The Johnston County Detention Center (Jail) is located at the courthouse and is designed to house 190 inmates.  The Detention Center is a division of the Sheriff's Office, and is managed by an Administrator who oversees the daily roles of the additional 55 employees.  There are also two nurses from the Health Department assigned to the Detention Center that address the medical needs of the inmates. 

The Detention Center operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  During the year 2003 we had an average daily population of 200 county and federal inmates.  The kitchen staff are currently serving over 600 meals per day. 

The primary purpose of the Detention Center is to provide a secure confinement facility for the housing of inmates who are in "pending trial'' status and those inmates serving short term misdemeanor sentences.  The Detention Center provides a humane, safe, and healthy environment for staff and inmates.  Other duties include transporting inmates to and from prison units, and for court appearances, maintaining proper computerized records on inmates, security of inmates' personal property and inmate medical needs.