Personal mail goes to TextBehind in Phoenix MD, not the facility in Dallas. Always include the OPUS number.
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NC DAC routes personal mail through TextBehind, a mail processing service. Personal letters and photos sent to Gaston 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 Dallas. Books and publications go directly to the facility. Legal mail also goes directly to the facility. 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:
Gaston 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 to 520 Justice Court in Dallas 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] Gaston Correctional Center 520 Justice Court Dallas, NC 28034
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 (704) 922-3861 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] Gaston Correctional Center 520 Justice Court Dallas, NC 28034
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 (704) 922-3861 to confirm the current photo policy before sending.
Packages must go through the facility’s approved vendor at ncinmatepackage.com. Sending packages by regular mail or through unauthorized vendors will result in them being returned or confiscated. Call (704) 922-3861 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. Books and legal mail are 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 (704) 922-3861 if mail keeps being returned without a clear reason.
The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Gaston 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: Gaston Correctional Center, [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Books and publications go to the facility: 520 Justice Court, Dallas, NC 28034. 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 Gaston. Sending a personal letter to the Dallas 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 (704) 922-3861 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 520 Justice Court, Dallas, NC 28034. They must be new and shipped directly from an approved publisher or retailer. Call (704) 922-3861 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], Gaston Correctional Center, 520 Justice Court, Dallas, NC 28034.
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. Books sent directly to the facility 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 (704) 922-3861 if mail keeps being returned.
MailPackages must go through the approved vendor at ncinmatepackage.com. Do not send packages by regular mail or through unauthorized vendors. Call (704) 922-3861 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 (704) 922-3861 or email [email protected].
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.
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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.