Paying to send mail to someone incarcerated in NC? We’d like to hear from you.

The state of North Carolina and some sheriffs charge people to send mail to loved ones who are incarcerated.

To send a letter to someone in a North Carolina prison or the Mecklenburg County jail, people have to register for an account with a company called TextBehind.

That means sending a physical letter to Maryland so it can be scanned and shared by computer by someone who is in prison or a jail.

If you’ve gone through this process — especially in Mecklenburg County, but anywhere in North Carolina — we’d like to hear from you. You can help The Charlotte Observer investigate by telling us about your experience and sharing this article with anyone you know who’s been affected.

You can reach reporter Ryan Oehrli at 252-944-6816 or roehrli@charlotteobserver.com.

Ryan Oehrli covers criminal justice in the Charlotte region for The Charlotte Observer. His work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The Observer maintains full editorial control of its journalism.

Ryan Oehrli

The Charlotte Observer

Ryan Oehrli writes about criminal justice for The Charlotte Observer. His reporting has delved into police misconduct, jail and prison deaths, the state’s pardon system and more. He was also part of a team of Pulitzer finalists who covered Hurricane Helene. A North Carolina native, he grew up in Beaufort County.