Personal mail goes through TextBehind to a Phoenix MD address. Books mail directly to Spruce Pine. Include the OPUS number on everything.
Send letters and photos in minutes
Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution uses TextBehind to process personal mail. You do not mail letters and photos directly to Spruce Pine. Instead, you send them to a TextBehind processing center in Phoenix, Maryland, where they are screened and forwarded to the facility. Books and publications mail directly to the facility address in Spruce Pine. Legal mail uses a separate process and must not go through TextBehind. Include the person’s full legal name and OPUS number on everything you send.
Avery-Mitchell processes personal mail through TextBehind, a third-party mail scanning and screening service used by NC DAC. Do not mail letters or photos directly to the facility in Spruce Pine. Mail sent to the Spruce Pine address for personal correspondence may be rejected.
Send personal mail to:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution PO Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
The OPUS number is critical. Without it, TextBehind and facility staff may not be able to match the mail to the right person. Get the OPUS number from the NC OPI inmate search before you send anything.
Write your full return address clearly on every envelope. Mail without a return address may be rejected.
Books, magazines, and other publications do not go through TextBehind. Mail them directly to the facility:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution 600 Amity Park Road Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Books must come from an approved publisher or retailer, not from home. NC DAC does not allow books mailed directly from family members or friends. Use a retailer such as Amazon and ship directly to the Spruce Pine address. The book must arrive in new condition in the original shipping packaging. Used books or books shipped without original retailer packaging may be rejected.
Magazines are also accepted if they come directly from the publisher or from a legitimate subscription service.
Photos go through TextBehind as part of your personal mail. Use the TextBehind address in Phoenix, MD.
Photo rules to follow:
If you have a question about a specific photo, call Avery-Mitchell at (828) 592-7200 before sending.
Legal mail is handled separately from personal mail and must NOT go through TextBehind. Do not send attorney correspondence, court documents, or other legal mail to the Phoenix, MD TextBehind address.
Legal mail must be clearly marked as “Legal Mail” or “Attorney-Client Privileged” on the outside of the envelope. It is opened in the presence of the resident, not screened separately.
Contact Avery-Mitchell at (828) 592-7200 to confirm the correct address and procedures for legal mail before sending anything sensitive.
NC DAC does not accept packages shipped directly from friends or family. If you want to send approved packaged items, use the NC inmate package vendor at ncinmatepackage.com. This is the approved third-party service for NC state prisons. Review the vendor’s current catalog and restrictions before ordering.
Mail can be rejected for several reasons:
When mail is rejected, it is typically returned to the sender. The person inside may receive a notice that mail was rejected and why.
Personal mail sent through TextBehind goes through scanning and security review before it reaches the person. Allow several days to a week for processing, plus standard mail delivery time from your location to Phoenix, MD. Mail sent directly to Spruce Pine (books and publications) goes through the facility’s own review process and typically arrives within the standard USPS delivery window after it arrives at the facility.
A letter from home means a lot. If you are not sure what to write, focus on:
Keep the tone positive. Avoid anything that could be read as a coded message, a reference to criminal activity, or content that could jeopardize their standing at the facility.
The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Avery-Mitchell 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.
6 of 12 questions
Personal mail goes through TextBehind: [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution, PO Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Books and publications mail directly to 600 Amity Park Road, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. Do not send legal mail through TextBehind.
MailNo. Personal letters and photos go to the TextBehind address in Phoenix, MD. Only books, magazines, and publications mail directly to Spruce Pine.
MailTextBehind is a third-party mail processing service used by NC DAC. Personal mail is sent to their center in Phoenix, MD, where it is scanned and screened before being forwarded to the facility.
MailOPUS is NC DAC's unique ID for each person in custody. Without it, mail may not reach them. Find it using the NC OPI inmate search at webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do?method=view.
MailYes. Send photos through TextBehind as part of your personal mail to the Phoenix, MD address. No explicit content, nudity, weapons, drugs, gang symbols, or attachments. Standard print size (4x6) is typical. You can also send photos through Pigeonly, which prints and mails them for you.
MailOrder new books from a retailer like Amazon and ship directly to 600 Amity Park Road, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. Books must arrive in new condition from the retailer. Do not mail books from home.
MailNo. NC DAC does not accept packages from family or friends. Use the approved vendor at ncinmatepackage.com to send approved packaged items.
MailNo. Do not mail cash, checks, or money orders inside an envelope. Use ConnectNetwork to put money on their account.
MailDo not use TextBehind for legal mail. Mark the envelope as 'Legal Mail' or 'Attorney-Client Privileged.' Call (828) 592-7200 to confirm the correct address and procedures before sending.
MailCommon reasons: missing OPUS number, prohibited content, cash or money orders inside, stickers or glitter on the envelope, books sent from home instead of a retailer, or a missing return address.
MailPersonal mail goes to Phoenix, MD first for TextBehind processing, which takes several days, plus regular mail delivery time. Books to the Spruce Pine address arrive within the standard USPS window after they reach the facility.
MailCards are generally accepted through TextBehind but must follow the same rules as letters: no stickers, glitter, wax seals, or attachments. Plain cards with a handwritten message are the safest option.
MailUse ConnectNetwork instead of mailing cash or checks.
View ArticleGet the OPUS number you need to address all mail correctly.
View ArticlePlan an in-person visit while you stay connected by mail.
View ArticleSet up ConnectNetwork so they can call you between letters.
View ArticleSearch for your loved one and start sending photos, letters, and messages today.
Send a Letter or Photo with PigeonlyFree Inmate Search
All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 7, 2026.