Personal mail routes through TextBehind in Phoenix, MD. Include the OPUS Number on every piece.
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Sending personal mail to Orange Correctional Center does not mean mailing directly to Hillsborough. NC Department of Adult Correction uses TextBehind to process personal mail. Letters and photos go to a TextBehind facility in Phoenix, Maryland, where they are scanned and delivered digitally to the person inside. Do not mail personal letters directly to the facility address. Books and publications are the exception: those ship directly from the publisher or retailer to the Hillsborough address. Legal mail is handled separately and does not go through TextBehind.
NC DAC routes personal mail through TextBehind to reduce contraband and speed up delivery. When you send a letter or photo to the TextBehind address, the facility in Phoenix, Maryland receives the envelope, scans the contents, and delivers the digital version to the person at Orange Correctional Center. Physical originals are not forwarded. The person receives the mail electronically, typically within a day or two of TextBehind processing it.
This means you do not need to physically address mail to Hillsborough for letters and photos. The TextBehind address is the right address for all personal correspondence.
Address all personal letters and photos to:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Orange Correctional Center P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
The OPUS Number is required. Without it, TextBehind may not be able to match the mail to the right person. Find the OPUS Number using the NC OPI offender search.
Write your full return address on the envelope so your mail can be returned to you if there is a problem.
TextBehind processes:
TextBehind does NOT accept:
Sending any of the prohibited items through TextBehind will result in the item being rejected and returned to your return address.
Photos should be standard photo prints. Avoid sending:
If you have questions about specific photo content or size, call Orange Correctional Center at (919) 732-9301 before sending.
Books do not go through TextBehind. Instead, they ship directly from an approved publisher or retailer to the facility address:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Orange Correctional Center 2110 Clarence Walters Road Hillsborough, NC 27278
Books must be shipped directly from the publisher, a recognized online retailer (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble), or an approved vendor. Books mailed from a personal address are typically rejected. Do not include anything extra in the package besides the book itself.
Call (919) 732-9301 before sending a book to confirm the current book policy, including any restrictions on formats (hardcover vs. paperback) or content categories.
Legal mail does not go through TextBehind. Legal correspondence from an attorney must be sent directly to the facility address:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Orange Correctional Center 2110 Clarence Walters Road Hillsborough, NC 27278
Legal mail is handled separately from personal mail and is opened in the presence of the person, not by staff alone. Contact Orange Correctional Center at (919) 732-9301 or have the attorney contact the facility directly to confirm current legal mail procedures.
If mail is rejected at TextBehind, it is returned to your return address. Common rejection reasons include:
If you get a rejection back, review the rules, correct the issue, and resend. Contact Orange Correctional Center at (919) 732-9301 if you are unsure why a specific piece was rejected.
TextBehind typically processes mail within one to two business days of receipt. Once processed, the digital version is delivered to the person at Orange Correctional Center. Standard mail time from your location to Phoenix, MD affects overall delivery time.
For time-sensitive messages, phone calls through ViaPath/GTL are faster. See the phone calls guide for how to set up AdvancePay.
Never mail cash or money orders to Orange Correctional Center or to TextBehind. To put money on the person’s account, use ViaPath/ConnectNetwork. See the send money guide for all deposit options including a free money order method.
The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Orange 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.
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Personal mail goes through TextBehind. Address it to: [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], Orange Correctional Center, P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Books ship directly from publishers to 2110 Clarence Walters Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278.
MailNC DAC routes personal mail through TextBehind in Phoenix, MD. TextBehind scans letters and photos and delivers them digitally to the facility. This reduces contraband and speeds up mail processing.
MailStandard letters, photos, and non-electronic greeting cards. TextBehind does not accept packages, books, money orders, cash, stamps, stationery, oversized envelopes, or electronic/pop-up cards.
MailYes. Standard photo prints are accepted through TextBehind. Avoid sexually explicit content or photos showing weapons, drugs, alcohol, or gang content. Call (919) 732-9301 if you are unsure about a specific photo. You can also send photos through Pigeonly, which prints and mails them for you.
MailYes, but not through TextBehind. Books ship directly from the publisher or retailer to: [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], Orange Correctional Center, 2110 Clarence Walters Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Call (919) 732-9301 to confirm current book policy before ordering.
MailLegal mail does not go through TextBehind. Send it directly to the facility at 2110 Clarence Walters Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Legal mail is opened in the presence of the person. Call (919) 732-9301 to confirm current procedures.
MailNo. Never mail cash or money orders to TextBehind or to the facility. Use ViaPath/ConnectNetwork to send money. See the send money guide for all deposit options.
MailRejected mail is returned to your return address. Common reasons include a missing OPUS Number, a prohibited item, an oversized envelope, or prohibited photo content. Review the rules, correct the issue, and resend.
MailTextBehind typically processes mail within one to two business days of receiving it. Add standard postal delivery time from your location to Phoenix, MD. Total time is usually three to five days from when you mail it.
MailNo. TextBehind scans the letter and delivers a digital copy. Physical originals are not forwarded to the facility.
MailOPUS stands for Offender Population Unified System. It is the unique ID NC assigns to everyone in state custody. TextBehind uses it to match your mail to the right person. Find it using the NC OPI search at webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do?method=view.
MailYes, but only plain cards. No electronic, pop-up, or cards with attachments like glitter or stickers. If the card has any kind of music or light feature, it will be rejected.
MailNever mail cash. Use ConnectNetwork to put money on their account.
View ArticleGet the OPUS Number you need to address mail correctly.
View ArticlePlan an in-person visit while your letters are in transit.
View ArticleFaster than mail. Set up AdvancePay so they can call you.
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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.