Before Your First Visit to FCI Allenwood: A Practical Checklist

Before you book time off work or start a long drive, confirm your loved one is actually at FCI Allenwood. Transfers happen - sometimes for programs, sometimes for other reasons. Show up at the wrong facility and you've wasted the trip.

Once you've confirmed placement, call the facility to make sure visits are running on your planned day. Schedules change. A quick phone call beats arriving to find the visiting room closed.

You won't get in unless you're on the inmate's approved visiting list. Confirm your status before you travel - especially for a first visit or if it's been a while. Getting turned away at the door after a long trip is no fun.

What to Bring and Not

• ✓ A valid, government-issued photo ID
• ✓ Leave prohibited items behind (including weapons, explosives, drugs, intoxicants, currency, cameras of any type, recording equipment, telephones, radios, pagers, and other electronic devices)

Dress conservatively. Staff can deny entry if they consider your outfit inappropriate, provocative, or revealing. When in doubt, think "family gathering" rather than "night out." Simple, modest clothing keeps your visit from ending before it starts.

Plan your transportation and budget assuming you're covering everything yourself. There's no government reimbursement for travel to FCI Allenwood. Map out your route and costs before committing to a date.

FCI Allenwood generally offers visiting hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, with some weekday hours too. But don't assume - exact days and times vary. Verify the current schedule with the facility before you go.