Abstract: A tamper resistant institutional shoe includes an upper shoe and an outsole joined together to form a cavity configured to receive a user's foot with the outsole disposed under the user's foot and the upper shoe extending over the user's foot. The outsole has a lower surface and an upper surface. An insert is fixedly disposed in the cavity on the upper surface of the outsole. The outsole is formed of a transparent or translucent material that is solid and constant across the outsole between the lower surface and the upper surface such that the insert on the upper surface is visible through the outsole without visual obstruction within the material.

Abstract: A tamper resistant institutional shoe and a method for discouraging concealment of contraband in an institutional setting includes providing shoes having an outsole that is light transparent in at least a translucent manner for people confined to an institution. In addition, the method can include instructing to inspect said shoes for evidence of tampering or for contraband concealed therein by viewing the outsole and looking through the outsole.