Personal mail routes through TextBehind in Phoenix, MD. Books ship directly from publishers to Smithfield.
Send letters and photos in minutes
Mail to Johnston Correctional Institution does not go directly to the facility in Smithfield. Personal letters and photos are processed through TextBehind, a third-party mail processing 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 Smithfield address. Legal mail is handled separately and does not go through TextBehind.
NC DAC uses TextBehind to process personal mail at facilities like Johnston 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 handling every piece.
If you mail a letter directly to 794 Turnage Road, Smithfield, NC 27577, it will not reach the person inside. That physical address is for books and approved packages from retailers only.
Send all personal letters and photos to:
Johnston Correctional Institution [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] 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 the mail to be rejected.
TextBehind accepts:
TextBehind does NOT accept:
If you send any of the items above to the TextBehind address, they will be returned or rejected.
You can include photos with your letter through TextBehind. General rules:
TextBehind scans and inspects photos. A rejected photo will not be delivered. Keep photos simple and family-appropriate when in doubt.
Books are allowed but must be shipped directly from the publisher, Amazon, or another approved retailer. You cannot bring a book to a visit or mail one through TextBehind. The book must arrive in its original packaging from the sender.
Ship books to:
Johnston Correctional Institution [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] 794 Turnage Road Smithfield, NC 27577
The book must arrive from a publisher or retailer. Used books sent person-to-person are not accepted. Contact the facility at (984) 201-8200 to confirm current book policies before ordering.
Legal mail from attorneys, courts, or government agencies is handled separately at Johnston CI. It does not go through TextBehind. Legal mail is typically addressed directly to the facility and opened in front of the inmate.
If you are an attorney or legal representative, contact the facility at (984) 201-8200 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 Johnston CI for delivery. There is no tracking number for personal mail through TextBehind. If a letter does not arrive after a reasonable time, call (984) 201-8200 to ask if 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.
Johnston CI is a reentry facility, and minimum-custody residents may move into work release or community-based placements as they get closer to release. If the person transfers to another NC facility, mail already in process through TextBehind may follow them. After a transfer, confirm the new facility’s mail process since not all NC prisons use TextBehind. If the person moves to a community placement, contact Johnston CI at (984) 201-8200 to ask how to reach them.
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 Johnston CI takes time. Mail through TextBehind is something you can do right away, without being on the approved list. Send a letter to let them know what is happening while the application is in process. Pair that with setting up phone calls through ConnectNetwork AdvancePay so they can reach you while you wait.
The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Johnston 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 13 questions
Personal mail goes through TextBehind: Johnston Correctional Institution, [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Do not mail letters directly to Smithfield.
MailNC DAC uses TextBehind to process personal mail at Johnston 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 794 Turnage Road, Smithfield, NC 27577 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], Johnston Correctional Institution, 794 Turnage Road, Smithfield, NC 27577. 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 photo sizes 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 Johnston CI. There is no tracking. If mail seems to be missing after a week, call (984) 201-8200.
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 (984) 201-8200 for current legal mail procedures.
MailRejected mail is returned to you or destroyed depending on the content. The inmate is typically notified. Call (984) 201-8200 to ask if a specific piece of mail was received or rejected.
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.
MailJohnston CI is a reentry facility and some residents move to work release or community placements. If that happens, contact Johnston CI at (984) 201-8200 to find out how to reach the person. Not all community placements use the same mail system.
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 (984) 201-8200 or email [email protected].
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.