Personal mail routes through TextBehind in Phoenix, MD. Books ship directly from publishers to Tillery, NC.
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Mail to Roanoke River Correctional Institution does not go directly to the facility in Tillery. 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 Tillery address. Legal mail is handled separately and does not go through TextBehind.
NC DAC uses TextBehind to process personal mail at facilities like Roanoke River 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 system allows the facility to receive mail without staff manually opening every piece.
If you mail a letter directly to 2787 Caledonia Drive, Tillery, NC 27882, it will not reach the person. That address is for books and approved publications only, not personal letters.
Send all personal letters and photos to:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Roanoke River 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. If your return address is incomplete, the mail may not be accepted.
TextBehind accepts:
TextBehind does NOT accept:
If you send any of the above items to the TextBehind address, they will be returned or rejected.
You can include photos with your letter through TextBehind. General rules for photos:
TextBehind scans and inspects photos. If a photo is rejected, it will not be delivered. Keep photos simple and family-appropriate.
Books are allowed but 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 its original packaging from the sender.
Ship books to:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Roanoke River Correctional Institution 2787 Caledonia Drive Tillery, NC 27882
The book must arrive from a retailer. Used books sent person-to-person are not accepted. Contact the facility at (252) 826-5621 to confirm current book policies before ordering, including whether hardcover and paperback are both accepted.
Legal mail from attorneys, courts, or government agencies is handled separately from personal mail at Roanoke River 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 Roanoke River CI, contact the facility at (252) 826-5621 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 Roanoke River CI for delivery. There is no tracking number for personal mail through TextBehind. If a letter does not arrive after a reasonable time, call the facility at (252) 826-5621 to ask whether it was received and whether anything was flagged.
Mail rejected for prohibited content will be returned to you or destroyed depending on what was inside. The person inside will typically be notified that a piece of mail was rejected.
If the person transfers from Roanoke River CI to another NC facility, mail sent to the TextBehind address may follow them if it has not already been processed. Once they transfer, confirm the new facility’s mail process. Not all NC facilities use TextBehind; some may have different rules.
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 Roanoke River CI takes time. Mail through TextBehind is something you can do right away, without being on the approved list. Send your first letter while the application processes. Pair that with setting up phone calls through ConnectNetwork AdvancePay so they can reach you while you wait.
The facility’s street address is 2787 Caledonia Drive, which reflects the property’s original name before the 2021 rename. The mailing address for personal mail still goes to TextBehind in Phoenix, Maryland. Use the Caledonia Drive address only for books shipped from retailers.
The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Roanoke River 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.
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Personal mail goes through TextBehind: [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], Roanoke River Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Do not mail letters directly to Tillery, NC.
MailNC DAC uses TextBehind to process personal mail at Roanoke River 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 to 2787 Caledonia Drive, Tillery, NC 27882 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], Roanoke River Correctional Institution, 2787 Caledonia Drive, Tillery, NC 27882. 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 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 Roanoke River CI. There is no tracking. If mail seems to be missing after a week, call (252) 826-5621.
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) 826-5621 for current legal mail procedures.
MailRejected mail is returned to you or destroyed depending on the content. The inmate is typically notified. Call (252) 826-5621 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.
MailThe street was named before the 2021 rename and has not changed. The physical address remains 2787 Caledonia Drive, Tillery, NC 27882. Use that address when ordering books from retailers.
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) 826-5621 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 7, 2026.