The Michigan Department of Corrections is instituting a new program, TextBehind DOCS, that will allow MDOC officials to more quickly verify legal mail being sent into correctional facilities.
Currently, the MDOC photocopies all regular mail that prisoners receive to prevent drugs or contraband from being introduced; but legal mail is the exception, as officials cannot photocopy the mail and must provide recipient with originals. To verify legal mail was sent by a verified source, MDOC has been contacting senders directly for nearly every piece of legal mail. The new system will save attorneys, eligible agencies and prison staff time. It will also help ensure the safety of staff and those that reside in prison.
Attorneys, courts, legal service organizations, consulates, and other confidential, privileged, and special handling mail senders will be required to register for free sender validation on the TextBehind website. Prior to sending each piece of eligible mail, the registered user will visit the TextBehind website to designate who will be receiving the mail item, which will result in the website providing a unique QR code that will be printed on the outside of the envelope or on a label that is placed on the envelope. When the facility receives the mail item, officials will scan the QR code to ensure it is a legitimate piece of special handling mail, and they will then deliver the original mail to the prisoner.
Users can begin registering and using the system immediately. To ensure registration and system processes are streamlined, the state has removed the January 12 requirement for system use. A new date for required system use will be communicated at a later date. We still encourage all users to register now, before a required system use date is set, to ensure you are successful with the new process and service will not be interrupted. If you have feedback on registration or the new system, please contact Norma Killough whose contact information is below..
Required Steps If you Are Eligible to Send Special Handling Mail
1. Senders must register for a free account with TextBehind. Users will visit the registration site at www.textbehind.com/register. Users will select the “DOCS (Document Management System)” for “Attorney & Govt. Agencies” option. Users will fill out all required fields, including providing their P-Number or Employee ID Number. Registration will require attorneys to provide a copy of their state-issued photo identification, as well as a copy of their State Bar of Michigan attorney card. ***PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MDOC IS UTILIZING A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT HAVE A COST FOR USERS. IF YOU REACH A PROMPT ASKING FOR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION, YOU HAVE SELECTED THE WRONG SYSTEM FOR STATE OF MICHIGAN USERS.
2. All mail senders within a firm/agency will be required to register, as registration is completed at the individual sender level.
3. Once a user is registered, they can begin utilizing the service. They will visit the TextBehind website to receive a QR code for each envelope they will be sending to an MDOC facility with special handling. QR codes may be printed directly on the envelope or can be printed on a mailing label that is placed on the envelope.
For questions on the this procedural change, please contact:
For questions specific to the TextBehind system, please contact:
TextBehind Help Center: https://textbehind.com/contact-us
