North Carolina has used TextBehind for mail scanning since late 2021. All personal letters go to a single PO Box in Phoenix, Maryland - not to the facility. TextBehind scans the contents and delivers them digitally to the incarcerated person's tablet.
Books, packages, and legal mail are handled separately and do not go through TextBehind.
The return address on every envelope must include the sender's full first and last name - no initials. TextBehind returns mail that doesn't meet this standard.
North Carolina DAC uses "offenders" throughout its materials. The inmate ID number in NC is called the OPUS Number.
Sending mail - letters and correspondence
Address format for all personal mail:
[Offender Name and OPUS Number]
[Name of Prison - do not abbreviate]
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Examples:
John Doe #1234567
Scotland Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Jane Doe #7654321
N.C. Correctional Institution for Women
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Mail not addressed this way will be returned. The return address must include the sender's full first name and full last name - no initials. TextBehind returns mail that doesn't meet this standard.
Find the offender's OPUS Number and facility through the NCDAC Offender Public Information Search at dac.nc.gov. For a list of prison facilities, see dac.nc.gov/divisions-and-sections/institutions/prison-facilities-and-regional-offices.
How the mail process works
1. All mail (paper or electronic) goes to TextBehind in Maryland.
2. Mail submitted through the TextBehind app can be processed within one business day.
3. Mail sent via USPS is scanned - letters, greeting cards, photos, artwork, etc.
4. Digital files are forwarded to the facility and delivered to the offender's tablet.
TextBehind also offers an app for smartphones and computers - write letters, select greeting cards, or upload photos. The app is free to download; fees apply to send content. Visit textbehind.com.
Can I get the original letter back?
Within 30 days, contact TextBehind customer support at info@textbehind.com to request return of originals. A $2.50-per-letter service fee covers return mailing. After 30 days, originals are shredded. Do not send irreplaceable documents, photos, or items.
What TextBehind will not process
The following items will be returned to the sender if included in a mailing:
- Books, magazines, newspapers (order from publisher/retailer and ship directly to facility - see below)
- Religious correspondence course materials and sacred texts (must be pre-approved and shipped directly to facility)
- Money orders, cash, payment checks, IRS checks
- Passports, Social Security cards, original birth certificates (copies only are acceptable)
- Postage stamps, stationery, blank envelopes, pre-stamped envelopes
- Credit, debit, or prepaid cards
- Oversized envelopes (not scannable)
- Any pieces of fabric
- Banners or posters
- Hardware or metallic items of any type
- Musical cards, electronic devices or components
- Pop-up greeting cards (not scannable)
- Prescription or non-prescription drugs
- Packages (TextBehind returns all packages; see packages section below)
Books, magazines, and newspapers
Do not send publications through TextBehind. Order directly from the publisher or from an online retailer and have it shipped to the facility's street address. Example:
John Doe #1234567
Central Prison
1300 Western Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27606
For a complete list of facility street addresses, see dac.nc.gov/divisions-and-sections/prisons/prison-facilities.
Packages - Union Supply Group
Union Supply Group is the exclusive package program vendor for all NCDAC facilities. To learn more or place an order, visit dac.nc.gov/divisions-and-sections/institutions/order-packages-offenders.
Legal mail
Legal mail does not go through TextBehind. If you are an attorney or member of a law firm sending legal correspondence to an offender, contact the prison directly for mailing instructions.
Religious correspondence courses
Religious correspondence course materials and sacred texts must be pre-approved through the facility chaplain before being shipped. Once approved, materials must be shipped directly to the facility - not through TextBehind. Contact Chaplaincy Services within the Division of Prisons for details. The pre-approval process is outlined on the NCDAC offender mail page.
Sending money - ViaPath/ConnectNetwork
Only approved visitors may deposit funds to an offender's account.
Online: ConnectNetwork.com (credit or debit card)
Mobile app: ConnectNetwork app - Apple App Store or Google Play
Phone: AdvancePay 800-483-8314 | Trust/PIN Debit 888-428-1845
Western Union: payment code for TRUST: NCDAC TRUST
ViaPath assistance: 877-650-4249
Money orders (no fee): Make payable to TouchPay. Include the deposit slip (available at dac.nc.gov). Mail to:
TouchPay Holdings, LLC
PO Box 174
Houston, TX 77001-0174
Funds from money orders available within 10 business days.
