Why Your Mail to Sarasota County Jail Goes to Maryland (And What Happens to It)

Since August 18, 2023, all inmate mail for Sarasota County Corrections Facility goes to an off-site address in Phoenix, Maryland: Sarasota County Corrections Facility, FL, Inmate Name, ID Number, PO Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Print the inmate's name and ID number clearly on the outside of the envelope or postcard. That's how the scanning system matches your mail to the right person.

• ✓ Sarasota County Corrections Facility, FL
• ✓ INMATE NAME, ID NUMBER
• ✓ PO Box 247
• ✓ Phoenix, MD 21131
• ✓ Use the inmate’s full name and ID number on the outside (printed clearly)
• ✓ Example (correct): “Sarasota County Corrections Facility, FL / Jordan Smith, 123456 / PO Box 247 / Phoenix, MD 21131”
• ✓ Example (incorrect): Missing the inmate ID number on the outside of the envelope or postcard

The Maryland address exists because Sarasota County Jail uses off-site scanning for regular postal mail. Postcards, letters, and greeting cards get scanned into an electronic system. Your loved one won't receive your original letter or card. Instead, the content is captured digitally - and that scanned version is what they'll see inside the jail.

After scanning, your loved one doesn't get paper mail in hand. They view scanned postal mail through the inmate kiosks or tablets. Wondering why a card or letter didn't arrive the usual way? This is why. Delivery happens electronically after scanning - not as physical mail passed into the pod.

The scanning system is run by TextBehind, a vendor that handles postal mail for correctional facilities. They keep mail processing centralized at their location. The Maryland address isn't random - it's simply where TextBehind operates. That's how vendor-managed mail scanning works.

This setup also affects what happens after release. Former inmates can log in to the TextBehind website using their inmate number and password, then download their photos, messages, and postal mail for free - but only for 30 days after release. If your loved one wants to keep copies of what was scanned while they were inside, that 30-day window is the time to grab them.

1. Go to the public TextBehind website - use the standard public login page (not an in-facility kiosk).
2. Sign in with the inmate number and password - these credentials are required to access the account.
3. Download saved items - download photos, messages, and scanned postal mail.
4. Do it within 30 days of release - downloads are free for up to 30 days after release.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Clearly PRINT the inmate’s name and ID number on the outside of the envelope or postcard
• ✓ Write neatly so the scan is easy to read (avoid hard-to-decipher handwriting)
• ✓ Include a clear return address
• ✓ Keep it simple and clean on the page so the scanned copy comes through clearly

Here's the key shift: your mail goes through TextBehind's vendor-run scanning workflow, not into the jail as paper. The whole process is built around off-site handling and digital delivery for contraband control. Once you know that, the system makes sense. Send mail to the Maryland PO Box, print the inmate name and ID clearly, and don't send anything irreplaceable.