Mail & Photos to Albemarle CI. TextBehind Address & Rules

How Albemarle CI Handles Mail

Albemarle Correctional Institution uses TextBehind for personal mail. Instead of mailing a paper letter directly to the facility, you send it to a TextBehind processing center in Phoenix, Maryland. TextBehind scans your letter and transmits it digitally inside. This reduces the risk of contraband entering the facility through the mail and speeds up delivery for personal correspondence.

The physical address of the facility is 44150 Airport Road, New London, NC 28127. The mailing address for general mail is P.O. Box 460, Badin, NC 28009. Neither of these addresses is where personal letters go. Personal mail must go to TextBehind in Phoenix, MD.

Address for Personal Mail and Photos

Send all personal letters and photos to:

Albemarle Correctional Institution [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Put the person’s full legal name exactly as it appears in NC DAC records, followed by their OPUS number. If you do not know the OPUS number, use the NC OPI inmate search to find it before you mail anything.

Write your full return address on the outside of the envelope. Mail without a return address or without a valid OPUS number may be rejected.

Address for Books and Publications

Books, magazines, and other publications do not go through TextBehind. Ship them directly to the facility’s physical address:

[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Albemarle Correctional Institution 44150 Airport Road New London, NC 28127

Books must come from an approved publisher or vendor. NC DAC typically requires books to be new, shipped directly from a publisher or retailer like Amazon. Do not send used books or books mailed from a personal address. Call (704) 244-8700 to confirm current book vendor rules before ordering.

Address for Legal Mail

Legal mail, including mail from attorneys, courts, or government agencies, does not go through TextBehind. Send legal mail directly to the facility:

[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Albemarle Correctional Institution 44150 Airport Road New London, NC 28127

Legal mail is handled separately from personal mail. It is opened in front of the person, not in the mail room without them present. Mark the envelope clearly as “Legal Mail” and include the attorney’s bar number or the court case number when applicable.

Sending Photos

Photos can be included with personal mail sent through TextBehind. Keep these guidelines in mind:

• Photos should not include explicit content, nudity, or sexual material
• Do not include photos showing weapons, drugs, alcohol, or gang-related imagery
• Photos with people making hand signs or wearing certain colors may be flagged
• Standard photo prints in typical sizes are generally accepted

TextBehind scans photos along with the letter. Call (704) 244-8700 to confirm any specific photo restrictions at Albemarle CI before sending.

What Gets Rejected

Mail can be rejected or held for a number of reasons:

• Missing OPUS number or name mismatch
• Content that violates NC DAC policy (explicit material, threats, coded messages)
• Items sent to the wrong address (personal mail sent directly to the facility rather than TextBehind)
• Cash enclosed in an envelope
• Glitter, stickers, or embellishments on cards or envelopes
• Return address missing or unreadable

If mail is rejected, TextBehind or the facility will attempt to return it to your address. Call (704) 244-8700 for help if you think mail was rejected but did not come back to you.

What Not to Send

Do not mail:

• Cash or checks (use the ConnectNetwork deposit methods instead)
• Stamps or envelopes (the facility provides these or the person purchases them through commissary)
• Food or personal care products
• Clothing or physical items (commissary handles most of these)
• Cards with pop-up features, glitter, or attached ribbons

Processing Time

TextBehind transmits scanned letters to the facility digitally, which is typically faster than waiting for a paper letter to travel through the mail system and then be processed by the mail room. Delivery usually happens within a few days of TextBehind receiving your letter.

Books and publications sent directly to the facility go through the facility mail room and are inspected before delivery. Timing depends on mail volume and inspection procedures.

Pigeonly Letters and Photos

Pigeonly lets you send printed letters and photos to someone at Albemarle CI from your phone or computer. Pigeonly handles printing and mailing so you do not have to. Search for the person at pigeon.ly/search to get started.

Send Photos and Letters with Pigeonly

The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Albemarle Correctional Institution is through Pigeonly. Upload your photos or write your letter online, and Pigeonly prints and mails everything to the facility for you, following the mail rules listed above.