If someone was arrested in Smithfield, they are being held at the Johnston County Detention Center, 2879 US-70 Business East, east of downtown. The county moved its jail to that building in 2023, yet a lot of websites still show the old downtown addresses on South Second and South Third streets. This page gives you the current jail, magistrate and courthouse contacts, flags the outdated information still floating around online, and explains visits, money and mail at the new facility.
Since 2006, Martin’s Bail Bonds has been bonding people out across North Carolina. We answer 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays, and you will talk with a bondsman, not a call center.
Where Is the Johnston County Jail Now?
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office runs the county detention center at 2879 US-70 Bus. E., Smithfield, NC 27577. To confirm someone is there, use the Sheriff’s inmate search or call the jail’s main line at (919) 989-5040. Have the person’s full legal name ready.
Getting the right building and the right phone numbers from the start saves you a wasted trip downtown at a time when every hour feels long. If a directory site gives you a different address or number, go by the Sheriff’s own pages, which are linked throughout this guide.
Arrested in Smithfield? What Happens Next
Who sets bond in Johnston County?
Release conditions come from a judicial official. That decision covers whether bail has to be secured and the dollar amount. In Johnston County, the first call for criminal cases is the criminal magistrates at (919) 209-5462. Since December 1, 2025, North Carolina no longer allows release on a written promise to appear, and for some charges and criminal histories, release now requires a secured bond or house arrest with electronic monitoring (S.L. 2025-93, known as Iryna’s Law).
How do I find out the charges and bond amount?
The Sheriff’s Office says charge and bond information is available from the Clerk of Superior Court at (919) 209-5400 or from the jail at (919) 989-5040. Write down the bond amount and every charge they read you. That is exactly what we need when you call us.
Which courthouse hears the case?
North Carolina tries a criminal charge in the county where the offense allegedly took place, so a Smithfield arrest goes to the Johnston County Courthouse at 207 E. Johnston St. If the charge came out of Wake County instead, the case runs through Wake’s two jails and its courthouse in Raleigh, which our Apex bail bonds page explains.
How does the bond get posted?
Once the bond is set, we go over the agreement with the person signing, then post the bond with Johnston County. Release timing varies with the charges, the conditions the court sets and how busy booking is that day, so we will keep you updated rather than guess at a number.
Johnston County Jail and Court Directory
- Johnston County Detention Center: 2879 US-70 Bus. E., Smithfield, NC 27577. Main line (919) 989-5040. Commissary, mail and visitation questions: (919) 989-5099 or (919) 989-5034
- Inmate Search: jcso.org inmate search
- Criminal Magistrates (release conditions): (919) 209-5462
- Clerk of Superior Court (charges, bond amounts, attorney of record): (919) 209-5400
- Johnston County Courthouse: 207 E. Johnston St., Smithfield, NC 27577. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The accessible entrance is the side entrance off Second Street, with the ramp in the middle of the block.
- Court Dates: Search by name or case number at nccourts.gov/court-dates
- Johnston County Sheriff’s Office: Office (919) 989-5010; non-emergency (919) 989-5000
Official sources: Johnston County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center, Detention Center FAQ, NC Judicial Branch Johnston County contact directory, Johnston County Courthouse, Johnston County Government.
Information last verified: October 2026.
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Outdated Johnston County Jail Information to Watch For
Because the jail moved and several services changed vendors, old details keep turning up in search results and on directory sites. Here is what has changed:
- The Jail Address: Listings that put the jail downtown near the courthouse, on South Second or South Third Street, date from before the move. The current jail is at 2879 US-70 Bus. E.
- The Jail Phone Number: Directory sites often carry older numbers. The Sheriff’s current FAQ lists (919) 989-5040 as the jail’s main line, so go by that.
- Phone and Video Accounts: The jail’s phone and video provider changed from Securus to PayTel Communications. Securus balances, contacts and settings did not carry over. Close an old Securus account at 1-877-578-3658, then open a new account at paytelconnect.com.
- The Deposit Kiosk: Older county pages placed the deposit kiosk in a magistrate lobby on Second Street. The Sheriff now lists the kiosk in the lobby of the jail on US-70 Bus. E.
- Court-Date Lookups: Some older pages still link to the former court-calendar search. North Carolina moved every county to eCourts as of October 13, 2025, so use nccourts.gov/court-dates instead.
If two sources disagree and you are not sure which to trust, give us a call at (919) 602-4722 and we will help you figure out the next step.
Visiting, Calling or Sending Money to Someone in the Johnston County Jail
Bonding someone out is the main goal, but the first few days often involve calls, deposits and mail too. These rules come from the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center FAQ.
