If someone you love is locked up in North Carolina, getting money into their account covers commissary - food, hygiene, phone time, writing supplies - and keeps the connection alive. North Carolina's state prison system recently transitioned from JPay to ViaPath Technologies and its subsidiaries for all deposit services. Before you can send money to an NCDAC state prison, there is an important requirement: you must be on the offender's approved visitor list. Only approved visitors are permitted to deposit funds.
North Carolina splits adult custody into two systems: the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) for state sentences, and county jails operated by county sheriffs. NCDAC operates approximately 53 prisons housing around 30,000 people. North Carolina has 100 counties, each with its own jail.
Step one: get on the approved visitor list
NCDAC policy requires that only those identified as approved visitors for a specific offender may deposit funds into that person's account. If you are not on the approved visitor list, deposits will not be processed. Get approved before attempting to send money.
State prisons: NCDAC and ViaPath/ConnectNetwork
If your person is in an NCDAC state prison facility, NCDAC partners with ViaPath and its subsidiaries - primarily ConnectNetwork for online and phone deposits, and TouchPay for mailed money orders.
Online through ConnectNetwork - go to ConnectNetwork.com, create or log in to your account, find your person, and deposit using a credit or debit card. This is the fastest option - funds are available in the offender's account on the next business day. Fees apply.
By the ConnectNetwork mobile app - download the ConnectNetwork app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Same process and timeline as the website. Fees apply.
By phone - three separate lines depending on account type:
AdvancePay (prepaid calling from your phone): 800-483-8314
Trust account (commissary): 888-428-1845
PIN Debit (calling from offender's account): 888-428-1845
Credit or debit card required. Fees apply.
Western Union walk-in - visit any Western Union location and use the Payment Code for Trust deposits: NCDAC TRUST. Pay with cash. Western Union charges a flat $3.00 fee for any amount. This is a good middle-ground option - lower than online fees for larger amounts.
Money orders by mail (no fee) - the zero-fee option. Fill out the deposit slip (available in English and Spanish at dac.nc.gov/divisions-and-sections/institutions/send-money-offender). Make the money order payable to "TouchPay." Include the deposit slip. Mail to:
TouchPay Holdings, LLC
PO Box 174
Houston, TX 77001-0174
Funds are available within ten business days of receipt, though TouchPay works to make them available sooner. Prison facilities do not accept or process money orders directly - do not mail money orders to the prison.
Note on JPay: older websites and guides list JPay for North Carolina state prison deposits. NCDAC has transitioned to ViaPath and its subsidiaries - ConnectNetwork for electronic deposits and TouchPay for money orders. JPay is no longer the primary deposit platform for NCDAC state prisons.
Fee schedule (effective August 1, 2023)
| Deposit Amount | Online | Phone | Money Order | Western Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.01 to $19.99 | $2.48 | $3.27 | No fee | $3.00 |
| $20.00 to $99.00 | $5.00 | $5.79 | No fee | $3.00 |
| $100.00 to $199.00 | $6.58 | $7.37 | No fee | $3.00 |
| $200.00 to $300.00 | $8.16 | $8.95 | No fee | $3.00 |
For deposits above $19.99, Western Union at $3.00 flat is cheaper than online or phone. For any amount, money orders are free.
For deposit assistance, call ViaPath toll-free at 877-650-4249.
The OPUS number is required
The OPUS number is NCDAC's offender identification number. Required for all deposit methods. Find it using the NCDAC Offender Public Information Search at dac.nc.gov/dac-services/criminal-offender-searches. NCDAC's database covers state prison offenders and community supervision - it does not include county jail information.
Mail goes to a different address
Since implementing TextBehind in late 2021, personal mail for NCDAC state prison offenders - letters, photos, cards - goes to a central scanning address and is delivered electronically to tablets. The TextBehind mailing format uses the prison's name and the offender's OPUS number, sent to PO Box 247, Phoenix MD 21131.
This address is for personal mail only - not for money orders. Money orders go to TouchPay Holdings, PO Box 174, Houston TX 77001. Do not confuse the two addresses.
NCDAC contact
214 West Jones Street, Raleigh NC 27603
5201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-5201
919-733-2126
dac.nc.gov
County jails: vendor varies by county
North Carolina has 100 counties, each with its own detention facility operated by the county sheriff. County jails operate independently from NCDAC and set their own deposit vendors.
