Johnston County Jail Inmate Search | Roster | Lookup

  • Official Site
  • 919-989-5040
  • 127 South Second Street, Smithfield, NC, 27577

The Johnston County Jail is primarily built to house inmates that have short state sentences over 12 months, probation violators, and those who are waiting for a trial.

However, this is a jail facility where typically, individuals often get moved right after they are arrested.

Finding someone at the Johnston County Jail

In case there is an inmate that currently resides at the Johnston County Jail, you can all at 919-989-5040 to confirm their presence.

Moreover, the records at Johnston County Sheriff’s office can also be checked in this regard.

For any concerns and queries regarding an inmate currently being held at the Johnston County Jail, a counselor or a case manager can be contacted.

Sending mail/care packages to inmates

The facility allows the inmates to receive mail/care packages at the following address:

  • Inmate Name, Inmate ID
  • 127 South Second Street, Smithfield, NC, 27577

Moreover, a mail/care package may include the following items:

  • Envelope type mail
  • Newspapers, books, and magazines (these must come straight from the publisher)
  • Postcards
  • Care packages (approved from third-party senders)

Do note that the following items cannot be included in the mail:

  • Newspaper clippings
  • Paper with stains or lipstick
  • Drawings and paintings
  • Stickers or stamps
  • Musical cards
Sending money to an inmate

The facility allows friends and family to send money to an inmate via a funds deposit into the account through a money order, regular bank checks, and cashier checks.

In order to complete a transaction, one may also visit the jail’s administrative office if he/she is in close proximity.

Making a phone call

The facility does not allow outsiders including friends and family to call the inmates. However, in case there is an emergency, a message can be left to the inmates.

However, the inmates can surely call their friends and family members through the following two methods:

  • The offenders can use collect calls to approved phone numbers of friends and family. However, for most people, this is not a very cost-effective way as money has to be deposited into a third-party company via the jail first.
  • The offenders can also make direct calls via the Pay-Tel Communications service through the jails telephone. However, calling cards for these will have to be purchased from the commissary for $10.
Sending an Email to an inmate

While the facility does not provide access to the internet inside the jail, the offenders are given an access to the Global Tel Link account.

Apart from being a phone provider, the Tel Link service also allows the inmates to receive and send electronic messages to the friends and family. However, it does come for a fee.

The commissary at the Johnston County Jail

The commissary at the facility allows the inmates to purchase regular food, junk food, hygiene products, clothing, sneakers, entertainment items, and a lore more.

However, in order to shop at the commissary, the account of an inmate must be funded by a friend/family. In case there are no funds in the account, the order cannot be placed.

Moreover, the delivery of a commissary occurs just once in a week.

The visiting rules at the Johnston County Jail

Before arriving at the Johnston County Jail to visit an inmate, a visitor must be on the approved visitation list. In order to confirm whether you are on the list or not is to contact the jail at the number 919-989-5040.

In case there is a felony charge against the visitor, he/she will not be able to visit. Moreover, the facility requires all visitors to have a government issued identification card that is updated.

In case a visitor is under 18 years of age, he/she must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

Do note that the facility does not allow more than one visit per week. In case a visitor arrives late or not at all for a scheduled visit, he/she will not be able to meet the inmate until next week.

The visiting hours are from 9:00 AM to 9:45 PM from Monday to Sunday.

Moreover, all of the visits follow a first in - first out type fashion. 45 minutes before the end of a visit day, an inmate will not be allowed more visitors.

What type of inmate services are offered at the facility?


There are no rehabilitation or educational programs offered to inmates at the Johnston County Jail, unlike the state jails. Often at times, the jail is crowded and is over capacity.

However, a medical wing is present for patients who require any medical emergencies or special treatment for illnesses/injuries. In case a medical situation is far serious than what the jail staff can deal with, the inmate is taken to a hospital under surveillance. In case the charges are minor, the inmate may also be released in this case.

In case the inmate requires a medical emergency while being in the jail’s custody, all of the treatments will be paid for by the country.

Do note that gym, barber shop, commissary, library, and a chapel is offered to the inmates.