What to expect during federal prison visiting: minimum hours, weekend schedules, and warden discretion

Under Bureau of Prisons visiting rules, each inmate must be allowed a minimum of four hours of visiting time per month. Think of that as the floor, not a guarantee of a convenient or predictable schedule. The institution decides how those hours are spread across the month, and visits can be shaped by staffing, space, and security needs.

Federal institutions are required to offer visiting hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. That doesn't mean you can visit all day every weekend, or that every housing unit follows the same rotation. The exact hours, any rotation system, and holiday handling are all set locally. The schedule at one facility can look completely different from another.

The Warden is responsible for developing the institution's visiting procedures, and those procedures have to be consistent with the BOP's visiting rule. This is why you'll hear people mention "local policy" or an "institution supplement." The core rule is system-wide, but the day-to-day instructions you need to follow come from the facility itself.

The Warden can also restrict visiting when necessary to maintain security and good order at the institution. In practice, that's why you may run into limits or sudden changes that feel strict, even when you're doing everything right. These restrictions help the facility manage safety, especially when there's a need for tighter control over movement, supervision, or crowding in visiting areas.

• ✓ The Warden develops the institution’s visiting procedures, and they must follow the BOP visiting rule.
• ✓ At a minimum, the institution must have visiting hours established on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
• ✓ Each inmate must be allowed at least four hours of visiting time per month.
• ✓ The Warden may restrict visiting when needed for the security and good order of the institution.

1. Confirm the current visiting schedule before you travel. Use the institution’s posted guidance or call the facility directly so you are not relying on old information.
2. Ask how weekends and holidays are handled. The institution must establish hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, but the specific time blocks and any holiday adjustments are local decisions.
3. Check for local limits that could affect your trip. If the institution is restricting visits for security or order, it can change what’s possible on a given day.
4. Have a backup plan. Even when you plan carefully, visiting can be impacted by operational needs, so build in extra time and flexibility.