Free tool · Visiting
What to wear to a federal prison visit
FCI McKean
Official rules (PDF) En español (PDF)
| Skirts and dresses | Skirts and dresses must cover the knees (0 inches above). |
|---|---|
| Shorts | No shorts. |
| Colors to avoid | No khaki, tan, beige, brown, or light brown clothing. No green fatigues. No grey sweat pants or shirts (attachment only). |
| Leggings, spandex | No spandex, yoga pants, leggings, or jeggings. No tight-fitting pants; skirts/dresses not form fitting. |
| 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. No military clothing like field jackets, fatigues, or BDUs. |
| Shoes | Open-toe shoes only with a heel strap. No flip-flop style shoes without a heel strap. |
| Children | Not in the written rules. |
All 28 rules, in the BOP's own words
Length and fit
- Skirts and dresses must cover the knees (0 inches above).
must cover the knees.
- No shorts.
No shorts are considered appropriate apparel and will not be
- No tank tops, sleeveless, or muscle shirts; shoulders covered.
No tank top, tube top, strapless/sleeveless top shirts, or muscle
- No low-cut blouses.
• No low-cut blouses
- No midriff tops.
No midriff tops, strapless garments, garments which expose private
- No strapless garments or tube tops.
No midriff tops, strapless garments, garments which expose private
- No see-through clothing.
parts of the body or see-through clothing.
- No tight-fitting pants; skirts/dresses not form fitting.
Skirts and dresses will be permitted; however, must not be form fitting and
- No spandex, yoga pants, leggings, or jeggings.
No pants with holes, spandex, or tight fitting (e.g., yoga pants,
- No pants with holes.
No pants with holes, spandex, or tight fitting (e.g., yoga pants,
- No sweatpants or sweatshirts.
• No sweatpants or sweatshirts
Colors and uniforms
- No khaki, tan, beige, brown, or light brown clothing.
similarly colored (brown, light brown, beige, khaki, or tan) will not be
- No green fatigues.
No military clothing (i.e., field jackets, camouflage, khaki, green
- No grey sweat pants or shirts (attachment only).
No grey colored sweat pants or shirts
- No camouflage.
No military clothing (i.e., field jackets, camouflage, khaki, green
- No military clothing like field jackets, fatigues, or BDUs.
No military clothing (i.e., field jackets, camouflage, khaki, green
Bras, underwear and metal
- All visitors wear undergarments; 16+ must cover breast/chest.
Undergarments will be worn by all visitors.
- No watches, Fitbits, or smart accessories.
No watches, Fitbits, or otherwise considered “smart” accessories
Shoes
- Open-toe shoes only with a heel strap.
(for safety reasons, a strap around the heel must be present). All
- No flip-flop style shoes without a heel strap.
No flip-flop style/open toe shoes without a strap around the heel
Hats, hoods and coats
- No ball caps, hats, bandanas, sweat bands, or do-rags.
caps, hats, bandanas, sweat bands, do-rags, or any other type of
- Kufis, yarmulkes, turbans, crowns, headbands, religious head wraps allowed.
head gear identified as the following: kufis, yarmulkes, turbans,
- No coats or sweatshirts with hoods.
No coats with hoods or sweatshirts with hoods
Everything else
- No profane, sexually explicit, or inappropriate slogans.
No profane, sexually explicit, or inappropriate slogans on clothing
- No scarves, gloves, or sunglasses.
• No scarves or gloves
- No stilettos.
• No silettos
- Avoid suggestive, provocative and revealing clothing.
All visitors will be dressed appropriately and avoid suggestive, provocative
If they say no
- IDO or Operations Lieutenant may deny visit for inappropriate clothing.
Lieutenant may deny a visit based on inappropriate or provocative
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.