Personal mail goes to TextBehind in Phoenix MD, not to the facility in Spindale. Use the right address or your letter will not reach them.
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Rutherford Correctional Center uses TextBehind to process personal mail. You do not send letters directly to the facility in Spindale. Personal mail goes to a TextBehind processing center in Phoenix, Maryland, where it is digitized and delivered electronically to the resident. Books and publications are the exception and mail directly to the facility address. Legal mail also goes directly to the facility and is not processed through TextBehind.
There are three different addresses for three different types of mail. Using the wrong one will delay or prevent delivery.
| Mail Type | Address |
|---|---|
| Personal letters and photos | TextBehind, P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131 |
| Books and publications | 549 Ledbetter Road, Spindale, NC 28160 |
| Legal mail | 549 Ledbetter Road, Spindale, NC 28160 (or contact facility for current instructions) |
Do not use the facility’s P.O. Box 127, Spindale, NC 28160 for personal mail. That address is for facility business, not for mail to residents.
Address all personal letters and photos like this:
Rutherford Correctional Center [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
The OPUS number goes on the same line as the full legal name, right after it. This is how TextBehind matches your letter to the right resident.
Example: Rutherford Correctional Center John Michael Smith, 1234567 P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
Write your return address clearly on the back flap of the envelope.
TextBehind is a mail processing service used by many NC DAC facilities. When your letter arrives at the Phoenix processing center:
Physical letters are not forwarded to the facility. The resident receives a printed or on-screen version of your letter. This means you do not need to worry about the letter being lost in transit to Spindale, but it also means the resident does not receive the original envelope or paper.
Photos can be sent to the TextBehind address along with a letter. TextBehind will scan and process them the same way as written letters.
Keep photos appropriate. Do not send:
Photos that violate these rules will be rejected and the resident will be notified.
Books, magazines, and other publications do not go through TextBehind. They mail directly to the facility:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Rutherford Correctional Center 549 Ledbetter Road Spindale, NC 28160
NC DAC rules for books typically require:
Call (828) 286-4121 to confirm current book and publication rules before ordering. Rules can change.
For approved packages, NC DAC works with ncinmatepackage.com. This vendor is approved to ship packages directly to NC facilities. Sending packages through unapproved sources may result in rejection. Check the facility’s current approved vendor list by calling (828) 286-4121.
Legal mail goes directly to the facility, not through TextBehind:
[Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] Rutherford Correctional Center 549 Ledbetter Road Spindale, NC 28160
Legal mail must be clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. It is handled separately and opened in the presence of the resident, not inspected without them present. If you are an attorney or are mailing court documents, use the facility address and mark the envelope clearly as legal mail.
Mail will be rejected if:
The resident is notified when mail is rejected. In some cases, you may receive it back.
TextBehind processes mail as it arrives. Allow 2 to 5 business days from the date TextBehind receives the letter for the resident to get it. Mail time from your location to Phoenix, MD, plus processing time, determines when it arrives.
For questions about TextBehind, visit their website or check with the facility. For questions about a specific piece of mail, call Rutherford Correctional Center at (828) 286-4121.
The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Rutherford 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 to TextBehind: Rutherford Correctional Center, [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number], P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Books and publications go to the facility: 549 Ledbetter Road, Spindale, NC 28160. Legal mail also goes to the facility address.
MailRutherford Correctional Center uses TextBehind, a mail processing service. TextBehind receives, scans, and digitizes letters at their Phoenix facility, then delivers them electronically to the resident. This speeds up delivery and helps screen for contraband.
MailNo. P.O. Box 127 in Spindale is the facility's business address, not the address for personal resident mail. Personal letters must go to the TextBehind P.O. Box 247 in Phoenix, MD.
MailWrite it as: Rutherford Correctional Center / [Full Legal Name, OPUS Number] / P.O. Box 247 / Phoenix, MD 21131. The OPUS number goes right after the name on the same line.
MailYes, through TextBehind along with a letter. Keep photos appropriate. No nudity, explicit content, weapons, drugs, alcohol, or gang imagery. Photos that violate these rules will be rejected. You can also send photos through Pigeonly, which prints and mails them for you.
MailBooks and publications mail directly to the facility at 549 Ledbetter Road, Spindale, NC 28160. Ship from an approved vendor like Amazon or ncinmatepackage.com. Call (828) 286-4121 to confirm current book rules before ordering.
MailLegal mail goes directly to the facility at 549 Ledbetter Road, Spindale, NC 28160. Mark the outside of the envelope clearly as legal mail. It is opened in the resident's presence, not inspected without them.
MailNo. Do not send cash, checks, or money orders in personal mail. Use ConnectNetwork to deposit funds into the resident's account instead.
MailAllow the postal transit time from your location to Phoenix, MD, plus 2 to 5 business days for TextBehind to process and deliver the letter.
MailThe resident is notified of the rejection. In some cases, the letter may be returned to your return address. Make sure you write your return address clearly on the back flap of the envelope.
MailNo. TextBehind digitizes the letter. The resident receives a printed or electronic copy. The original paper and envelope are not forwarded to the facility.
MailNC DAC uses ncinmatepackage.com as an approved package vendor. You can order approved items directly through their site and they ship to the facility. Packages from unapproved sources may be rejected. Call (828) 286-4121 to confirm current package rules.
MailSend funds through ConnectNetwork instead of mailing cash.
View ArticleGet the OPUS number you need to address mail correctly.
View ArticleSchedule an in-person visit when you want to see them face to face.
View ArticleSet up ViaPath so the resident can call you between letters.
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.