Personal mail does not go to Morganton. Use the Greensboro PO Box with Facility ID 5020. Mail is scanned and destroyed.
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Burke County Jail uses a scan-and-forward mail system. Personal mail, letters, and photos do not go to the jail in Morganton. They go to a processing center in Greensboro. The Greensboro center scans each piece of mail, delivers it digitally to the person’s inmate tablet, and then destroys the physical originals. If you send personal mail to 130 Government Drive in Morganton, it will not reach the person inside. Legal mail only, marked “Legal Mail,” goes directly to the Morganton facility.
The Greensboro address is not the jail. It is a mail processing center. When you send a letter to PO Box 18247 in Greensboro, the facility there scans it and delivers it to the person digitally on an inmate tablet. The person reads your letter on a screen, not on paper. The physical envelope and pages are destroyed after scanning.
If you send personal mail to the Burke County Jail building at 130 Government Drive in Morganton, it will not reach the person. Personal mail sent to the Morganton address will be rejected or returned.
Address all personal mail, letters, photos, and cards to:
[Inmate Full Name, Inmate ID Number] Burke County Jail Facility ID: 5020 PO Box 18247 Greensboro, NC 27419
Every line matters. The inmate ID tells the processing center who the mail belongs to. Facility ID 5020 identifies Burke County Jail. Missing either number can delay or misdirect your mail.
Find the inmate ID by searching the online roster at morgantonpdnc.policetocitizen.com/Inmates/Catalog.
Legal mail, meaning mail from an attorney, a court, or a government agency, must be marked “Legal Mail” clearly on the outside of the envelope. Legal mail goes directly to the facility in Morganton, not to the Greensboro processing center.
Legal mail address:
[Inmate Full Name, Inmate ID Number] Burke County Jail 130 Government Drive Morganton, NC 28655
Legal mail is handled differently than personal mail. It is typically opened in the presence of the inmate, not by the scan-and-forward system.
To make sure your mail gets through, follow these rules:
Standard 4x6 photo prints are accepted if they follow the content guidelines below.
Photos sent to Burke County Jail go through the same scan-and-forward process as letters. The person sees the photo on their tablet screen. Keep these rules in mind:
The person reads your letter and views your photos on an inmate tablet. The experience is like reading an email or viewing an image on a screen. They will not hold a physical piece of paper or a photo print. The scan-and-forward system is designed to reduce contraband entering the facility.
Mail sent to the Greensboro address goes through a scanning process before delivery. Delivery times vary but mail typically reaches the person within a few days of arrival at the processing center. Transit time from your location to Greensboro adds to that. Plan for 5 to 10 days total from the day you mail the letter.
Mail is rejected for the following reasons:
Rejected mail is not forwarded. It is returned or discarded. If a letter you sent does not arrive, contact the jail at (828) 764-9590 to ask.
Do not put cash in an envelope. It will not reach the person and may cause issues with the mailing. To put money on their account, use JailATM at jailatm.com.
Include your full return address on every envelope. Write your first and last name, street address, city, state, and zip code. Mail without a return address may be returned or discarded.
The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Burke County Jail 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 13 questions
For personal mail: [Inmate Full Name, Inmate ID Number], Burke County Jail, Facility ID: 5020, PO Box 18247, Greensboro, NC 27419. Do not send personal mail to the Morganton address. For legal mail only (marked 'Legal Mail'): 130 Government Drive, Morganton, NC 28655.
MailBurke County Jail uses a scan-and-forward mail system. Personal mail goes to a processing center in Greensboro where it is scanned and delivered digitally to the person's inmate tablet. Physical mail sent to 130 Government Drive in Morganton will not reach the inmate.
MailIt is the identifier for Burke County Jail at the Greensboro mail processing center. You must include it on every envelope of personal mail so the processor knows which jail the mail belongs to.
MailDigital only. The Greensboro processing center scans your letter and delivers it to the person's inmate tablet. The physical pages and envelope are destroyed after scanning. The person reads your letter on a screen.
MailYes. Standard printed photos (4x6, photo paper) are accepted. No Polaroids. No photos with nudity, weapons, drugs, alcohol, or gang content. No tape, stickers, or glitter on photos. Photos go through the same Greensboro scan-and-forward process.
MailMaximum 10 pages per envelope, 8.5 by 11 inches each. More than 10 pages may cause the mail to be rejected.
MailIf you send personal mail to 130 Government Drive in Morganton instead of the Greensboro PO Box, it will not be delivered to the inmate. Use the Greensboro address with Facility ID 5020 for all personal mail.
MailYes, as long as the card has no glitter, tape, 3D elements, or prohibited imagery. Keep the total page count including the card under 10 pages per envelope. Address it to the Greensboro PO Box.
MailAllow 5 to 10 days from when you mail the letter. Transit time to Greensboro plus processing and delivery to the tablet adds up. If a letter does not arrive after two weeks, contact the jail at (828) 764-9590.
MailContact the jail at (828) 764-9590 to confirm the current policy for books and magazines. Rules for publications vary and can change. Do not send books to the scan-and-forward address without confirming first.
MailNo. Do not put cash in an envelope. It will not reach the person. Use JailATM at jailatm.com to deposit money onto their account.
MailLegal mail is correspondence from an attorney, court, or government agency. Mark the outside of the envelope 'Legal Mail' and send it directly to 130 Government Drive, Morganton, NC 28655. Legal mail goes to the facility, not the Greensboro processor, and is typically opened in the inmate's presence.
MailRejected mail is returned to sender or discarded. It will not be held for pickup. If you believe a letter was rejected, contact the jail at (828) 764-9590 to ask.
MailGet the inmate ID you need to address every piece of mail.
View ArticleSend funds through JailATM instead of mailing cash.
View ArticleSchedule a free on-site visit or a paid remote visit through PayTel.
View ArticleSet up PayTel so the person can call you while you wait for letters.
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.