Criminal Statistics
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation publishes an annual summary report of state crimes as part of the nationwide Uniform Crime Reporting program. According to the 2017 publication, Johnston county law enforcement agencies recorded 3,495 reported index crimes, signaling a 10% decline in crime rate compared to reports of the previous year.
A further breakdown revealed that larceny was the most recurring crime in the county with a net total of 1,976 incidents, followed closely by burglary with 1,033 incidents and motor vehicle theft with 176 reported incidents. On the other hand, violent crimes accounted for only 8.8% of the total reported crimes with 220 reports of aggravated assault, 71 reports of robbery, while incidents of rape and murder were reported 16 and 3 times respectively.
Criminal Records
The Johnston County Sheriff's Office is tasked with providing law enforcement services to the county. However, in compliance with North Carolina state laws, criminal records are primarily managed by the Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court, which also offers county-level background checks on request. Criminal history records can also be obtained from the State Bureau of Investigation, which serves as the central repository of criminal information for the state. However, this service is restricted to authorized persons and agencies.
How to Get Criminal Records
County-wide criminal history records can be obtained from the office of the Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court. To access these records, interested persons may self-serve using the clerk's public-access service centers, or fill out and print a criminal record search request form which can be submitted along with the stated fees via mail or in-person. In-person and mail requests can be made to/at:
Johnston County Courthouse
207 E Johnston St
P.O. Box 297
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 209-5400
Alternatively, requests for statewide background checks may be directed to N.C. SBI. The Bureau only processes requests from individuals interested in obtaining a personal background check or from employers or authorized agencies interested in viewing the criminal history records of prospective employees or other applicants. Interested persons may request a personal background check by sending a completed Right to Review form to the Bureau, while authorized agencies may submit a request in writing to:
Access Integrity Unit - CIIS
NC State Bureau of Investigation
3320 Garner Road
P.O. Box 29500
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
AIUhelp@ncsbi.gov
How to Get Arrest Records
The Johnston county maintains a public access index of Arrest Records which houses records of recent arrests within the county. Interested persons may search the index by the first/last name of the arrested party or by the date/date-range of the arrest. However, only arrests that have occurred within the last 15 days are included in the index. Other records may be obtained by querying the Sheriff's office directly.
How to Find Sex Offender Information
All information relating to sex offenders resident in Johnston county can be accessed from the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry. The registry is the state-wide repository for sex offender information and can be searched by the name, address, sex registration number or the latitude/longitude of the offenders. Interested persons may also opt to receive email or phone alerts in order to stay updated about recent changes in sex offender location within the state.
How to Find Inmate and Jail Information
The Johnston County Inmate Inquiry page lists all persons incarcerated and currently housed in the Johnston County jail. The page provides public access to information relating to the inmates' arrest/booking dates as well as their personal information and primary charge. Other inmate-related queries may be directed to the Jail staff at:
General Information: (919) 989-5040
Mail and Visitation Queries: (919) 989-5045
Medical Inquiries: (919) 989-5035
Administration: (919) 989-5034
Court Records
Where and How to Get Court Records
The Johnston County Clerk of Courts maintains records of cases filed and heard by the county courts as well as details of court proceedings and judgment. In the state of North Carolina, court records are public records and are available to interested members of the public unless otherwise stated by a legal authority. To obtain Johnston county court records, interested persons may self-serve using the public access service terminal available in the Clerk of Court's office at:
Johnston County Courthouse
207 E Johnston St
P.O. Box 297
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 209-5400
Requestors may search for court records with the terminal using the defendants, victim or witness name or by the case number of the file. Additionally, copies can be made at the Clerk's office for a fee.
Location of all Courts in County
Below is the location and contact information of the only courthouse in Johnston County, North Carolina:
Johnston County Superior & District Court
207 East Johnston Street,
P.O. Box 297,
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 209-5400
Fax: (919) 209-5401
Where and How to Get Bankruptcy Records
Johnston County bankruptcy records are maintained and issued by the Court Clerk of the Eastern District of North Carolina US Bankruptcy Court.
