Free tool · Visiting
What to wear to a federal prison visit
FCI Allenwood Medium
Official rules (PDF) En español (PDF)
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
- 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 us.