The Dress Code for Visiting Colorado Prisons: What 'No Shorter Than the Top of the Knee' Really Means

Pants must be worn "in the manner intended" - no sagging. The waistband and seat should sit at your waist and hips, not hanging low. Even if everything else checks out, sagging pants can get you stopped at the door.

"No shorter than the top of the knee while standing" means exactly that - where the hem falls when you're upright, not walking or sitting. If the bottom edge of your skirt or dress lands at or below the top of your kneecap when you stand normally, you're good. If it rides above that point while standing still, expect to be turned away.

Your top can't expose cleavage, your back, or your midriff at any time - standing, sitting, or bending. That "at any time" part trips people up. A shirt that looks fine in the mirror can shift when you sit down, lean forward, or reach for something. If your top is low-cut, backless, cropped, or likely to gap as you move, swap it for something with more coverage.

For video visits, nudity of any kind is prohibited. And don't assume someone can pop in on camera for a quick hello - every person who appears must be an approved visitor on the incarcerated person's visiting list. If you're doing a visit from home, set expectations ahead of time about who will be on screen.

• ✓ Make sure children are fully clothed for the entire video visit.
• ✓ Do a quick check before the call starts (and again if a child changes clothes or comes back into the room).
• ✓ Keep a blanket, towel, or extra shirt nearby in case you need to cover up immediately.
• ✓ If you can’t keep a child fully clothed and on-screen appropriately, end the visit and reschedule rather than risking termination.

Why these rules? Staff are managing safety, screening, and order - clothing is one of the first things they can control consistently. Pants worn properly and tops that stay fully covering prevent accidental exposure during routine movement. The knee-length standard for skirts and dresses works the same way: it's a clear baseline that's easy to check at the entrance and avoids clothing that shifts into "too revealing" territory once you're seated.

• ✓ Jeans or other pants worn at the waist (no sagging)
• ✓ A skirt or dress with a hem that hits at the top of the kneecap or lower while you’re standing
• ✓ A top that keeps cleavage covered and doesn’t expose your back or midriff when you sit or bend
• ✓ An outfit you can move in (sit, stand, lean forward) without any skin showing that the rules prohibit

Violate the dress code and your visit can be terminated on the spot. After an administrative review, Colorado DOC can suspend a visitor for 30 days for a first violation, 90 days for a second, and one year for a third. If you're on the fence about an outfit, changing before you leave beats losing the visit - or risking a suspension.