- Visits Are Video Only: You can visit on-site at the jail or remotely. First set up a PayTel account, which requires a valid state or federal photo ID, then request the visit at least 72 hours ahead. Each inmate gets three 15-minute visits per week, no more than one per day. On-site visitors 18 and older must show photo ID, and anyone under 18 must come with a parent, guardian, custodian or caretaker.
- Phone Calls: Inmates can call collect or use money on their account. If your phone blocks collect calls, set up a prepaid account with PayTel at (800) 729-8355.
- Putting Money on an Account: Use the lobby kiosk at the jail (cash or credit card, kiosk fee applies), deposit online through JailATM, or mail a money order addressed to the inmate. Cash and checks are not accepted by mail. Commissary orders are capped at $140 per week.
- Sending Mail: Address it to the inmate’s name, P.O. Box 1496, Smithfield, NC 27577, and include a return address. Up to 10 photos, each no larger than 5×7, are allowed. Books must be softcover and shipped directly from a publisher or bookstore.
- Prescription Medication: Call the jail’s medical staff at (919) 989-5035 for instructions. Only medication in the pharmacy’s original container is accepted.
- Messages: Jail staff are not allowed to pass messages to inmates. Send a letter or use PayTel e-messaging.
- A Court Date in Another County: If your loved one is due in court somewhere else, call that county’s District Attorney’s Office or Clerk’s Office and tell them the person is in custody at the Johnston County Jail.
Bail Bond Premiums and Collateral in North Carolina
The most a bondsman can charge in North Carolina is a 15% premium on the bond (G.S. 58-71-95). Collateral can be requested too, as long as it is reasonable, and it has to come back to you within 15 days once the bond’s liability is over. Cosigning means you share responsibility for getting the defendant to court each time, so read the agreement closely and ask us about anything that is unclear before you sign. That same statute bars bondsmen from suggesting a particular attorney, so the choice of lawyer is always yours.
Why Johnston County Families Call Martin’s Bail Bonds
Martin and Curtis started this company in 2006 to give North Carolina families fast, discreet and professional bail bond service. Arrests happen at 2 a.m. and on holiday weekends, so our phone is answered every hour of every day. Before anything is signed, we explain the premium, any collateral and what a cosigner is responsible for, and nobody gets rushed into paperwork they do not understand. An arrest is personal, and we treat every caller with respect, no matter the charge.
FAQs
1. Where is the Johnston County jail now?
The Johnston County Detention Center is at 2879 US-70 Business East in Smithfield, east of downtown. The jail moved there from downtown in 2023, so ignore any listing that sends you to South Second or South Third Street. The jail’s main line is (919) 989-5040.
2. Who sets bond in Johnston County?
A judicial official sets the release conditions, and for criminal cases in Johnston County the starting point is the criminal magistrates at (919) 209-5462. They decide whether bail must be secured and what it will be. Once you know the amount, call us and we can start the bond.
3. How do I find out someone’s charges and bond amount?
Call the Clerk of Superior Court at (919) 209-5400 or the jail at (919) 989-5040 and give the person’s full name. You can also check the Sheriff’s online inmate search. Keep the bond amount and charges handy when you call us.
4. Where is the Smithfield courthouse, and how do I find the court date?
Criminal cases from Smithfield are heard at the Johnston County Courthouse, 207 E. Johnston St., open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The accessible entrance is off Second Street. To find a court date, search by name or case number at nccourts.gov/court-dates.
5. What changed in North Carolina’s bail law?
Iryna’s Law (S.L. 2025-93) took effect December 1, 2025. A written promise to appear no longer gets anyone released, and for some charges and criminal histories, release now requires a secured bond or house arrest with electronic monitoring. Release timing varies from case to case, so ask a lawyer how the law applies to a specific charge.
6. Is there a limit on what a bondsman can charge?
Yes. Under G.S. 58-71-95, the premium can never be more than 15% of the bond. Any collateral has to be reasonable, and you get it back within 15 days after the bond’s liability ends. Call us with the bond amount and we will explain the cost for your situation before anything is signed.
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Our Smithfield Service Area
At Martin’s Bail Bonds, we are proud to serve Smithfield and its surrounding areas. Please refer to the map below for our service area.
Loved One at the Johnston County Jail? Call Us Tonight.
If someone you love is at the detention center on US-70 Business East, you do not have to sort out the bond alone. Our bondsmen will check the charges and bond amount with you, walk through the agreement line by line, and get the bond posted with Johnston County. Call any hour of the day or night at (919) 602-4722.
Also serving nearby: bail bonds in Wendell, bail bond services in Lillington and bail bonds in Sanford.
We are not attorneys and this is not legal advice.
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