How to Send Money to Pamlico C.I.

Who Can Send Money

NC DAC restricts money deposits to approved visitors only. You must already be on the inmate’s approved visitation list before you can send funds. If you are not yet approved, contact the inmate and ask them to add you to their visitor list through the facility. Once you are approved as a visitor, you can use any of the three payment methods below.

What You Need Before You Send

Before you send money, get the inmate’s OPUS number. This is their NC DAC identification number. Find it by searching their name at webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do?method=view. Write it down exactly. You will need it for every ConnectNetwork transaction and Western Union transfer.

Option 1: ConnectNetwork Online or by App

ConnectNetwork is the fastest way to send money to a North Carolina state inmate. Go to connectnetwork.com and create a free account if you do not already have one. Search for the inmate by OPUS number or name, enter the amount, and complete payment by credit card, debit card, or bank account.

ConnectNetwork also offers a mobile app. Search for ConnectNetwork in your phone’s app store, create an account, and follow the same process as the website.

Service fees apply and vary by deposit amount and payment method. You will see the fee before you confirm the transaction. Fee tiers are approximately $2.48, $5.00, $6.58, or $8.16 depending on the deposit size.

Option 2: Western Union

Send money through Western Union using the code “NCDAC TRUST.” You can complete a Western Union transfer online at westernunion.com, through the Western Union app, or at a Western Union agent location. Have the inmate’s name and OPUS number ready. Service fees apply through Western Union as well.

Option 3: Money Order by Mail

Money orders sent by mail have no service fee from NC DAC’s side. Make the money order payable to the inmate, write their full legal name and OPUS number on the memo line, and mail it to:

TouchPay Holdings LLC
PO Box 174
Houston, TX 77001-0174

Do not include cash in the envelope. Do not send personal checks. Mail transit time adds several business days before the money order reaches the processing address, so plan ahead if the deposit is time-sensitive.

What the Money Covers

Funds deposited into the inmate’s trust account can be used for:

• Commissary purchases (food, hygiene items, postage, and other approved items)
• Prepaid phone credit for ViaPath/GTL calls through ConnectNetwork
• Approved programming fees
• Other facility-approved expenses

Phone credit and commissary funds may come out of the same trust account or separate accounts, depending on how NC DAC sets up individual facility accounts. If you are unsure, contact ConnectNetwork customer support to ask which account phone charges draw from.

Troubleshooting a Failed Deposit

If a deposit does not show up within the expected time:

1. Log in to your ConnectNetwork account to confirm the transaction completed without errors.
2. Verify the OPUS number matches the inmate exactly. One wrong digit sends the money to the wrong account.
3. Confirm you are on the inmate’s approved visitor list. NC DAC can reject deposits from non-approved senders.
4. Contact ConnectNetwork customer support if the deposit still has not appeared after a few business days.

What Happens When the Inmate Transfers

If the inmate transfers to another NC DAC facility, the trust account balance moves with them. ConnectNetwork works across NC DAC institutions, so you do not need to change anything when a transfer happens within the state system. If they transfer out of NC DAC entirely, call ConnectNetwork to ask how the balance is handled.

Special Circumstances

Court-ordered restitution: Some inmates have automatic deductions from their trust account for court-ordered restitution or fines. If the available balance is lower than expected after a deposit, this may be the reason.

Account holds: NC DAC can place a hold on an inmate’s trust account for disciplinary reasons or a pending investigation. A hold can delay when the deposited funds become spendable.

Sender eligibility: If a deposit is rejected, confirm you are on the inmate’s approved visitor list. NC DAC does not allow funds from non-approved senders, and your deposit may be returned if your name does not appear on the list.

Multiple senders: There is no rule against several family members sending money to the same inmate, but NC DAC caps the total trust account balance an inmate can hold. If the account is near its limit, a new deposit may be delayed.