Penmate Inmate Support Guides
Visitation

What Happens When You Arrive for a Visit at FCI Lompoc: Check-In, Searches, and Consent

Visiting at FCI Lompoc starts with screening and search consent. Knowing what you're agreeing to ahead of time makes the process much less stressful.

• 2 min read Verified from official sources

When you arrive at FCI Lompoc, you'll see a Bureau of Prisons visitor notification form explaining that staff may search you and your belongings. Here's what that covers: bags, boxes, vehicles (including containers inside), and outerwear like jackets or coats. These searches can happen before you enter or anytime while you're on Bureau grounds.

At FCI Lompoc, consent to search is implied. By entering (or even attempting to enter) Bureau grounds, you're agreeing to be searched according to Bureau policy and federal regulations in 28 CFR Part 511. Simply put: stepping onto the property means you've agreed to the search process for yourself and anything you bring.

Refusal and entry: If you refuse to be searched, you may be prohibited from entering Bureau grounds or facilities.

Types of Searches and Screening

  • ✓ You may be searched before you enter, or while you are on or inside Bureau grounds or facilities.
  • ✓ Your bags can be searched.
  • ✓ Your boxes or other containers can be searched.
  • ✓ Your vehicle can be searched.
  • ✓ Containers inside your vehicle can be searched.
  • ✓ Jackets, coats, and similar outerwear can be searched.
  1. Plan for a search before you ever get inside. Assume anything you bring (including your vehicle and containers in it) could be searched.
  2. Bring as little as possible. Fewer bags, boxes, and extra layers means fewer items that may need to be checked.
  3. Give yourself extra time on visiting days. BOP facilities generally have visiting hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and those are popular times. Arriving early helps you handle screening without feeling rushed.
  4. Decide ahead of time if you can consent. Entering or attempting to enter counts as implied consent to be searched. If you are not comfortable with that, it is better to decide before you arrive at the entrance process.

If you disagree with a search or how it's being handled, stay calm and practical. Ask what's required to proceed, and get the name of the staff member you spoke with. Having that information makes follow-up easier if you need it later.

For on-the-ground decisions (like whether you can enter after a screening issue), ask staff at the facility who to contact for clarification. For general questions or comments about the Bureau of Prisons (not facility operations), you can reach the BOP Central Office at 320 First St., NW Washington, DC 20534, or call (202) 307-3198.

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