Penmate Inmate Support Guides

How to Address Mail and Send Books to Someone at Anson Correctional Facility (TextBehind rules explained)

Mail rules can feel confusing at first, especially with TextBehind in the mix. Here's the exact address format for Anson Correctional Facility, what happens to your paper mail, and how to send books and magazines the right way.

• 2 min read Verified from official sources

At Anson Correctional Facility (and other NCDAC prisons), non-legal mail doesn't go straight to the prison mailroom. Instead, TextBehind screens and scans it, then delivers a digital copy to the incarcerated person's tablet. Your letter gets turned into an image they read on their device.

Tip: Plan as if your loved one will receive a scanned copy, not the original paper. If you want the original letter back, request it from TextBehind before the deadline.

Addressing is strict because your envelope routes through TextBehind's Maryland facility. Include the incarcerated person's name and OPUS number, write the facility name exactly as "Anson Correctional Facility" (no abbreviations), then add the P.O. Box: [Offender Name] #[OPUS Number] Anson Correctional Facility P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131 Leave off the OPUS number, shorten the facility name, or send it anywhere else? Your mail could be delayed or returned.

Warning: Mail not addressed using the required TextBehind format will be returned. A common mistake: abbreviating the prison name instead of writing "Anson Correctional Facility" in full.

  1. Decide quickly if you want the originals back. You have 30 days to request return of the original mailed letter and contents.
  2. Email TextBehind customer support. Send your request to info@textbehind.com.
  3. Pay the return-mail fee. TextBehind charges $2.50 per letter to cover the cost of return mailing.

TextBehind shreds original letters and contents after 30 days if you don't request them back. Mailing something you'd want to keep? Submit your return request as soon as possible so you don't miss the window.

Don't try to send books, magazines, or other publications through TextBehind. Individuals aren't allowed to send publications directly to an offender this way, and anything shipped through the Maryland P.O. Box will be returned. For books and magazines, you'll need a different method.

  • ✓ Order the book or magazine from the publisher or an online retailer (not as personal mail).
  • ✓ Have the retailer ship it directly to the offender at the prison’s street address (not the TextBehind P.O. Box in Maryland).
  • ✓ Before you place the order, confirm the prison accepts shipments from that vendor.
  • ✓ Do not route publications through TextBehind. Packages sent that way will be returned.

Legal mail works differently. If you're an attorney or work for a law firm, contact the prison directly for instructions instead of sending legal mail through TextBehind.

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