Start with the correct Cobb court: Superior Court for felonies, State Court for misdemeanors and traffic
Cobb County criminal records are maintained by several different agencies. Superior Court maintains felony prosecutions, State Court maintains misdemeanor and traffic cases, Magistrate Court handles matters such as warrants and probable-cause proceedings, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office maintains county-jail and booking information, and the Georgia Crime Information Center maintains statewide Georgia criminal-history information.
Cobb criminal records are split between several courts and agencies
Felony criminal cases
Georgia felony prosecutions are tried in Superior Court. Use the Cobb Superior Court Clerk for felony docket and document access.
Misdemeanor and traffic
Cobb State Court’s public criminal search includes misdemeanor and traffic cases.
Warrants and preliminary proceedings
Magistrate Court handles matters including arrest warrants, probable-cause hearings and bond proceedings.
Jail and booking records
Current Cobb County Jail custody, criminal charges and bond amounts are maintained by the Sheriff’s Office.
Incident / arrest records
Police and Sheriff’s agencies maintain the original law-enforcement reports they create.
Georgia criminal history
The Georgia Crime Information Center maintains statewide criminal-history information submitted by Georgia agencies.
Search Cobb County Superior Court felony criminal records
The Cobb Superior Court Clerk provides an official Records Search that links to its court-record system.
The criminal search can be used to locate felony cases maintained by the Clerk. Superior Court is the correct Cobb trial court for Georgia felony prosecutions.
How to search a Cobb felony case step by step
Open the Superior Court Clerk’s Records Search
Select the court-record search rather than the separate real-estate record search.
Choose Criminal Search
Use the criminal portion of the Clerk’s Web Case Management system.
Search using the strongest identifier available
A known case number is generally more reliable than searching a common name. When searching by name, compare available case details before assuming a match.
Review the chronological docket
Check indictments, accusations, motions, pleas, court orders, sentencing and later revocation activity where public.
Find the final disposition
Do not describe an original felony charge as a conviction unless the final court record confirms that outcome.
Order the court document if needed
The Superior Court Clerk offers ordinary and certified criminal-record copies by mail and in person.
Search Cobb State Court misdemeanor and traffic records
Cobb State Court provides a separate State Court Records Search for public case information.
Its criminal database includes:
- misdemeanor criminal cases
- traffic cases
- defendant information
- case dockets
- offense information
- disposition information where available
- sentencing information where entered
- court dates and assigned judge information
Cobb State Court provides unusually useful search filters
The State Court search can be narrowed in several ways.
| Search option | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Last name | Primary defendant-name search field. |
| First name | Narrows a surname search. |
| Middle name | Useful when several people share the same first and last name. |
| Birth year | Available for criminal searches and particularly useful for common names. |
| Phonetic name search | Can help when first- or last-name spelling varies. |
| Case filing date range | Narrows results to a particular period. |
| Case number | Most precise when the Cobb case number is already known. |
| Citation / tag number | Available for supported school-bus citation cases. |
How far back does the Cobb State Court online criminal search go?
The Clerk also says changes entered into the case-management system today are generally available through the public search the following day.
Cobb State Court Clerk’s Office:
12 East Park Square, Marietta, GA 30090
How to read a Cobb County criminal docket
| Docket entry | What it generally means | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Warrant | A warrant is associated with the alleged offense or case process. | It is not a conviction. |
| Accusation / Indictment | Formal charging instrument. | The charge remains an allegation until resolved. |
| Bond | Release conditions or surety information. | Bond does not determine guilt. |
| Plea proceeding | Record of a formal plea. | Read the disposition and sentence associated with each charge. |
| Dismissed / Nolle prosequi | The charge did not result in conviction in that form. | Check whether other charges remained. |
| Final disposition | The recorded resolution of a charge or case. | This is more important than the original allegation when summarizing the outcome. |
| Sentence order | The punishment or conditions ordered after a qualifying disposition. | Later revocation or modification proceedings can change supervision status. |
How to obtain Cobb Superior Court criminal record copies
The Superior Court Clerk provides criminal court copies by mail and in person.
Mail requests
For mailed copies, submit a written request with advance payment. The Clerk currently requires payment by cashier’s check or money order and does not accept personal checks for mailed copy requests.
| Record | Regular copy | Certified copy |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal document by mail | $3 | $8 |
| Criminal Disposition Package | $5 | $14 |
Mail to:
Cobb Superior Court Clerk
Attn: File-room
P.O. Box 3370
Marietta, GA 30061
Include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The Clerk also publishes lower in-person/courier copy charges for records obtained directly at the office; verify the current total before visiting because the fee may depend on the specific document and certification requested.
Official Superior Court copy instructionsCobb’s Criminal Disposition Package can save time
Cobb Superior Court Clerk offers a specific Criminal Disposition Package. It is useful when you need more than a one-line docket result but do not need every document ever filed in the case.
