Personal mail routes through TextBehind in Phoenix, MD. Books ship directly from publishers to 2821 N.C. Highway 903, Maury, NC 28554.
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Mail to Eastern Correctional Institution does not go directly to Maury. Personal letters and photos are processed through TextBehind, a third-party mail 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 Maury address. Legal mail is handled separately and does not go through TextBehind.
NC DAC uses TextBehind to process personal mail at facilities like Eastern CI. 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 lets the facility receive mail without staff manually opening every envelope.
If you mail a letter directly to 2821 N.C. Highway 903, Maury, NC 28554, it will not reach the person. That address is for books and approved packages from retailers only, not personal letters.
Send all personal letters and photos to:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Eastern Correctional Institution 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. An incomplete return address can cause your mail to be rejected.
TextBehind accepts:
TextBehind does NOT accept:
Sending any of those items to the TextBehind address will result in rejection or return.
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. Keep photos simple and family-appropriate.
Books 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 original packaging from the seller.
Ship books to:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Eastern Correctional Institution 2821 N.C. Highway 903 Maury, NC 28554
The book must clearly be arriving from a retailer. Person-to-person used book mailings are not accepted. Call (252) 653-5774 to confirm current book policies at Eastern CI before ordering.
Legal mail (from attorneys, courts, or government agencies) is handled separately from personal mail at Eastern CI. 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 Eastern CI, contact the facility at (252) 653-5774 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 Eastern CI for delivery. There is no tracking number for personal mail through TextBehind. If a letter has not arrived after a week, call the facility at (252) 653-5774 to ask whether it was received or flagged.
Mail rejected for prohibited content will either be returned to you or destroyed depending on what was inside. The person inside is typically notified when a piece of mail is rejected.
Eastern CI operates a 48-cell restricted housing unit. Mail rules are the same across all housing units: personal mail goes through TextBehind and must follow standard NC DAC mail policy. Inmates in restricted housing may have limited access to some privileges, but the TextBehind address and process does not change based on housing unit. If you have a question about whether someone in restricted housing is currently receiving mail, call (252) 653-5774.
If the person transfers from Eastern CI to another NC facility, mail already in process through TextBehind may follow them. Once they transfer, confirm with the new facility what the current mail process is. Not all NC prisons use TextBehind, so rules may differ.
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 Eastern CI takes time. You can start mailing letters through TextBehind right away, without being on the approved visitor list. Sending a letter is a way to stay in contact while your application is being processed. You can also set up phone calls through ConnectNetwork AdvancePay so the person can reach you before your first visit.
The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Eastern 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.
6 of 14 questions
Personal mail goes through TextBehind: [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], Eastern Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Do not mail letters directly to Maury.
MailNC DAC uses TextBehind to process personal mail at Eastern CI. 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 the Maury address 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], Eastern Correctional Institution, 2821 N.C. Highway 903, Maury, NC 28554. 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 4x6 photos 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 Eastern CI. There is no tracking. If mail seems to be missing after a week, call (252) 653-5774.
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 (252) 653-5774 for current legal mail procedures.
MailMail rules are the same across all housing units at Eastern CI. Personal mail goes through TextBehind regardless of which unit the person is in. If you have concerns about mail delivery for someone in restricted housing, call (252) 653-5774.
MailRejected mail is returned to you or destroyed depending on the content. The inmate is typically notified. Call (252) 653-5774 to ask if a specific piece of mail was received or flagged.
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 (252) 653-5774 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 8, 2026.