To obtain copies of records of cases filed prior to December 1, 2003 (and closed cases older than a year), interested persons may send a written request to the Clerk's office along with a record search fee of $30 plus $.50 per page copy charge. These should be sent to:
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Eastern District of North Carolina
P.O. Box 791
Raleigh, NC 27602
Records of cases filed after 2003 can be obtained online using the Eastern District of North Carolina - Document Filing System. Requestors will be required to pay an access fee of $0.10 per page or $3.00 per document and self-serve by running queries on the system.
Vital Records
The North Carolina Public Health Department is the primary custodian of North Carolina vital records, and processes state-wide requests to view and/or copy them. Similarly, the Johnston County Register of Deeds Office maintains and processes requests for county marriage, death and birth records while requests for divorce records are directed to The Johnston County Clerk of Courts.
Where and How to Get Divorce Records
The Johnston County Clerk of Courts maintains records of cases filed and heard by the county courts including divorce proceedings. Interested persons may access these records by self-serving using the public access service terminal available in the Clerk of Court's office. Searches can be conducted using the divorcee's names or the date/place of the divorce. The Clerk's office is located at:
Johnston County Courthouse
207 E Johnston St
P.O. Box 297
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 209-5400
Where and How to Get Marriage Records
Records of marriages licensed by the Johnston County Register of Deeds are also maintained by the office and issued to interested persons. To request a marriage record, requestors may complete the Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record Form and submit the form along with a photocopy of an ID, and a $10 certified copy fee to:
Johnston County Register of Deeds
Vital Records Unit,
P.O. Box 118,
Smithfield, NC 27577
Where and how to get Birth and Death Records
Requests for birth and death records are processed by the office of the Johnston County Register of Deeds. However, while members of the public are welcome to request these records, only requestors who meet eligibility requirements may access certified copies of the record. Other persons will be offered non-certified, informational copies which, depending on their purpose, may have no official sway.
To request birth or death records interested persons are required to complete and notarize an Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record Form which should be submitted via mail or in person to:
Johnston County Register of Deeds
Vital Records Unit,
P.O. Box 118,
Smithfield, NC 27577
Requests must also be accompanied by the stated fees, the ID requirements and a self-addressed and stamped envelope (for mail requests).
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Are Property Records Open to the Public in Johnston County?
The North Carolina Freedom of Information Law allows members of the general public to access Johnston County property records. Under the law, record custodians must process requests for these records and provide access to copies, as desired by requestors.
Where and How to Find Property Records in Johnston County
The Johnston County Tax Administration Office maintains property records in the county. Through its Real Property department, the Tax Administration Office values all county properties, including land, structures, buildings, and improvements. Records created from this process are maintained as property records and available to all interested persons. Requestors may contact the office to request records by visiting or sending applications to the following addresses:
Johnston County Tax Administration Office
207 E. Johnston Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 989-5130
Fax: (919) 989-5614
Email: taxoffice@johnstonnc.com
Mailing Address:
Johnston County Tax Administration Office
P.O. Box 368
Smithfield, NC 27577
The Johnston County Register of Deeds Office functions as the custodian and manager of real property records dating back to the mid-1700s. Recorded real estate records, related transaction documents, and maps are available. The Register of Deeds Office maintains records online and offline.
Persons seeking access to these records may send mail applications that contain details of the requested documents. Interested persons may also visit the office to search through hard copy indexes, use provided research terminals, or obtain copies. Requests are entertained at the:
Johnston County Register of Deeds
207 East Johnston Street
Suite 209
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 989-8327 (Real Estate)
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How to Look Up Johnston County Property Records
The Tax Administration Office maintains an online repository of Johnston County property records. The public access platform provides a basic search usable by inputting the property owner's name, parcel number, or property address. Available information includes the owner's details, parcel number, tax codes, account number, deed information, and property information. Other specifics, such as the property values, PIN ID number, legal description, and a property record with construction details, are also available.
Alternatively, the general public can use the online record search provided by the Johnston County Register of Deeds. Users can search by name, recording date, grantor and grantee details, book type, and book and page numbers. While all users may access records provided on the platform, information available to unregistered persons may be limited.
Location of Johnston County Property Assessor
Johnston County Tax Administration Office
Real Property Department
207 E. Johnston Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 989-5130
Fax: (919) 989-5614
Email: taxoffice@johnstonnc.com
