Mail & Photos to Catawba County Detention Facility. Address & Rules

Two Addresses. Two Different Rules.

This is the most important thing to understand about mail at Catawba County Detention Facility. There are two mailing addresses, and they handle mail very differently.

Personal mail (letters, cards, photos) goes to a Greensboro PO Box, not to Newton. The facility uses a scan-and-forward service. Your letter is opened, scanned, and delivered to the person inside as a digital image. The physical letter is not passed to the person.

Legal mail goes directly to Newton. Attorney correspondence, court documents, and other privileged mail is delivered to the facility in Newton and opened in front of the person inside.

Sending personal mail to the Newton address is a common mistake. That mail may not reach the person inside.

Personal Mail: Scan-and-Forward Address

Use this address for all personal letters, cards, and photos:

Catawba County Detention Facility
[Inmate Full Name, Inmate ID #]
Facility ID Number: 5029
PO Box 18247
Greensboro, NC 27419

Every piece of mail must include:

• The inmate’s full legal name
• The inmate’s ID number
• Facility ID Number 5029
• Your full first and last name and return address on the envelope

Missing any of these can result in the letter not being scanned or not being matched to the right person.

Legal Mail: Newton Address

Use this address for attorney correspondence, court documents, and other privileged mail:

[Inmate Full Name, Inmate ID #]
Catawba County Detention Facility
P.O. Box 385
Newton, NC 28658

Mark “Legal Mail” clearly on the outside of the envelope. Legal mail is handled separately from personal mail and is opened in front of the detainee, not before delivery.

Page Limits

Item	Limit
Pages per envelope	10 maximum
Paper size	8.5” x 11” only

Standard white or lined paper is fine. Oversized paper is not accepted.

Photos

You may include photos with personal mail. Photos must meet these requirements:

• No Polaroid format
• No explicit, violent, or sexually suggestive content
• No drug or alcohol-related imagery
• No gang symbols, signs, or references
• Standard print photo format

Photos are scanned along with the letter and delivered electronically. The physical photo is not passed to the person.

Greeting Cards

Greeting cards are allowed. They count toward the 10-page limit. Cards must not contain glitter, foil, raised elements, stickers, or attached items of any kind. Simple printed cards, blank or pre-printed, are acceptable.

What Is Not Allowed

The following items will cause mail to be rejected:

• Glitter, glue, tape, or any adhesive
• 3D elements, raised designs, or puffy stickers
• Electronics or batteries of any kind
• Newspaper clippings or magazine pages included in a letter
• Books, magazines, or newspapers (see the section below)
• Packages or padded envelopes
• Cash, checks, or money orders (use JailPackStore for deposits)
• Originals of important documents (birth certificates, Social Security cards, court orders). These are destroyed after scanning and cannot be returned.
• Content that is explicit, violent, or gang-related

Books and Magazines

The scan-and-forward system does not handle books, magazines, or newspapers. Do not send these to the Greensboro PO Box. They will not be processed or forwarded.

If books or subscriptions are allowed at Catawba County Detention Facility, contact the facility at (828) 465-8999 to ask about the current policy and approved methods for sending them. The facility can confirm whether books from publishers or approved vendors are accepted and where to address them.

Do Not Send Original Documents

Do not mail original documents such as birth certificates, ID cards, Social Security cards, or court documents. The scan-and-forward system scans and then destroys the physical item. The original will not be returned to you. If you need to send a copy of a document, use certified mail and keep the original yourself.

Return Address Requirements

Your return address must include your full first and last name. Do not use only a first name, initials, or a business name. Mail without a proper return address will not be scanned.

How Long Does Mail Take?

Scan-and-forward mail is processed and delivered electronically, which can be faster than physical mail delivery. However, processing time at the Greensboro facility can vary. Allow several business days for the letter to appear. If the person has not received a letter within a week, check that the address and Facility ID were correct and call the facility at (828) 465-8999.

What Happens to Your Letter After Scanning

After scanning, the physical letter is not stored or returned. This is standard with scan-and-forward services. If you want to keep a copy of what you sent, keep one for yourself before mailing.

What to Do If Mail Does Not Arrive

1. Check that you used the correct address (Greensboro PO Box for personal mail, Newton for legal mail).
2. Confirm you included Facility ID 5029 on personal mail.
3. Confirm you included the inmate’s full name and Inmate ID number.
4. Confirm your return address included your full first and last name.
5. Wait at least 7 to 10 days from the mailing date.
6. Call the facility at (828) 465-8999 to ask whether the mail was received or rejected.

Send Photos and Letters with Pigeonly

The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Catawba 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.