Johnston County is responsible for about 2,000 arrests out of North Carolina's annual average of 235,000 arrests. Per the North Carolina Public Records Act, members of the public can inspect and obtain copies of the county's arrest records. The cost for obtaining copies of arrest records in Johnston County ranges from $0.25 to $30, depending on the record custodian and the volume of the records.
However, certain arrest records cannot be released to the public for security or privacy reasons. Exempt records in Johnston County include juvenile arrest records, expunged or sealed records, records of ongoing investigations, and medical records. These records can only be accessed by authorized persons or entities, including law enforcement officers, judicial officers, those named on the records, their attorneys, and the Johnston County Attorney's Office.
Agencies that maintain arrest records and make them available to the public in Johnston County include the state's law enforcement agencies, city or town police departments, and the county sheriff's office.
Record seekers can request Johnston County arrest records from the Johnston County Sheriff's Office. They can use the Arrest Search portal to search for arrests that occurred in the previous 15 days. They can also use the Inmate Search tool provided by the Sheriff's Office to search for details of persons incarcerated in the county jail. Furthermore, anyone can visit the Sheriff's Office during business hours to obtain copies of arrest records at:
Johnston County Sheriff's Office 2875 US-70 Bus E
Smithfield, NC 27577
Record seekers can obtain arrest records from the Johnston County police departments upon request. They will typically provide details about the arrest including the arrestee's name, arrest location, and arrest date. Some police departments in the county maintain online portals for the public to view their arrest and incident logs. Major police departments in the county include the following:
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) collates, analyzes, and maintains criminal records from law enforcement agencies across North Carolina, including Johnston County. Eligible individuals and authorized entities can use the Background Check platform provided by the NCSBI to request criminal records. Interested parties can call the NCSBI at (919) 582-8660 or visit their office at:
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation 3320 Garner Road Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
Fax: (919) 661-5977
Johnston County's criminal court records contain arrest records of arrests that led to charges. The Johnston County Superior and District Court hears all criminal cases in the county and the Johnston County Clerk of the Superior Court maintains the records of those cases. Interested persons can use the public terminals at the Clerk's premises or request copies at a fee. They can also mail the completed Form AOC-CR-314 with applicable fees to:
Johnston Clerk of the Superior Court
207 East Johnston Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 209-5400
Furthermore, trustworthy third-party platforms like InfoTracer can be used to access Johnston County's arrest records. These websites are typically faster and more convenient to use.
Johnston County has an arrest rate of 762 per 100,000 population. Some arrest figures for adults and juveniles recorded in Johnston County are shown below:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter | 4 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 |
| Robbery | 5 |
| Rape | 2 |
| Aggravated Assault | 51 |
| Simple Assault | 149 |
| Burglary | 29 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6 |
| Larceny | 159 |
| Arson | 1 |
| Fraud | 29 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 1,844 |
Source: North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Benson Police Department | 303 E Church St | 919-894-2091 |
| Clayton Police Department | 315 E 2nd St | 919-553-4611 |
| Four Oaks Police Department | 304 N. Main Street | 919-963-3112 |
| Pine Level Police Department | 214 N Peedin Ave | 919-965-2045 |
| Selma Police Department | 1200, S Pollock St | 919-965-8189 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Johnston Correctional Institution | 2465 Us 70 West | 919-934-8386 |