The Clerk says the package includes:
- final disposition
- plea statement
- plea questionnaire
- indictment
- revocation order, where applicable
- consent orders, where applicable
How to obtain the official Cobb State Court record
The State Court website warns that the online search is not itself the controlling official record. For an official misdemeanor or traffic record, contact the Cobb State Court Clerk.
Cobb State Court Clerk’s Office
12 East Park Square
Marietta, GA 30090
Public-service counters and telephone service are generally available during weekday business hours.
Cobb Magistrate Court handles warrants and preliminary criminal matters
Cobb County Magistrate Court handles criminal-process matters including warrant proceedings, probable-cause hearings and bond hearings.
Public court calendars can contain warrant numbers, defendant names, hearing types and listed charges. However, Cobb’s online Warrant Inquiry application is restricted to members of the State Bar of Georgia.
Cobb Magistrate Court:
32 Waddell Street, Marietta, GA 30090
The court’s warrant system lists 770-528-7979 for assistance obtaining a warrant copy.
Cobb County jail and current inmate records
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office operates the Adult Detention Center and provides an Inmate Search for current custody information.
The Sheriff says its custody information can be used to check:
- individuals currently in custody
- criminal charges
- bond amounts
- basic detention information
Cobb County Sheriff’s Office
1825 County Services Parkway
Marietta, GA 30008
Jail Administration: 770-499-4221
Main / Bonding Information: 770-499-4200
Booking photos and Sheriff’s incident records
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office uses an online Open Records Request portal for qualifying public records. Its Communications Department specifically directs requests for booking photos and incident reports to the open-records portal.
Useful information to provide in a request includes:
- full name of the person involved
- approximate incident or booking date
- incident number, if known
- booking number, if known
- specific report or photo requested
- your preferred delivery method
Cobb County Sheriff’s Office criminal background check
The Sheriff’s Office offers a local in-person criminal background-check service at its Public Safety Building in downtown Marietta.
Current requirements
- appear in person
- bring valid government-issued photo identification
- provide name
- provide date of birth
- provide sex and race
- provide Social Security number
Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Building
185 Roswell Street
Marietta, GA
Phone: 770-499-4696
Published hours:
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
Closed 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
Closed on holidays
Accepted payment methods currently include credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments.
Georgia statewide criminal history is different from a Cobb court search
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) is Georgia’s central criminal-history repository.
A Georgia criminal-history record can include:
- identification information
- arrest information
- arresting agency
- charges
- final judicial disposition data
- qualifying custodial information
Official guidance: Georgia Bureau of Investigation — Criminal History .
Georgia Felon Search: statewide public felony conviction search
Georgia also provides Georgia Felon Search , an online GCIC-connected service for checking qualifying Georgia felony-conviction records.
Required search information
- first name
- last name
- date of birth
- sex
- valid payment method
How to obtain your own Georgia criminal history record
GBI says individuals can obtain a copy of their Georgia criminal-history record from many local Sheriff’s Offices or Police Departments. Requirements and local fees can vary.
For fingerprint-based background checks required for qualifying employment, licensing, immigration or other authorized purposes, Georgia uses the Georgia Applicant Processing Service (GAPS).
GAPS registration and fingerprint services are handled through Georgia’s current fingerprint vendor. Bring valid identification and use the correct service code or agency instructions for your purpose.
Georgia record restriction can limit public criminal-history access
Georgia uses the term record restriction for relief that limits criminal-history information from public, non-criminal-justice access under qualifying circumstances.
Contact the prosecutor
GBI says there is generally no separate restriction application through the arresting agency. Contact the prosecutor responsible for the case about restriction.
Start with the arresting agency
GBI currently directs applicants to use the record-restriction application process through the arresting agency.
Official information: GBI — Georgia Criminal History Record Restrictions .
Georgia First Offender cases require careful interpretation
Georgia’s First Offender Act can allow an eligible defendant who successfully completes the sentence to be discharged without an adjudication of guilt under the statute.
This is why a docket showing a plea should not automatically be summarized as an ordinary conviction without checking whether the person received First Offender treatment and whether the sentence was successfully completed.
How to check an appeal from a Cobb County criminal case
Georgia criminal appeals can proceed to the Court of Appeals of Georgia or, for categories within its jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of Georgia.
The Court of Appeals is Georgia’s intermediate appellate court and has statewide appellate jurisdiction over many criminal cases, while the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over specified categories including constitutional issues and certain serious criminal matters.
Start at: Court of Appeals of Georgia or Supreme Court of Georgia .
Federal criminal cases from Cobb County are separate
Cobb County court searches and Georgia Felon Search do not replace federal court records. Federal criminal prosecutions arising in Cobb County are handled within the federal court system.
Use PACER to locate federal criminal case dockets and qualifying documents.
