What to Wear (and What Not to Wear) When Visiting Lake Erie Correctional
Dress code problems are one of the fastest ways to get held up at the door—or turned away entirely. Here's a quick checklist to help you pick an outfit that clears screening and meets ODRC's visitor attire rules for Lake Erie Correctional.
Pre Visit Checklist
- ✓ Include a legible copy of your photo ID with your visiting application.
- ✓ Schedule your visit online at ohdoc.gtlvisitme.com.
- ✓ Don’t register with ViaPath before ODRC approves your visitor application - registering early can delay your ViaPath approval.
- ✓ Wear appropriate undergarments (bra, slip, and underwear).
- ✓ Plan to keep your clothing on for the entire visit - only appropriate outerwear like a coat or gloves can be removed/added as needed.
- ✓ Don’t carry extra clothing into the visit.
- ✓ Skip see-through items and anything torn or ripped (including holes that show skin).
- ✓ Avoid halter tops, tube tops, cropped tops, tank tops, and muscle shirts.
- ✓ Make sure your outfit doesn’t expose undergarments.
- ✓ Check hems: skirts, dresses, skorts, shorts, and culottes must be mid-knee or longer (including any slit).
If you have a question about visitation before you leave, email LakeErieVisitation@corecivic.com.
Even when your outfit meets the dress code, metal can slow you down at the entrance. ODRC warns that these common items may trigger metal detectors: hairpins, underwire bras, certain boots and shoes, clothing with multiple zippers, and excessive jewelry. Want to avoid extra screening? Build your outfit around simple pieces - fewer metal parts, minimal accessories, and shoes without hidden hardware. It can mean the difference between walking in smoothly and getting stuck troubleshooting the detector.
- ✓ Choose hair ties or clips without metal; avoid hairpins if you can.
- ✓ Consider a non-underwire bra to reduce the chance of a detector alert.
- ✓ Keep jewelry minimal to speed up screening.
Note: All visitors are subject to search upon entry, and setting off the metal detector can mean additional screening and delays.
ODRC spells out several clothing categories that will get your visit stopped before it starts. See-through clothing isn't allowed - that includes torn or ripped jeans and anything with holes where skin shows through. Up top, skip the halter tops, tube tops, cropped tops, tank tops, and muscle shirts. Watch out for outfits that look fine in the mirror but shift when you move. If your clothing exposes undergarments at any point - bending, sitting, reaching - it's considered prohibited.
Hem length trips people up more than you'd expect. Skirts, dresses, skorts, shorts, and culottes (including any hem or split) can't be above mid-knee. Do a quick check at home: stand, sit, take a few steps. If the hem rides up above mid-knee, swap it out now rather than risk a wasted drive.
Reminder: Wear appropriate undergarments, keep your attire on for the duration of the visit (except appropriate outerwear like a coat or gloves), and don’t carry additional clothing into the visiting area.
- Expect screening at the door - all visitors are subject to search upon entry, so plan for the possibility of extra screening if something triggers a concern.
- Email for clarification - if you need an answer about visitation requirements after a denied entry, contact LakeErieVisitation@corecivic.com.
Need to try again? Reschedule your visit through ohdoc.gtlvisitme.com. One thing to note: if you're still waiting to be approved as a visitor, hold off on registering with ViaPath until ODRC approves your application. Registering too early can actually delay your ViaPath approval.
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