Free tool · Visiting
What to wear to a federal prison visit
FCI Pekin
Official rules (PDF) No Spanish version posted
3 years old. Ask your loved one to check the copy posted in the unit before you drive.
| Skirts and dresses | No skirt or dress above middle of knee (0 inches); slits likewise. |
|---|---|
| Shorts | Shorts allowed only if not above middle of the knee. |
| Colors to avoid | No khaki or light brown clothing of any type. No green fatigues. |
| Leggings, spandex | No spandex or jeggings. No excessively tight-fitting clothing. |
| 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 such as field jackets or green fatigues. |
| Shoes | No open-toed shoes. |
| Children | Not in the written rules. |
All 20 rules, in the BOP's own words
Length and fit
- No skirt or dress above middle of knee (0 inches); slits likewise.
a. Miniskirts (and mini dresses) to include any skirt or dress above
- Shorts allowed only if not above middle of the knee.
b. Shorts worn above the middle of the knee.
- No sleeveless apparel or tank tops, male or female.
f. Tank tops - male or female.
- No cut-off tops or midriff-baring tops.
sweats, sleeveless, mid-drifts, jeans with holes, jeggins etc.)
- No halter tops, halter dresses, or strapless dresses/tops.
c. Halter tops or halter dresses.
- No transparent apparel.
transparent, excessively tight fitting (spandex), cut-off tops,
- No excessively tight-fitting clothing.
transparent, excessively tight fitting (spandex), cut-off tops,
- No spandex or jeggings.
transparent, excessively tight fitting (spandex), cut-off tops,
- No jeans with holes.
sweats, sleeveless, mid-drifts, jeans with holes, jeggins etc.)
- No sweats.
sweats, sleeveless, mid-drifts, jeans with holes, jeggins etc.)
Colors and uniforms
- No khaki or light brown clothing of any type.
No khaki or light brown clothing of any type will be allowed in the
- No green fatigues.
g. Military clothing (i.e., field jackets, camouflage, green fatigues).
- No camouflage.
g. Military clothing (i.e., field jackets, camouflage, green fatigues).
- No military clothing such as field jackets or green fatigues.
g. Military clothing (i.e., field jackets, camouflage, green fatigues).
Bras, underwear and metal
- Jewelry may be worn but not carried in.
h. Jewelry worn (no jewelry will be carried in).
Shoes
- No open-toed shoes.
J. No open toed shoes.
Hats, hoods and coats
- No hats or headbands.
h. No hats or headbands.
- A sweater, light jacket, or coat may be brought in.
A sweater, light jacket or coat.
Everything else
- No profane, sexually explicit, gang, or inappropriate symbols/writing on shirts.
Shirts of any kind that display profane, sexually explicit or illegal
If they say no
- Officers deny visits when clothing is not conservative or family-appropriate.
Officers are to deny visits
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.