How to Address Mail to Someone at Johnston Correctional Institution (and What Happens After TextBehind Scans It)

At Johnston Correctional Institution, non-legal mail doesn't arrive as paper. It's screened and scanned by TextBehind, then delivered electronically to the recipient's tablet. That's why the address format matters so much - your envelope needs to go to TextBehind's Maryland processing center first. Send it any other way (even with the right name), and it gets returned to you.

Use this exact format for non-legal mail: Offender Name and OPUS Number Johnston Correctional Institution (do not abbreviate) P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Common Mistakes

• ✓ Leaving off the OPUS number after the offender’s name
• ✓ Abbreviating the facility name instead of writing “Johnston Correctional Institution”
• ✓ Changing the order of the address lines instead of following the TextBehind format
• ✓ Addressing the envelope to Johnston Correctional Institution in North Carolina instead of the TextBehind P.O. Box in Phoenix, MD
• ✓ Any other variation from the required format (mail that isn’t addressed this way is returned to the sender)

Once TextBehind receives your mail, they screen and scan it, then forward the images to the prison for electronic delivery. Your loved one won't hold the actual paper you sent - they'll see a scanned image on their tablet. TextBehind handles letters, greeting cards, photos, and artwork, forwarding all of it digitally.

1. Decide quickly if you need the original back - you have a 30-day window to request return of the original letter and contents.
2. Email TextBehind customer support - contact info@textbehind.com to request the return.
3. Plan for the return-mailing fee - there’s a $2.50 service fee per letter to cover return mailing.
4. Don’t wait past the deadline - after 30 days, originals are shredded.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Write the offender’s name and OPUS number on the first line so TextBehind can match it correctly.
• ✓ Spell out “Johnston Correctional Institution” (do not abbreviate).
• ✓ If you’re sending a letter, card, photo, or artwork, assume it will be scanned and viewed on a tablet rather than delivered as paper.
• ✓ If you’re comfortable sending electronically, TextBehind also offers an app option for submitting letters and uploading photos.
• ✓ Only mail items you can afford to lose as physical originals, since the standard process is scan-and-deliver rather than paper delivery.