Key Cobb County criminal-record locations
| Office | Address | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court Clerk | 70 Haynes Street, Marietta, GA 30090 | Felony case records, criminal copies and certified felony documents. |
| State Court Clerk | 12 East Park Square, Marietta, GA 30090 | Misdemeanor and traffic case records. |
| Magistrate Court | 32 Waddell Street, Marietta, GA 30090 | Warrants, probable-cause and bond proceedings. |
| Sheriff Public Safety Building | 185 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA | In-person Sheriff’s criminal background checks. |
| Adult Detention Center | 1825 County Services Parkway, Marietta, GA 30008 | Jail custody and detention information. |
The Cobb Superior Court Clerk currently publishes office hours of Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.. Check the individual office before traveling because court holidays and service-counter hours can differ.
Map: Cobb Superior Court Clerk in Marietta
The Superior Court Clerk’s Court Division at 70 Haynes Street is the principal Clerk location for Cobb felony criminal records and copy requests.
Cobb County Superior Court Clerk — Court Division
70 Haynes Street
Marietta, GA 30090
General court questions: 770-528-2000
Published hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Cobb County criminal-record search tips that save time
Felony? Use Superior Court
State Court is the wrong starting point for a felony prosecution.
Misdemeanor? Use State Court
Cobb’s State Court public database specifically covers misdemeanor and traffic cases.
Use birth year for common names
Cobb State Court allows a criminal search using birth year to narrow results.
Try phonetic search
The State Court search can match first- and last-name spelling variations.
Yesterday’s update may appear today
State Court says current case-management changes generally become available the next day.
Recent arrest? Check jail first
Sheriff custody information can appear before a newly filed court case is easy to find.
Need proof? Buy the court document
A public website screenshot is not necessarily equivalent to a certified Clerk record.
Need statewide felony convictions?
Georgia Felon Search covers reported statewide felony convictions, not just Cobb cases.
Read every disposition
Multi-count cases can have different outcomes for different charges.
Using Cobb criminal records for employment or screening
Public court records and Georgia Felon Search results are not automatically equivalent to a legally compliant consumer report used for employment, housing, credit, insurance or another regulated decision.
Georgia criminal-history access rules, federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requirements and other laws can affect how information may be collected and used.
Cobb County criminal records: frequently asked questions
1. How do I search Cobb County felony criminal records?
Use the Cobb Superior Court Clerk’s official Records Search and choose the criminal case search. Georgia felony cases are tried in Superior Court.
2. Where do I search Cobb misdemeanor and traffic cases?
Use the Cobb State Court Records Search. Its public database covers traffic and misdemeanor cases filed from April 26, 1999 through the current year.
3. Is Cobb State Court’s criminal search free?
The public online State Court case-information search does not charge a per-search fee. Copy and certification fees can apply when you request official records.
4. Can I search Cobb State Court by date of birth?
The search allows criminal cases to be narrowed using the defendant’s birth year, along with first name, last name, middle name and filing-date criteria.
5. How much does a Cobb Superior Court certified criminal document cost by mail?
The Superior Court Clerk currently lists $8 for a certified criminal document by mail. A certified Criminal Disposition Package is currently listed at $14.
6. How do I find someone currently in Cobb County Jail?
Use the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search. The Sheriff says custody information includes current charges and bond amounts.
7. How much is a Cobb County Sheriff’s criminal background check?
The Sheriff’s Office currently charges $25 for its in-person criminal background check. Cash is not accepted and electronic payment transactions currently carry a 3.5% processing fee.
8. What is Georgia Felon Search?
Georgia Felon Search is a statewide online service connected to the Georgia Crime Information Center. It searches qualifying reported Georgia felony-conviction information and currently costs $15 per search.
9. Does Georgia Felon Search show misdemeanors?
No. Georgia states that the Felon Search does not return misdemeanor records, sealed or expunged information, or juvenile felony history.
10. Can a Cobb criminal record be restricted from public criminal-history access?
Some Georgia criminal-history records qualify for record restriction. GBI says post-July 1, 2013 arrests are generally handled through the prosecutor, while older arrests use a separate arresting-agency application process.
Official sources used for this Cobb County guide
- Cobb County Superior Court Clerk — Records Search
- Cobb County Superior Court Clerk — Court Division
- Cobb Superior Court Clerk — Request Copies
- Cobb County State Court — Records Search
- Cobb State Court — Criminal Case Search
- Cobb County Sheriff’s Office — Adult Detention Center
- Cobb County Sheriff’s Office — Background Checks
- Cobb County Sheriff’s Office — Open Record Requests
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation — Criminal History
- GBI — Criminal History Record Information FAQ
- Georgia.gov — Georgia Felon Search
- Georgia.gov — Georgia Felon Search FAQ
- GBI — Georgia Criminal History Record Restrictions
- Georgia Courts — E-Access to Court Records
- Court of Appeals of Georgia
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- PACER — Federal Court Case Search