Mail & Photos to Wake County Detention. Two-Address System Explained

Understanding the Two-Address System

Wake County Detention uses different addresses for different types of mail. Getting the wrong address on the wrong type of mail means your letter may not reach the person. Here is the breakdown:

Mail Type	Address	Notes
Personal mail (letters, photos, drawings)	P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131	GTL scan-and-forward; delivered digitally
Legal mail (Hammond Road)	P.O. Box 2479, Raleigh, NC 27602-2479	Goes directly to facility
Legal mail (Baker Public Safety Center)	P.O. Box 2419, Raleigh, NC 27602	Goes directly to downtown facility

Never send personal mail to the Raleigh P.O. Boxes. Those are for legal correspondence only. Personal mail sent to the Raleigh addresses may be returned or delayed.

Address Format for Personal Mail

Use this exact format for every letter and photo you send:

Wake County Detention NC
[Inmate Full Name, Inmate ID Number]
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131

Every line matters:

• Line 1: Must say “Wake County Detention NC” exactly. The state abbreviation is part of the required format because the Phoenix address processes mail for multiple facilities.
• Line 2: The inmate’s full legal name, a comma, then their inmate ID number. Both are required. Missing the ID number can result in undeliverable mail.
• Lines 3-4: P.O. Box 247 / Phoenix, MD 21131.

Your return address: Put your full name and physical mailing address in the top-left corner of the envelope. Do not use a P.O. Box as your return address if you can help it; a physical address is preferred.

How the Scan-and-Forward Process Works

When your envelope arrives at the Phoenix processing center:

1. Staff check that the address format is correct and the ID number is present.
2. The letter is opened and scanned.
3. The digital image is reviewed for prohibited content.
4. If approved, the scanned letter is delivered to the person’s tablet inside the facility.
5. You do not get the original letter back; it is not forwarded to Raleigh as a physical item.

Because mail is delivered digitally, the person must have access to a tablet or kiosk inside the facility to read it. Delivery typically takes a few business days after the letter arrives in Phoenix.

Sending Photos

Photos follow the same process as personal mail: send them to P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. The photo is scanned and delivered digitally.

Photo tips:

• Standard 4x6 photos work well for scanning.
• Do not send photos with inappropriate content (nudity, weapons, gang-related imagery).
• Polaroids and photos with thick borders may not scan as clearly.
• Handwritten notes on the back of photos are typically included in the scan.

If you have questions about specific photo formats, call (919) 773-7930 before sending.

Address Format for Legal Mail (Hammond Road)

Legal mail for someone housed at 3301 Hammond Road goes to:

[Inmate's Full Name]
Wake County Detention Center
P.O. Box 2479
Raleigh, NC 27602-2479

Mark the envelope clearly as “Legal Mail” or “Attorney-Client Privileged.” Legal mail is typically opened in front of the person to verify it does not contain contraband, but it is not read by staff.

Address Format for Legal Mail (Baker Public Safety Center)

Legal mail for someone housed at the Baker Public Safety Center at 330 S. Salisbury St. goes to:

[Inmate's Full Name]
Public Safety Center
P.O. Box 2419
Raleigh, NC 27602

To find out which facility houses the person, use the Police-2-Citizen inmate search at wakeso.policetocitizen.com/Inmates before sending legal mail.

What Not to Send

The following are not allowed in personal mail:

• Cash or checks (use Access Corrections at accesscorrections.com to send money)
• Stamps or envelopes
• Stickers, glitter, or anything applied to the paper surface
• Offensive or sexually explicit content
• Gang-related symbols or content
• Contraband of any kind

Prohibited items will cause the mail to be rejected and the sender may be flagged.

What Can Be Sent in Mail

• Handwritten letters
• Printed letters (typed and printed at home)
• Personal photos (within content guidelines)
• Drawings

For anything beyond a standard letter or photo (books, magazines, publications), call (919) 773-7930 to ask about the current approved vendor and package rules. Book policies at county jails often require that books come directly from a publisher or approved vendor, not from home.

When Mail Is Rejected

If your mail is rejected at the Phoenix processing center or at the Raleigh facility, the reason varies:

• Missing or incorrect inmate ID number
• Missing facility name or state on the address line
• Prohibited content in the letter or photo
• No return address from the sender

If you sent mail and the person says they never received it, wait a few business days (scanning and processing takes time) and then call (919) 773-7930 to ask whether there is a record of the mail arriving.

Packages

Package rules at county jails change frequently. Call (919) 773-7930 before sending any package to confirm what is allowed, the size and weight limits, and whether packages must come from an approved vendor.

Do not send a package and assume it will be accepted. A rejected package is returned to the sender at the sender’s cost.

Staying Connected Beyond Mail

Letters are one piece of a larger picture. Phone calls through GettingOut let the person call you any day their unit has phone access. See the phone calls guide to set up your account.

Video visits are available Monday through Thursday. See the visitation guide to schedule a slot.

Send Photos and Letters with Pigeonly

The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Wake County Detention 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.