swim suits
  • No pajama clothing.(r) No pajama clothing .
  • No sweat suits, warm-up suits, jogging suits, or athletic jerseys.No sweat suits or hooded sweat shirts , i . e .

Colors and uniforms

  • No khaki shirt and pant combination at Medium and Low.At the Medium and Low components , no khaki or
  • No camouflage clothing.No camouflage clothing .

Bras, underwear and metal

  • No wrist watches.(q) No wrist watches .

Shoes

  • No open-toe footwear.No open toe footwear , flip flops , sandals, etc .
  • No flip flops or sandals.No open toe footwear , flip flops , sandals, etc .

Hats, hoods and coats

  • No hats.No hats . Exceptions wi ll be made for traditional
  • Traditional religious headwear (kufi, yarmulke, tam) allowed.rel i gious head wear , i.e ., kufi , Yarmu lkes , tam ,
  • No hooded sweatshirts; sweaters must have no hood.No sweat suits or hooded sweat shirts , i . e .
  • No jackets, coats, gloves, scarves; light sweater without hood/pockets OK.No jackets or coats , no gloves , or scarfs . A

Everything else

  • No profane or obscene clothing.No profanity or obscene clothing .
  • No suggestive or revealing clothing; conservative dress required.Absolutely no suggestive or revealing clothing will be
  • No sunglasses.(k) No sunglasses .

If they say no

  • Admittance is up to lobby, control, visiting officers, lieutenants, IDO.visitors is up to the discretion of the Front Lobby

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.