Your First Visit to MCC Chicago: What to Expect at Check-In
First visits can feel intimidating. But once you understand what staff are looking for at MCC Chicago, the whole process becomes much easier to navigate.
Before you make the trip, confirm you're actually cleared to visit. In the federal system, you can only visit after the incarcerated person adds you to their approved visiting list and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) completes your background clearance. Show up without that in place, and you'll go through check-in only to be turned away.
Warning: The BP‑A0629 visitor form includes a federal warning: false statements can lead to criminal penalties (up to a $250,000 fine and/or up to five years in prison under 18 U.S.C. § 1001).
- ✓ Revealing shorts
- ✓ Halter tops
- ✓ Bathing suits
- ✓ See-through garments of any type
- ✓ Crop tops
- ✓ Low-cut blouses or dresses
- ✓ Leotards
- ✓ Spandex
- ✓ Miniskirts
- ✓ Backless tops
- ✓ Hats or caps
- ✓ Sleeveless garments
- ✓ Skirts two inches or more above the knee
- ✓ Dresses or skirts with a high-cut split in the back, front, or side
- ✓ Clothing that looks like inmate clothing (khaki or green military-type clothing)
At check-in, staff focus on two things: confirming who you are and verifying you're approved to be there. They'll match your ID to the information tied to your visit request and clearance. If something doesn't line up, expect delays - or a denial for that day. This is why honesty on the BP‑A0629 form matters. The form warns that false statements carry serious criminal penalties. Don't guess, round up, or leave out details you think won't matter.
Expect security screening as part of the routine. Staff may inspect what you bring and conduct checks to keep prohibited items out of the visiting area. The easiest way through? Bring only what you truly need and follow directions without pushback. Screening trips up a lot of first-time visitors.
Once you're in the visiting room, physical contact is limited and closely monitored. Brief handshakes, hugs, and kisses "in good taste" are typically allowed at the start and end of your visit - but staff can restrict contact for security reasons or to maintain order. One rule is universal across the BOP: conjugal visits are not permitted.
If Turned Away
- ✓ You aren’t on the incarcerated person’s approved visiting list yet
- ✓ You haven’t been cleared by the BOP
- ✓ Your paperwork is incomplete, inconsistent, or contains false statements
- ✓ Your clothing doesn’t meet the visiting room guidelines
Got turned away? Treat it as a fixable logistics problem, not a dead end. First, confirm with the incarcerated person that you're on their visiting list and that your BOP clearance went through. If paperwork was the issue, correct it and resubmit with complete, accurate information. If your outfit was the problem, change into something more conservative and try again another day. If staff asked for additional information, write down exactly what's missing so you come back prepared.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Confirm you’re on the approved visiting list and cleared by the BOP before you go
- ✓ Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, plus a backup form of ID if you have one
- ✓ Arrive early so you’re not rushing through check-in
- ✓ Keep what you carry to a minimum so screening goes faster
- ✓ Avoid clothing that matches the BOP “generally not permitted” list (especially revealing, see-through, or inmate-like khaki/green outfits)
Reminder: Fill out BP‑A0629 completely and truthfully - false statements can bring federal criminal penalties (up to a $250,000 fine and/or up to five years imprisonment).
Find an Inmate at MCC Chicago, IL
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
