How to send messages, photos, and packages
Mail rules can feel confusing at first, especially with scan-based systems. At many North Carolina facilities, routine non-legal mail goes to an offsite vendor where your letter is scanned and delivered digitally—not every envelope passes through the facility itself. Packages and subscriptions work differently. These usually must ship to the facility street address or through an approved vendor (not the scan service). To avoid delays, follow the vendor's addressing format exactly. Include the resident's full name, ID number, and the facility name spelled out with the state. Scan processing is often quick—sometimes within one business day—but timing varies. Want the original paper letter back? Request it within the vendor's short window and expect a retrieval fee. Otherwise, originals are typically destroyed.
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Getting your letter delivered without delays comes down to one thing: using the facility's current official name and correct address on the envelope.
Many North Carolina facilities route routine letters through an offsite mail-scan vendor. First, confirm whether SWANNANOA CCW requires vendor submission or accepts USPS mail directly at the facility. If a vendor is used, follow the required address format and include the resident's full name, ID number, and the facility name spelled out.
Usually, no—packages and publications aren't handled by the mail-scan service. They typically must go to the facility street address or through an approved vendor. Confirm SWANNANOA CCW's vendor list and rules before ordering or shipping anything.
Originals are held only for a short window. During that time, you can request the paper letter back for a fee (timing and fees vary by vendor). Miss the window, and unrequested originals are typically destroyed.
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