Before You Go: Call-Ahead Checklist for Visiting a Federal Prison

Before you plan a visit, make sure you're actually allowed to visit. In the federal system, you can only visit if the incarcerated person has put you on their approved visiting list and you've been cleared by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). If they're new to the facility or recently transferred, their visiting list may not be fully set up yet. Confirm before you spend time and money traveling.

1. Confirm you are on the approved visiting list: Ask staff to verify that your name is listed for the person you are trying to visit.
2. Ask whether your BOP clearance is active: Being listed and being cleared are separate, you want confirmation that you are cleared to visit.
3. Verify that your visit will be permitted that day: Even if you are approved, call ahead to confirm there is nothing that would block that specific visit.
4. Ask what check-in will look like when you arrive: Have them explain any arrival procedures you should expect, so you do not get surprised at the door.

Visiting schedules vary by institution, so confirm the days and exact hours by phone before you go. Most federal facilities offer visiting on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and sometimes during the week, but the details depend on the location. Weekends tend to be the busiest. Some prisons limit visiting to either Saturday or Sunday, with the day varying by inmate.

• ✓ Which days visitation is offered for the unit you are visiting
• ✓ The exact start and end times (ask for the current schedule, not the “usual” one)
• ✓ Whether holidays follow a different schedule
• ✓ Whether the facility limits some people to Saturday or Sunday (and which day applies to the inmate)

Plan your transportation with the assumption that you'll cover the full cost. There is no Government payment or reimbursement for transportation to and from a federal facility. If you're unsure about the best route, call the institution for directions or use a mapping service so you don't lose time on arrival day.

Dress code is one of the easiest ways to get turned away, so confirm the facility's expectations when you call. Wearing anything considered provocative or revealing can result in a denied visit. As a starting point, many facilities restrict items like revealing shorts, halter tops, bathing suits, see-through garments, crop tops, low-cut blouses or dresses, leotards, spandex, miniskirts, backless tops, hats or caps, sleeveless garments, and skirts or dresses that are two inches or more above the knee or have a high-cut split. Some facilities also deny clothing that resembles inmate clothing (for example, khaki or green military-type clothing).

Ask what you can and can't bring into the visiting room. The BOP provides general guidance, but each facility's own visiting policy controls what's actually permitted. When you call, be direct: ask staff to confirm any restrictions that could affect your trip so you're not forced to leave items behind at the last minute.