Personal mail goes to TextBehind in Phoenix MD, not the facility in Lenoir. Always include the OPUS number.
Send letters and photos in minutes
NC DAC routes personal mail through TextBehind, a mail processing service. Personal letters and photos sent to Caldwell Correctional Center go to a P.O. Box in Phoenix, Maryland, where they are scanned and delivered digitally to the resident. Do not send personal mail to the facility address in Lenoir. Books and publications go directly to the facility. Legal mail goes directly to the facility as well. Do not use TextBehind for legal mail.
NC DAC processes personal mail through TextBehind. Mail goes to a P.O. Box in Phoenix, Maryland, where it is scanned and delivered digitally. Send all personal letters and photos to this address:
Caldwell Correctional Center [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
Put the resident’s full legal name exactly as it appears in NC DAC records. Include their OPUS number on the same line as their name. Mail without the OPUS number can be delayed or returned because staff cannot match it to the right person.
Find the OPUS number with the NC OPI inmate search if you do not already have it.
TextBehind scans the letter and delivers it digitally to the resident at the facility. This is how NC DAC handles personal mail system-wide. Sending a personal letter directly to 480 Pleasant Hill Road in Lenoir will not get it to the resident through normal mail processing.
Books, magazines, and other publications go directly to the facility, not TextBehind. Address them to:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Caldwell Correctional Center 480 Pleasant Hill Road Lenoir, NC 28645
Books must be new and shipped directly from an approved publisher or retailer. Used books or books with markings, inserts, or personal items are typically rejected. Call (828) 726-2509 to confirm the current book policy before ordering.
Legal mail, including mail from attorneys, courts, and government agencies, goes directly to the facility. Do not send legal mail through TextBehind. Address legal mail to:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Caldwell Correctional Center 480 Pleasant Hill Road Lenoir, NC 28645
Legal mail is opened in front of the resident to confirm contents, then inspected for contraband. It is not read for content unless there is a specific court order permitting it.
Photos can be included in mail sent through TextBehind. TextBehind scans them as part of the letter. Standard personal photos are generally accepted, but avoid photos that show:
Photo rules can change. Call (828) 726-2509 to confirm the current photo policy before sending.
Packages must go through the facility’s approved vendor at ncinmatepackage.com. Sending packages directly by mail or through unauthorized vendors will result in them being returned or confiscated. Call (828) 726-2509 to confirm which items are approved for packages before ordering.
Do not include any of the following in mail:
Sending prohibited items can delay or end mail privileges for the resident.
All incoming mail at NC DAC facilities is inspected for contraband before delivery. TextBehind scans and reviews personal mail at the processing center. Direct mail (books, legal mail) is opened and checked at the facility. Mail is not read for content beyond what is necessary to confirm it meets policy.
Processing times for TextBehind mail can vary. Allow a few business days from when you mail it for the resident to receive the digital version.
If a piece of mail is returned to you, check:
Call (828) 726-2509 if mail keeps being returned without a clear reason.
The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Caldwell Correctional Center 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: Caldwell Correctional Center, [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Books and publications go to the facility: 480 Pleasant Hill Road, Lenoir, NC 28645. Legal mail also goes to the facility directly.
MailNC DAC routes personal mail through TextBehind, a mail processing service. TextBehind scans the mail in Phoenix, MD and delivers it digitally to the resident at Caldwell. Sending a personal letter to the Lenoir address will not get it through normal processing.
MailYes. Include the resident's full legal name and OPUS number on every piece of mail. Without it, staff cannot match the mail to the right person and it may be delayed or returned.
MailYes. Photos can be included in mail sent through TextBehind. Avoid nudity, weapons, drugs, alcohol, or gang-related content. Call (828) 726-2509 to confirm the current photo policy before sending. You can also send photos through Pigeonly, which prints and mails them for you.
MailBooks go directly to the facility at 480 Pleasant Hill Road, Lenoir, NC 28645. They must be new and shipped directly from an approved publisher or retailer. Call (828) 726-2509 to confirm the current book policy before ordering.
MailNo. Legal mail goes directly to the facility, not through TextBehind. Address legal mail to [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], Caldwell Correctional Center, 480 Pleasant Hill Road, Lenoir, NC 28645.
MailNo. Do not put cash or checks in an envelope. Use ConnectNetwork, Western Union, or a money order to send money instead. See the send money guide for options.
MailNo. Residents at NC DAC facilities receive stamps through the commissary. Do not include stamps in mail.
MailTextBehind scans and delivers personal mail digitally, so processing typically takes a few business days from when you mail it. Direct mail such as books can take longer depending on shipping.
MailRejected mail is returned to the sender. Check that you used the correct TextBehind address, included the full legal name and OPUS number, and that the content follows NC DAC policy. Call (828) 726-2509 if mail keeps being returned.
MailPackages must go through the approved vendor at ncinmatepackage.com. Do not send packages directly by mail or through unauthorized vendors. Call (828) 726-2509 to confirm which items are approved before ordering.
MailMail is inspected for contraband, not read for content beyond what is needed to confirm it meets policy. Legal mail is opened in front of the resident to confirm contents, not read for content unless a court order specifically permits it.
MailSend funds through ConnectNetwork instead of including cash in an envelope.
View ArticleGet the OPUS number you need to address mail correctly.
View ArticlePlan an in-person visit. Call (828) 726-2509 to confirm scheduling.
View ArticleSet up ViaPath so the resident can call you from inside.
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.