What to Expect When You Arrive at Anamosa: Security Screening and Dress Code
Your visit can go smoothly if you know what happens at the door. At Anamosa, expect security screening and a dress code check before you're allowed into the visiting room.
Plan on going through a search when you arrive at Anamosa. Searches are standard for all visitors - Iowa Department of Corrections policy requires them to keep contraband out and the facility safe. If you don't follow the visitation policy during screening, you won't make it into the visiting room.
Note: If you refuse to comply with entrance screening requirements, you’ll be denied entry to the visiting room.
Security screening involves more than one step. Staff may use different search methods at the entrance, all aimed at keeping contraband out so visits can happen safely.
- ✓ Pat-down search - follow staff directions and keep your hands visible.
- ✓ Metal detector - remove anything that could set it off before you walk through.
- ✓ Electronic ion scanner - you may be asked to submit to this type of screening.
- ✓ Other electronic devices - staff may use additional tools as part of the search.
- ✓ Visual searches - you may be asked to show items or adjust/remove certain outer layers so staff can visually confirm what you’re wearing.
Dress Code Requirements
- ✓ Arrive properly attired - you must be appropriately dressed before entering the correctional setting.
- ✓ Wear shoes - all visitors are required to have shoes on.
- ✓ Be ready to remove outerwear - you may be required to take off items like coats, hats, gloves, or sunglasses for the duration of the visit.
- ✓ Bring prescription verification if you medically need sunglasses - a medical need must be verified by a prescription.
- ✓ Miniskirts
- ✓ Shorts that are above the knee
- ✓ Muscle shirts
- ✓ See-through clothing
- ✓ Halter tops
- ✓ Clothing with slogans, pictures, or words intended to deprecate race, sex, or cultural values
What you wear matters - the dress code is enforced at the door. Anamosa requires visitors to be properly dressed and wearing shoes. Above-the-knee shorts, see-through clothing, and halter tops can get you turned away. When in doubt, go conservative: skip anything with slogans or images that could be seen as demeaning toward race, sex, or cultural values. One more thing - you may need to remove coats, hats, gloves, or sunglasses during the visit, so dress comfortably without relying on outer layers.
Refuse the search or show up in clothes that don't meet the dress code? You'll be denied entry. There's no workaround - staff enforce these rules at the door.
- Confirm you can comply with screening - if you can’t complete the required search process, you won’t be allowed into the visiting room.
- Fix what you can right away - if the issue is clothing or an outerwear item, change or remove it if you’re able to do so.
- Reschedule your visit - if you can’t correct the issue that day, plan to schedule another time.
- Consider a video visit - in-person and video visits are scheduled through the Ameelio app, so you may be able to switch to a video option when it fits your situation.
Quick Checklist
- ✓ Expect to be searched at the entrance.
- ✓ Wear shoes and arrive properly attired.
- ✓ Avoid miniskirts, above-the-knee shorts, muscle shirts, see-through clothing, and halter tops.
- ✓ Don’t wear clothing with slogans/pictures/words intended to deprecate race, sex, or cultural values.
- ✓ Be prepared to remove outerwear (coats, hats, gloves, sunglasses) for the duration of the visit.
- ✓ If you need sunglasses for a medical reason, bring prescription verification.
- ✓ If you can’t make an in-person visit work, remember that in-person and video visits are scheduled through the Ameelio app.
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