Mecklenburg County Detention Center (Charlotte), at 801 East 4th Street, accepts money orders and cashier's checks by mail. Money orders must be made payable to the name given to the resident when booked into the facility - check the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's current send money page for exact payee format and mailing address. Online deposits are also accepted. For questions call 980-314-5200.
Wake County Detention Center (Raleigh), at 3301 Hammond Road, accepts deposits through Access Corrections online. No in-person deposits are accepted at this time. For questions call 919-773-7930.
Guilford County Detention Centers (Greensboro and High Point) use their own mail and deposit processing system with facility-specific IDs. Non-legal mail goes to a county mail-processing address with a required Facility ID.
The vendor is county-specific - the only reliable way to find the current deposit vendor for a specific North Carolina county jail is to check that county sheriff's website or call the facility directly.
Accounts do not transfer between vendors. When your person moves from a county jail to an NCDAC state prison, the county account stays with the county vendor. You set up new deposits through ConnectNetwork or TouchPay using the OPUS number - after getting on the approved visitor list.
Federal custody in North Carolina
If your person is in federal Bureau of Prisons custody in North Carolina - including FCI Butner, FMC Butner, FCI Raleigh, or FCI Seymour Johnson - deposits go through the BOP Trust Fund via Western Union, MoneyGram at retail, or online at bop.gov. You need the eight-digit BOP register number. Do not use NCDAC methods for federal inmates.
What to know before you send anything
Get on the approved visitor list first. NCDAC will not process deposits from anyone not on the approved list.
Money orders to TouchPay are free. Online and phone deposits carry fees. Western Union is $3.00 flat - cheaper than online for amounts above $19.99.
Make money orders payable to "TouchPay" and use the deposit slip. Mail to TouchPay Holdings LLC, PO Box 174, Houston TX 77001-0174 - not to the prison.
Get the OPUS number first. Required for all deposit methods. Find it at dac.nc.gov.
Personal mail goes to TextBehind, PO Box 247, Phoenix MD 21131 - that is not the money order address.
JPay is no longer the primary NCDAC deposit vendor. Use ConnectNetwork online or TouchPay for money orders.
Related pages:
/prisons/north-carolina
How to write a letter to someone in a North Carolina facility
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
What vendor does North Carolina DAC use for deposits?
ViaPath and its subsidiaries. Online at ConnectNetwork.com; mobile app; phone at 888-428-1845 (Trust/PIN Debit) or 800-483-8314 (AdvancePay); Western Union walk-in with code NCDAC TRUST; or money orders mailed to TouchPay.
Do I need to be on the approved visitor list to send money?
Yes. Only approved visitors may deposit funds to NCDAC offender accounts. Get on the list before attempting any deposit.
What is the no-fee deposit option?
Money orders mailed to TouchPay Holdings LLC, PO Box 174, Houston TX 77001-0174 with a completed deposit slip. Make payable to "TouchPay." No fee. Funds available within ten business days.
What is the Western Union payment code for NCDAC?
NCDAC TRUST. Available at Western Union locations. $3.00 flat fee for any amount.
What is the OPUS number and where do I find it?
NCDAC's offender identification number. Required for all deposit methods. Find it via the NCDAC Offender Search at dac.nc.gov/dac-services/criminal-offender-searches.
Is JPay still used for North Carolina state prison deposits?
JPay is no longer the primary NCDAC deposit platform. NCDAC now partners with ViaPath and its subsidiaries - ConnectNetwork for electronic deposits and TouchPay for money orders.
Where does personal mail go for NCDAC inmates?
TextBehind handles personal mail, sent to PO Box 247, Phoenix MD 21131 with the prison name and offender's OPUS number. This is separate from the TouchPay money order address.
What vendor does Wake County Detention use?
Access Corrections online. No in-person deposits. Phone: 919-773-7930.
What vendor does Mecklenburg County Detention use?
Money orders/cashier's checks by mail payable to the name assigned at booking; online deposits also accepted. Phone: 980-314-5200. Confirm current payee and address at mecksheriff.com.
Do accounts transfer between county jail and NCDAC state prison?
No. When your person moves to NCDAC state prison, you set up new deposits through ConnectNetwork or TouchPay using the OPUS number - after getting on the approved list.
How do I send money to someone in federal prison in North Carolina?
Use the BOP Trust Fund - Western Union, MoneyGram, or bop.gov. NC federal facilities include FCI/FMC Butner complex. You need the eight-digit BOP register number. ====================================================================
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