Mail & Photos to Buncombe County Detention. TextBehind Address & Rules

The Most Important Thing to Know

Mail sent to 20 Davidson Drive, Asheville, NC 28801 will be rejected. That is the physical jail address, but personal mail does not go there.

All personal mail is processed by TextBehind, a service the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office uses to scan and digitally deliver letters. TextBehind’s processing address is a P.O. Box in Phoenix, Maryland. You mail to Maryland, and TextBehind delivers a scanned version inside the facility.

This is not unusual. Many county jails across the country use mail processing services like TextBehind or Smart Communications to reduce the introduction of contraband through mail.

The Correct Mailing Address

Send all personal mail to:

[Full Legal Name, Inmate ID Number] Buncombe County Detention Facility, NORTH CAROLINA P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Two things that trip people up:

1. Write NORTH CAROLINA in full. The facility requires “NORTH CAROLINA” spelled out. Do not write “NC.” TextBehind sorts mail by these identifiers and the abbreviation may cause your letter to be misrouted.
2. Include the inmate ID number. Find it by searching the roster at buncombecountyso.policetocitizen.com/Inmates/Catalog. Without the correct ID number, the letter may not reach the right person.

Always write your return address on the envelope in case the letter cannot be delivered.

How TextBehind Works

TextBehind receives your physical letter in Phoenix, MD. Staff scan it and deliver a digital copy to the person’s account inside Buncombe County Detention. The person reads it on a screen. They do not receive the original paper letter.

This process typically takes a few business days from the time you mail the letter to when it shows in the facility’s system. Allow extra time around weekends and holidays.

Because TextBehind scans the content, anything in the letter that violates facility rules may cause the letter to be rejected. Write clearly and keep content appropriate.

What You Can Send

Letters: Plain white paper with handwritten or printed text. Do not use glitter, stickers, lipstick, perfume, or anything applied to the paper. These items can trigger rejection.

Cards: Greeting cards are generally allowed but check with TextBehind’s guidelines. Cards with attached items like ribbons, buttons, or pop-ups may be rejected.

Photos: Check TextBehind’s current policy for photos. Some facilities allow photos up to a certain size; others route them separately. Call (828) 250-4503 or check TextBehind’s website for the current photo rules at Buncombe County Detention.

Sending Books

Books are subject to strict rules at Buncombe County Detention:

• Softcover only. No hardcover books.
• New only. Used books are not accepted.
• Maximum 6 books at a time.
• Send from the publisher or an approved vendor. One approved vendor is SureShot Books at sureshotbooks.com, which specializes in shipping books to correctional facilities.
• Ship via USPS, FedEx, or UPS only. Books shipped through Amazon’s delivery network are not accepted, even if the book was purchased on Amazon. Order through a different seller or use SureShot Books.

If you want to send a book, order it directly from the publisher or from SureShot Books and have it shipped in a box directly to TextBehind’s P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131 with the person’s name and inmate ID on the label.

What’s Not Allowed

Do not send any of the following:

• Cash or checks (use InmateCanteen for money deposits)
• Hardcover books
• Used books
• Books from Amazon
• Cards or letters with glitter, stickers, or applied items
• Packages of any kind
• Food, clothing, or personal items
• Anything with gang-related, explicit, or threatening content

Mail that contains prohibited items or content will be rejected. Depending on the item, it may be returned to sender or disposed of.

Sending Money vs. Sending Mail

Mail and money are completely separate. Do not put cash in your letter. Use InmateCanteen at team3.inmatecanteen.com to deposit money to their commissary account. See the send money guide for full instructions.

Legal Mail

If you are an attorney sending legal correspondence, do not use TextBehind. Legal mail is handled separately and is typically delivered directly to the person. Call (828) 250-4503 to get the correct procedure for attorney-client mail.

Troubleshooting Rejected Mail

If your letter doesn’t reach the person, check these things:

• Was the address written exactly right, including NORTH CAROLINA spelled out?
• Was the inmate ID number included?
• Did the letter contain anything that could trigger a rejection (stickers, glitter, offensive content)?
• Was it mailed to the correct P.O. Box in Phoenix, MD, not the Asheville address?

Call (828) 250-4503 if you need help figuring out why mail was rejected or returned.

Send Photos and Letters with Pigeonly

The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Buncombe County Detention Facility 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.