Fee schedule (effective August 1, 2023):
Deposit Amount | Online | Phone | Money Order | Western Union
$0.01 - $19.99 | $2.48 | $3.27 | $0.00 | $3.00
$20.00 - $99.00 | $5.00 | $5.79 | $0.00 | $3.00
$100.00 - $199.00 | $6.58 | $7.37 | $0.00 | $3.00
$200.00 - $300.00 | $8.16 | $8.95 | $0.00 | $3.00
Phone calls and tablets - ViaPath/GTL
NCDAC contracts with ViaPath/GTL for tablet and phone services. Tablets provide phone calls, texting, mail receipt, educational resources, and entertainment. Electronic kiosks and wall phones are also available.
Call rate: $0.10 per minute (local and long distance). All calls are timed to 15 minutes.
AdvancePay prepaid accounts: Set up at ConnectNetwork.com, by calling 1-800-483-8314, through Western Union, or by check/money order mailed to:
AdvancePay Service Department
PO Box 911722
Denver, Colorado 80291-1722
Phone debit accounts: Set up at ConnectNetwork.com, available 24/7.
International callers: 1-888-216-7423 or AdvancePayInternational@gtl.net
Cards accepted: Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
Additional fees: Automated credit/debit card payment fee $3.00; live operator payment fee $5.94; paper statement $2.00. Third-party fees (MoneyGram, Western Union) passed through at cost.
Tablet entertainment minutes: Purchased through the prison canteen using trust account funds.
North Carolina county jails
North Carolina's 100 counties operate their own jail systems under county sheriffs. County jails are not part of NCDAC and have their own mail and deposit rules. The NCDAC offender search does not include county jail information. Contact the relevant county detention facility directly.
What to know before you send anything
Letters go to TextBehind in Phoenix, MD - not to the facility. Include the OPUS Number and full prison name (no abbreviations). Your return address must have your full first and last name - no initials.
Books and publications: order from publisher or retailer and ship directly to the facility street address.
Legal mail: contact the prison directly - does not go through TextBehind.
Packages: Union Supply Group only - order at dac.nc.gov.
No stamps, blank envelopes, money orders, drugs, or documents you cannot replace.
Money: ViaPath/ConnectNetwork at ConnectNetwork.com or 877-650-4249. Money orders (no fee) to TouchPay in Houston.
Phone/tablets: $0.10/minute via ViaPath/GTL. Set up at ConnectNetwork.com or 1-800-483-8314. Calls limited to 15 minutes.
County jails: contact each directly.
Related pages:
/prisons/north-carolina
How to send money to a North Carolina inmate
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I mail a letter to a North Carolina NCDAC inmate?
To TextBehind in Phoenix, Maryland - not to the facility. Address: [Name and OPUS Number] / [Full Prison Name] / P.O. Box 247 / Phoenix, MD 21131. Include your full first and last name in the return address.
What is the OPUS Number?
The OPUS Number is the offender's North Carolina DOC identification number. Find it using the NCDAC Offender Public Information Search at dac.nc.gov.
Can I send photos?
Yes - include photos in your letter. TextBehind will scan them and deliver the digital image to the offender's tablet. Do not send originals you cannot replace; originals are held 30 days then shredded.
Can I send a book?
Not through TextBehind - it will be returned. Order the book from the publisher or an online retailer and have it shipped directly to the facility's street address, not to the Phoenix PO Box.
Can I send a package?
Only through Union Supply Group, the exclusive NCDAC package vendor. Order at dac.nc.gov/divisions-and-sections/institutions/order-packages-offenders.
How do I send money?
Through ViaPath/ConnectNetwork at ConnectNetwork.com, or by money order (no fee) payable to TouchPay mailed to PO Box 174, Houston TX 77001-0174 with a deposit slip. Only approved visitors can make deposits. ViaPath assistance: 877-650-4249.
How do I set up phone calls?
Through ViaPath/GTL at ConnectNetwork.com or by calling 1-800-483-8314. Calls cost $0.10/minute and are limited to 15 minutes.
What if my person is in a county jail?
North Carolina county jails are separate from NCDAC. The NCDAC search does not include county jail data. Contact the specific county detention facility directly. ====================================================================
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