Eastern Regional Jail dress code and scent policy: what to wear (and what will get you turned away)
Dress code is one of the easiest ways to lose a visit at Eastern Regional Jail. Do a quick self-check before you leave home—especially shoes, layers, and scent.
Keep it simple: both men and women are limited to one layer of clothing. Men can't wear shoulder-baring tops. Women should check length - if a dress, skirt, or shorts lands above your fingertips when your arms hang at your sides, pick something longer.
- ✓ Dresses, skirts, and shorts must not be shorter than the tips of your fingertips.
- ✓ Skip tight-fitting, low-cut, see-through, or mesh clothing.
- ✓ Wear a bra, and make sure your breasts, back, stomach, shoulders, behind, and legs are covered.
Specific Items
- ✓ Tight-fitting, low-cut, see-through, or mesh clothing (choose a regular-fit top and opaque pants/jeans instead).
- ✓ Clothing with decorative cutouts (go with solid fabric - no cutout shoulders, sides, or panels).
- ✓ Hoodies or other hooded items, hats, or sunglasses (swap to a plain, non-hooded shirt and leave accessories in the car).
- ✓ Open-toed shoes, flip-flops, slides, or sandals (wear closed-toe sneakers/tennis shoes or other closed-toe shoes).
Men, stick to one layer and make sure your shirt fully covers your shoulders. A basic short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirt without a hood is your safest bet. Keep it straightforward so you're not scrambling at the door.
Women, the rules focus on both coverage and length. Stick to one layer and pick bottoms that meet the fingertip-length standard. Avoid anything low-cut, tight, see-through, or mesh. You'll need to wear a bra, and your breasts, back, stomach, shoulders, behind, and legs must all be covered.
The jail also enforces a scent rule that can end your visit fast. Show up with heavy cologne, perfume, alcohol, or anything that "smells of contraband," and you won't get in. Treat scent the same way you treat the dress code: keep it minimal and neutral.
Tip: Skip heavy fragrance and alcohol-based scents before your visit. If there's any chance you'll arrive smelling like contraband, change clothes and clean up first - don't risk it.
These rules apply to kids too - especially the shoe rule. No open-toed shoes, flip-flops, slides, or sandals. Keep their clothing simple, modest, and limited to one layer.
Pre Visit Checklist
- ✓ Wear only one layer of clothing.
- ✓ Men: choose a top that does not bare the shoulders.
- ✓ Women: make sure dresses/skirts/shorts are not shorter than the tips of your fingertips.
- ✓ Women: avoid tight-fitting, low-cut, see-through, or mesh clothing.
- ✓ Women: wear a bra and ensure breasts, back, stomach, shoulders, behind, and legs are covered.
- ✓ Avoid clothing with decorative cutouts.
- ✓ Do not wear hoodies/hooded items, hats, or sunglasses.
- ✓ Wear closed-toe shoes (no open-toed shoes, flip-flops, slides, or sandals).
- ✓ Avoid excessive cologne, perfume, or alcohol on your person.
- ✓ Do not arrive smelling of contraband (you can be denied the visit).
- Do a quick “smell test” - skip heavy cologne/perfume and anything that smells like alcohol; don’t show up smelling of contraband.
- Check your clothing in the mirror - one layer only; men should have shoulders covered; women should meet the fingertip-length and coverage rules.
- Empty out the extras - take off and stow hooded items, hats, and sunglasses, and confirm everyone is in closed-toe shoes.
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