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What not to wear

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sunrayswench:
The rules for visitors' clothing and footwear have changed recently (March 2014), and now permit open-toe shoes and flip-flops, shorts of a certain length and sleeveless tops.

However, when visiting an inmate in a TDCJ unit, you should always consider carefully the clothing you ware. Many people say "dress as you would for church", meaning dress in a conservative manner.

Some people, especially those who do not visit their inmate friends or family often, want to make an impression through their clothes. You will not be permitted to visit an inmate if your clothing is see-through, or bares too much skin (it must cover your midrift and your lower back when seated and reaching forwards).

Tops with emblems, slogans or even Disney characters are often not permitted, as these can be used by gangs to pass messages to either the inmate you are visiting or to another inmate in the visitation area. Try to wear plain items, or garments with a simple pattern rather than a specific picture on the front.

Even when it is hot outside, some visit rooms can be chilly, particularly if you end up sitting beneath an air vent. Take a sweater or a cardigan in with you.

Do not wear white clothing. Some units will permit a white top or white bottoms, but visitors are not supposed to wear the same colour as the inmates. This is a simple safety precaution; hostage situations have occurred in the past and you do not want to be mistaken for an inmate by a guard with a rifle from 100 yards away. 

If you wear an underwire bra, you will set off the walk-through metal detector. Be prepared to be asked to leave and change your bra before you are permitted to visit, or to be subjected to a more thorough body search.

Remember to check your pockets for prohibited items before you enter the first registration point!

NatalieJams:
Be careful with jewelry too. They make you take it off, at least at some units. Its a hassle and you got people waiting behind you.

DanPal:
Are we talking earrings, as in studs, too?
I was just pondering that this morning, as one of many ponderings before visiting in July :)

sunrayswench:
I think you should be prepared to remove all jewellery, all hair slides and grips, and anything else that has metal in it or on it, before you go through the walk-through metal detector. Some officers will insist you do that first, and some will wait for you to walk through and if you set the detector off then you'll have to take all your metal stuff off anyway.

I know I am going to set the thing off, so I take everything of except my rings as they are solid silver and clearly visible on a part of my body that could not disguise anything else.

DanPal:
I see your point. I was thinking of wearing my watch and a pair of star studs.
Not exactly over-dressing, but then again this is not a coffee shop date :(

I think I'll try it; we all have to get our experiences somehow :) And who knows, by the next day I may wear NO watch and NO ear studs ;)

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