Formed in 1746 from Craven County, Johnston County is a county in the coastal plain region of North Carolina. It is the eleventh-largest county in North Carolina and covers 795 square miles. As of 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the county’s population as about 215,994. The county seat is situated in Smithfield.

Courts in Johnston County

There are two courts in Johnston County. They include the Superior Court and the District Court.

The Superior Court has the jurisdiction to handle all types of cases, including cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. The court handles criminal cases, including lesser-included offenses, misdemeanors, and all types of felonies. It also handles civil cases, including general claims with more than $25,000 in dispute, breach of contract, personal injury cases, etc. The court has exclusive jurisdiction over proceedings regarding probate cases.

The District Court, on the other hand, has jurisdiction over only certain types of civil and criminal cases. The court mostly hears criminal cases related to infractions of most kinds, misdemeanors, and sometimes ordinance violations. Unlike the Superior Court, its jurisdiction only extends to civil cases that involve general claims of up to $25,000 or less.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Johnston County

The Office of the Johnston County Clerk of Courts maintains all court records and cases heard by the county courts. Any individual who is interested in obtaining these records may use the service terminal made available in the Clerk of Court’s office located at:

Johnston County Courthouse

207 E Johnston ST

P.O. Box 297

Smithfield, NC 27577

Phone: (919) 209-5400

Alternatively, the North Carolina Judicial Branch runs an e-Courts portal that provides easy access to court records. Interested persons can visit the portal to search for any court records that pique their interest.

Types of Public Court Records in Johnston County

Court records refer to any documents or other things maintained by a court in connection to a proceeding before it. Some court records are made available to the public in Johnston County; they include:

• Criminal Court Records
• Court Index
• Court Calendar
• Marriage Licenses
• Police Reports
• Civil Court Records
• Divorce Judgements

Confidential Court Records in Johnston County

Some court records are designated classified and, thus, not accessible to the public. For such records, only parties to the case and their attorneys have access. Examples of these records include:

• Juvenile Delinquency Records
• Adoption Records
• Psychiatric Records
• Mental Illness Commitment Records
• Tax Records
• Medical Records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Johnston, NC

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Johnston County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in North Carolina often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 153 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Johnston County. Of that total, 93% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 143 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Johnston County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Johnston County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Johnston County, NC

https://www.nc.gov/

County Seat:	Smithfield
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1746
Total Square Miles:	796
2019 Population:	196,708
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Johnston County, NC Courts