Visiting at FCI Mendota: How Much Time You Can Get and What Physical Contact Is Allowed
Planning a visit to FCI Mendota? Two questions come up most: how much time will you actually get, and what physical contact is allowed? Here's what Bureau of Prisons rules guarantee—and where the facility can still set limits.
Federal rules guarantee at least four hours of visiting time per month. Many facilities offer more, but the Warden has authority to set limits when needed. That might mean shorter visits or fewer visitors in the room at once - usually to prevent overcrowding or address security concerns.
Federal institutions like FCI Mendota typically offer visiting on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Some also have weekday hours. The exact schedule varies by facility and sometimes by the person you're visiting. Weekends fill up fast, so availability can be tighter than you'd expect.
Tip: Call FCI Mendota before you go to confirm the visit will be permitted - especially if your loved one was recently transferred, since their visiting list may not be set up yet.
Physical contact is limited - but it's not "no contact." Generally, handshakes, hugs, and kisses (in good taste) are allowed at the start and end of your visit. During the visit, staff may restrict contact for security reasons, including preventing contraband and keeping the room orderly.
Practical Steps
- ✓ Confirm you’re on your loved one’s approved visiting list and that you’ve been cleared by the BOP before you make the trip.
- ✓ Call FCI Mendota ahead of time to make sure visiting will be permitted, especially after a transfer when a visiting list may not yet exist.
- ✓ Follow the BOP dress code and keep it conservative; items that are generally not permitted include revealing shorts, halter tops, bathing suits, see-through garments, crop tops, miniskirts, hats or caps, and clothing that resembles inmate uniforms (like khaki or green military-type clothing).
Weekends and holidays fill up quickly and may have different hours than weekday visits. Treat the posted schedule as a starting point. Exact visiting hours can vary by facility and by inmate, so confirm before you go.
If visits are shortened, capped, or not allowed when you arrive, it's usually because the Warden has imposed local restrictions for overcrowding or security. Your next step: call the facility and ask what's required for your visit to happen. This is especially important after a transfer - someone's visiting list may not be set up yet, and you don't want to waste a trip.
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