What Not to Wear to Visit Someone in Erie County Jails (and why sneakers help)
Want to avoid getting turned away at the door? Dress for screening first. At Erie County Jail visits, your shoes and what you carry can matter just as much as your outfit.
Every visitor has to clear a metal detector before entering the visiting room. That single step is why simple clothing and simple footwear make such a difference. Anything that slows screening creates a delay. On a busy day, that delay can mean the difference between starting your visit on time and not getting in at all.
Tip: Wear sneakers. They're less likely to set off the metal detector, which keeps the line moving and gets you in faster.
If you're dropping off or exchanging court clothing (for the Holding Center or the Correctional Facility), plan around the set windows. Court clothing drop-off and exchange runs Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 11:15 AM and 12:30 PM to 2:15 PM. Show up outside those hours and you'll be turned away.
Court clothing rule: Only two outfits are allowed for trial, and they must be non-orange.
Separate from what you wear to visit, there are strict rules for clothing sent in as a package for an incarcerated person. Males are allowed one incoming package per stay, and everything must be white with no logos: 6 pairs of socks, 6 briefs, and 6 T-shirts (no pockets). Getting these details right matters. Items that don't meet the requirements may not be accepted.
For females, the rule is also one package per stay, white only, no logos. Allowed items are 3 bras (no bones or underwires), 6 panties, 6 T-shirts, and 6 socks. This isn't about what you wear to a visit. It's about what an incarcerated person can receive as property. But it comes up often when families are preparing for court dates or longer stays.
ID Requirements
- ✓ State Driver’s License
- ✓ State Non-Driver’s License
- ✓ Military Identification Card
- ✓ Valid Passport or Passport Card
- ✓ Social Services Card with picture
Quick Checklist
- ✓ Wear sneakers (strongly suggested) to make metal-detector screening easier
- ✓ Bring an accepted ID (for example: state driver’s license, state non-driver ID, military ID, passport/passport card, or a Social Services card with photo)
- ✓ If you are bringing court clothing for trial, do not bring orange, and remember only two outfits are allowed
- ✓ If you are doing a court clothing drop-off/exchange, go Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 11:15 AM or 12:30 PM to 2:15 PM
Turned away during a court clothing drop-off or exchange? The quickest fix is usually timing. Come back during the Monday through Friday windows (7:00 AM to 11:15 AM and 12:30 PM to 2:15 PM) and follow the posted court-clothing limits.
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