Personal mail routes through TextBehind in Phoenix, MD. Books ship directly from publishers to Polkton.
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Mail to Brown Creek Correctional Institution does not go directly to the facility in Polkton. Personal letters and photos are processed through TextBehind, a third-party mail processing service used by NC DAC. You address the letter to the person at a TextBehind P.O. Box in Phoenix, Maryland. TextBehind scans the content and delivers it digitally or in print to the facility. Books must be ordered directly from a publisher or retailer and shipped to the Polkton address. Legal mail is handled separately and does not go through TextBehind.
NC DAC uses TextBehind to process personal mail at facilities like Brown Creek. When you send a letter to the TextBehind address, TextBehind opens, scans, and inspects it for contraband. The content is then delivered to the facility digitally or as a printed copy. This system lets the facility receive mail without staff manually opening every piece.
If you mail a letter directly to P.O. Box 310, Polkton, NC 28135, it will not reach the person. That address is for books and approved packages only, not personal letters.
Send all personal letters and photos to:
Brown Creek Correctional Institution [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
Each line on its own. Replace [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] with the person’s actual full legal name and their OPUS Number from the NC OPI search.
Your return address: Write your full first and last name. Do not use initials only. If your return address is incomplete or uses only initials, the mail may not be accepted.
TextBehind accepts:
TextBehind does NOT accept:
If you send any of the items above to the TextBehind address, they will be returned or rejected.
You can include photos with your letter through TextBehind. General rules for photos:
TextBehind will scan and inspect photos. If a photo is rejected, it will not be delivered. When in doubt, keep photos simple and family-appropriate.
Books are allowed but must be shipped directly from the publisher, Amazon, or another approved retailer. You cannot hand-carry a book to a visit or mail one through TextBehind. The book must arrive in its original packaging from the sender.
Ship books to:
Brown Creek Correctional Institution [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] P.O. Box 310 Polkton, NC 28135
The book must be new or clearly arriving from a retailer. Used books sent person-to-person are not accepted. Hardcover and paperback are typically both acceptable, but contact the facility at (704) 272-4570 to confirm current book policies before ordering.
Legal mail (from attorneys, courts, or government agencies) is handled separately from personal mail at Brown Creek. Legal mail does not go through TextBehind. It is typically addressed directly to the facility and opened in front of the inmate.
If you are an attorney or legal representative sending mail to someone at Brown Creek, contact the facility at (704) 272-4570 for current legal mail procedures. Do not route legal mail through TextBehind.
TextBehind processes mail within a few business days. After scanning and inspection, the content is forwarded to Brown Creek for delivery. There is no tracking number for personal mail through TextBehind. If a letter does not arrive after a reasonable time, call the facility at (704) 272-4570 to ask if it was received and whether anything was flagged.
Mail that is rejected for prohibited content will either be returned to you or destroyed depending on what was inside. The person inside will typically be notified that a piece of mail was rejected.
If the person transfers from Brown Creek to another NC facility, mail sent to the TextBehind address will follow them as long as it has not already been processed. However, if they transfer, update your records and confirm with the new facility what the current mail process is. Not all NC facilities use TextBehind; some may have different mail rules.
Do not put cash, money orders, or checks in a letter. None of these reach the inmate through the mail system. To put money on the person’s account, use ConnectNetwork as described in the send money guide.
The visitor approval process at Brown Creek takes time. Mail through TextBehind is something you can do right away, without being on the approved list. Send your first letter to let them know what is happening on your end while the application processes. Pair that with setting up phone calls through ConnectNetwork AdvancePay so they can reach you.
The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Brown Creek 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.
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Personal mail goes through TextBehind: Brown Creek Correctional Institution, [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Do not mail letters directly to Polkton.
MailNC DAC uses TextBehind to process personal mail at Brown Creek. TextBehind scans and inspects letters at their Maryland facility, then delivers the content digitally or as a print to the prison. This is the required process for personal mail.
MailNo. Personal letters sent directly to P.O. Box 310, Polkton, NC 28135 will not reach the person. That address is for books shipped from publishers or retailers only.
MailOrder the book from a publisher, Amazon, or another retailer and ship it directly to: [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], Brown Creek Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 310, Polkton, NC 28135. Books must arrive in original packaging from the retailer.
MailYes. Include photos in your letter through TextBehind. Keep them family-appropriate. No nudity, explicit content, weapons, drugs, or gang-related images. Standard photo sizes work best.
MailYour full first and last name. Do not use initials only. An incomplete return address can cause your mail to be rejected.
MailStandard cards without electronics, glitter, or attached objects are typically accepted. Cards with music chips, stickers, or anything attached will be rejected.
MailDo not send packages, books, magazines, cash, money orders, stamps, oversized envelopes, cards with electronics or glitter, or any physical items. TextBehind handles letters and photos only.
MailTextBehind processes mail within a few business days. After scanning and inspection, the content is delivered to Brown Creek. There is no tracking. If mail seems to be missing after a week, call (704) 272-4570.
MailLegal mail does not go through TextBehind. It is handled separately and opened in front of the inmate. Attorneys and legal representatives should contact the facility at (704) 272-4570 for current legal mail procedures.
MailRejected mail is returned to you or destroyed depending on the content. The inmate is typically notified. Call (704) 272-4570 to ask if a specific piece of mail was received or rejected.
MailNo. Cash and money orders cannot be sent through the mail. Use ViaPath/ConnectNetwork to put money on the person's account. See the send money guide for all deposit options.
MailMail already in process through TextBehind may follow them. Once transferred, confirm the new facility's mail procedures, since not all NC prisons use TextBehind.
MailSet up AdvancePay so the person can call you while you wait for mail.
View ArticleSend funds through ConnectNetwork. Do not mail cash.
View ArticleGet the OPUS Number you need for every piece of mail.
View ArticleSchedule a visit. Call (704) 272-4570 or email [email protected].
View ArticleSearch for your loved one and start sending photos, letters, and messages today.
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 7, 2026.