How to Address Mail to Someone in an NC State Prison (TextBehind format explained)

All non-legal mail to people incarcerated in NCDAC facilities goes through TextBehind. Your letter gets screened and scanned by TextBehind, then delivered electronically to the person in prison.

For non-legal mail, you don't address the envelope to the prison's street address. Instead, you send it to TextBehind's Maryland P.O. Box using a specific three-line format so the mail can be matched to the right person and facility. Write the recipient address like this, in this order: Offender Name and OPUS Number Full Name of the Prison (do not abbreviate) P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131 The two spots people miss most: the OPUS number (it belongs on the first line, right after the person's name) and the facility name. Use the facility's full official name, not a shortened version.

Example (male facility format): John Doe #1234567 Scotland Correctional Institution P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Example (female facility format): Jane Doe #7654321 N.C. Correctional Institution for Women P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Your return address can cause problems too. TextBehind requires your full first name and full last name on the return address. No initials. If your return address doesn't meet that standard, TextBehind will send the mail back to you.

• ✓ Using initials instead of a full first name (example: “J. Smith”)
• ✓ Leaving off your last name
• ✓ Putting a return address without a sender name
• ✓ Sending mail with a return address that does not show your full first and last name

Template Troubleshoot

• ✓ Recipient line 1: Offender Full Name #OPUSNUMBER
• ✓ Recipient line 2: Full Official Facility Name (do not abbreviate)
• ✓ Recipient line 3: P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
• ✓ Return address: Your Full First Name Your Full Last Name, plus your full return mailing address

1. Check the first line for the OPUS number. The offender’s name and OPUS number belong together on line 1.
2. Confirm the prison name is written out. Use the facility’s full official name, and do not abbreviate it.
3. Verify the last line is the TextBehind mailing line. It should read: P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131.
4. Fix your return address name. Make sure your return address includes your full first and full last name, with no initials.
5. Know what happens if something is off. If the addressing format or return-name rule is not followed, the mail will be returned to the sender.