Surviving
the Feds
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Free tool · Visiting

What to wear to a federal prison visit

FCI McKean

Rules dated August 25, 2025 (1 year old)

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

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.