What to Expect During Your First Visit to Petersburg Low FCI

Before heading to Petersburg Low FCI, review the facility's visiting rules, regulations, and procedures. The Bureau of Prisons expects visitors to know the rules before arriving, and the details matter. A quick read before you travel can save you a wasted trip if something about your visit turns out to be off-limits that day.

• ✓ Read the visiting rules and procedures for Petersburg Low FCI before you travel
• ✓ Call ahead if you have any doubt about whether your visit will be permitted
• ✓ Confirm the current visiting schedule before you leave home (hours can vary by institution)
• ✓ Plan extra time for check-in and security screening
• ✓ Bring the identification and any documents the visiting rules require, and leave unnecessary items behind

Dress like you would for a public, family setting. The BOP's guidance is simple: wear clothing appropriate for a large gathering of men, women, and young children. If staff consider your outfit provocative or revealing, you can be turned away. When in doubt, go conservative.

• ✓ Skip revealing shorts, crop tops, low-cut tops or dresses, and miniskirts
• ✓ Avoid see-through garments of any type
• ✓ Do not wear halter tops, backless tops, leotards, or spandex
• ✓ Avoid sleeveless garments
• ✓ Leave hats or caps at home
• ✓ Choose skirts and dresses that are not high-slit, and not two inches or more above the knee
• ✓ Avoid clothing that resembles inmate clothing (including khaki or green military-type clothing)

Physical contact at Petersburg Low FCI is limited, but not always zero-contact. A handshake, hug, or brief kiss (in good taste) is typically allowed at the beginning and end of your visit. Beyond that, expect staff to keep the visiting room orderly. Follow any directions they give you.

Most BOP institutions hold visiting hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, with some offering weekday visits too. Petersburg Low FCI's exact days and times can vary, so don't assume a schedule you heard from someone else will match what's currently posted. Weekends fill up fast. Some institutions limit visits to either Saturday or Sunday, with the specific day depending on the inmate.

By law, an inmate is entitled to at least four hours of visiting time per month. Many institutions offer more. At the same time, wardens can set limits to prevent overcrowding. Plan around the facility's current schedule and any limits that apply to your loved one, especially if you're traveling a long distance.

• ✓ Verify the current visiting days and hours before you make travel plans
• ✓ Ask whether visits are assigned to Saturday or Sunday for your loved one (and whether that can vary)
• ✓ If you are coordinating multiple family members, confirm whether there are limits in place to manage crowding
• ✓ Build in flexibility for weekends and holidays, when visiting can be busier and more tightly managed

1. Confirm you can visit that day , If you are unsure whether your visit will be permitted, call the facility before you drive.
2. Review the visiting procedures once more , Check the rules for what you can bring, how check-in works, and any other location-specific requirements.
3. Arrive with extra time to spare , Security screening and processing can take time, especially on weekends and holidays.
4. Bring required identification and only approved items , Use the facility’s visiting rules as your packing list so you do not get turned away at the door.