How to Contact an Inmate at Gaston Correctional Center, NC (NC)

People at Gaston Correctional Center use tablets provided through NCDAC's contract with ViaPath (GTL). These tablets handle most daily communication: phone calls, text messages, and receiving digitized mail. They also offer educational and entertainment content.

Non-legal mail isn't delivered the old-fashioned way. Letters and photos get screened and scanned by TextBehind, then sent electronically to the person's tablet. Addressing matters. You need to route mail to TextBehind's Maryland address and include the incarcerated person's full name, OPUS/ID number, and the full prison name (no abbreviations). Get the format wrong, and it comes back to you.

To add money to someone's account or purchase phone time, NCDAC uses ViaPath/ConnectNetwork. You can pay online, through the mobile app, by phone, or at walk-in locations. The prison itself doesn't accept money orders sent directly to the facility. If you want to use a money order, follow the TouchPay instructions.

1. Get the exact name and OPUS/ID number - You will need the incarcerated person’s full name and OPUS/ID number for mail and most account setup.
2. Address non-legal mail to TextBehind in Maryland - Use the required format: full name + OPUS/ID number + full prison name (do not abbreviate) + the TextBehind P.O. Box in Phoenix, Maryland. Mail not addressed this way is returned.
3. Use tablet-based communication when available - Because mail is digitized to tablets and tablets support messaging and calls, ask your loved one what services they can currently use on their device at Gaston Correctional Center.

1. Confirm you are on the approved visitors list - Both in-person and video visits are limited to approved visitors.
2. Schedule an in-person visit by appointment - Call or email the prison to set the appointment (walk-ins are not the process).
3. Use the Getting Out Visits app for video visits - Video visits are done through that app and can be on-demand or scheduled, depending on availability.
4. Call the day before your visit - Confirm the facility’s visitation status before you make the trip or finalize plans.

• ✓ Use ViaPath/ConnectNetwork to add funds or buy phone time (online, mobile, phone, or walk-in)
• ✓ Follow the vendor’s instructions carefully so the funds post to the correct person and account type
• ✓ Do not mail a money order to the prison for processing, prison facilities do not accept or process money orders unless you are following TouchPay instructions

What to Verify

• ✓ Confirm the current TextBehind mailing address and P.O. Box details before you send anything
• ✓ Double-check the required address format (full name, OPUS/ID number, and the full prison name with no abbreviations)
• ✓ Make sure you are sending non-legal mail through the TextBehind process, since incorrectly addressed mail is returned

Tablets are central to communication in NCDAC, but available features can vary. If you're trying to set up messaging or something isn't working as expected, confirm which tablet features are active for your loved one at Gaston Correctional Center. Calls, texts, and receiving digitized mail are the most common uses.

• ✓ Verify your approved visitor status before you try to schedule anything
• ✓ Ask whether the visit you want must be scheduled, or if on-demand video visiting is available at that time
• ✓ Call the day before an in-person visit to confirm the facility’s visitation status

Before sending money, confirm you're using the right ViaPath/ConnectNetwork channel for what you need (account funds vs. phone time). Check the vendor's rules and fees too. Planning to mail a money order? Verify the TouchPay instructions first. The prison doesn't accept money orders sent directly to the facility.