How to send messages, photos, and packages
Foothills Corrections Institution uses ViaPath/GTL through the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction for in-cell tablets and communication services—calls, texts, and digitized mail, plus education and entertainment features. Video visits run through the Getting Out Visits app, where you can schedule ahead or start one on-demand. To pay for calls and other services, add funds through AdvancePay prepaid calling or deposit money to a ConnectNetwork PIN Debit account. Those deposits let the incarcerated person place calls to approved numbers. Watch your GTL/ConnectNetwork Friends & Family account activity—accounts go inactive after 180 consecutive days. For refunds, call GTL customer service at 866-516-0115. Since third-party vendors run these services, you'll manage accounts, scheduling, and payments through their apps and portals.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Mailed a handwritten letter or photos to someone at Foothills Correctional Institution? You might be wondering what happens to the paper after it's scanned. Here's how TextBehind handles physical mail—and how to get your originals back if you want them.
Mailing a letter to someone at Foothills but the address says Maryland? You're doing it right. Non-legal physical mail gets processed by TextBehind, scanned, and delivered electronically to the person's tablet.
Ordering a package for someone at Foothills is straightforward once you know the rules that trip people up: ordering windows, status-related refunds, footwear limits, and electronics compatibility.
Set up an account with ViaPath/GTL and use the vendor’s portal or app to manage calling, messaging, and video access. Depending on the service, both you and the incarcerated person may need to be approved in the vendor system before messaging or video visits are available.
You can fund calls using AdvancePay prepaid calling (money is tied to a phone number and deducted when calls are made to that number). Or deposit to a ConnectNetwork PIN Debit account so the incarcerated person can use funds on their PIN debit phone account; manage deposits and balances through the vendor portal or app.
GTL/ConnectNetwork Friends & Family accounts become inactive after 180 consecutive days of inactivity. To request a refund, contact GTL customer service at 866-516-0115.
Send non-legal letters to TextBehind’s Maryland P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Include the incarcerated person’s full name, OPUS number, and the complete facility name (don’t abbreviate). TextBehind screens and scans the mail and delivers a digital copy to the person’s tablet.
Yes. Contact TextBehind within 30 days to request the original letter back; it costs $2.50 per letter. If you don’t request it within 30 days, the original is shredded.
No—books and publications can’t be sent through TextBehind; they must ship from the publisher or an approved online retailer to the prison street address. Religious correspondence courses or sacred texts require pre-approval and, if approved, must be sent directly from the vendor, school, or religious institution to the facility.
Foothills Correctional Institution isn't just one building—it's a main close-custody facility plus a separate Minimum Custody Unit (MCU). Knowing which side someone is housed on can save you real confusion when you're trying to track down their location and understand what that placement means.
Getting approved to visit someone at Foothills starts with paperwork. Your visitor application must be complete and accepted before you can see your loved one.
Foothills Correctional Institution uses a cashless system for canteen purchases. Once you understand how the debit-style card connects to the inmate trust fund, you'll know exactly what to do from the outside to keep money available.
