Marietta Criminal Court Records Search

Criminal court records in Marietta flow through two court systems. The Marietta Municipal Court takes care of traffic tickets, city code violations, and misdemeanor cases that happen in city limits. Felony charges and serious criminal matters go to the Cobb County Superior Court. Marietta is the county seat of Cobb County and sits in the Cobb Judicial Circuit. The courthouse is right in downtown Marietta, which makes in-person record searches simple. All these records are public under Georgia's Open Records Act, and you can get them online, in person, or by mail.

Marietta Municipal Court Records

The Marietta Municipal Court handles criminal cases at the city level. This court hears traffic violations, ordinance cases, and misdemeanor offenses. It does not handle felony crimes. The court sees a steady flow of cases, given that Marietta is a major suburb and the seat of one of Georgia's most populated counties.

The court is located at 240 Lemon Street, Marietta, GA 30060. Call (770) 794-5400 for case info. You can walk in during business hours to ask about a case. The clerk can search by name or case number. Bring a photo ID to pick up copies. They charge the standard state rate for copies.

Note: Marietta Municipal Court cases may not always show in the Cobb County online search portal, so contact the court clerk for the most complete records.

Cobb County Criminal Court Records

Felony cases originating in Marietta go to the Cobb County Superior Court. Drug charges, violent crimes, theft, and other serious offenses are all handled here. Since Marietta is the county seat, the courthouse is within the city. The Cobb Judicial Circuit covers the entire county. The Cobb County Clerk of Superior Court maintains these records.

Cobb County has one of the better online court search tools in the state. You can look up criminal cases by defendant name, case number, or attorney. The results show charges, court dates, case status, and full filing history. The search is free to use. You only pay when you request copies of documents.

The E-Access to Court Records system from the Georgia courts covers Cobb County as well. This statewide portal pulls data from multiple courts. Create a free account to search. You can filter results by county, case type, or date range to narrow things down.

Cobb County also has a Magistrate Court that handles warrant applications and preliminary hearings for criminal cases. If a case started with a warrant, the Magistrate Court may have the initial filing. These records transfer to Superior Court once the case moves forward, but the magistrate's file can hold useful details about the early stages of a case.

How to Search Marietta Criminal Records

Several tools exist for searching criminal court records tied to Marietta. Here are the main ways to do it.

The GSCCCA indexes court filings from every county in Georgia. Cobb County records are available here. A standard account costs $14.95 per month. Premium runs $29.95. The GSCCCA also operates FANS, a free filing notification system. Set it to track a name across any county, and you get alerts when new documents are filed.

For in-person searches, you have two options in Marietta. City-level cases are at the Municipal Court on Lemon Street. Felony records are at the Cobb County Courthouse, also in downtown Marietta. Both are close together. Bring the defendant's full name and date of birth. A case number speeds things up a lot.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copies from any public office in Georgia cost $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of clerk search time come at no charge. If a request takes more time, a labor fee can apply. Big requests may need a day or two for the staff to put together.

For your own criminal history, ask the Marietta Police Department or the Cobb County Sheriff for a Purpose Code U report. This report pulls data from the Georgia Crime Information Center. It shows all your arrest records, charges, and court results from across the state. You need valid ID and fingerprints to get one.

Restricting Marietta Criminal Records

Georgia allows some criminal records to be restricted from public access. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, records can be restricted for arrests that did not result in conviction. Certain misdemeanor convictions qualify after four years have passed. Dead docket cases are eligible after 12 months. The lifetime limit is two misdemeanor restrictions per person.

If you were arrested in Marietta on or after July 1, 2013, start the restriction process through the Cobb County District Attorney. For older arrests, contact the arresting agency. Processing fees can run up to $50. Once the court approves the restriction, those records are no longer visible in public searches. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 exempts restricted records from open records requests.

State Resources for Marietta Records

The GBI runs the state criminal history database. Call (404) 244-2639 for questions. The GBI Open Records portal handles requests online. Email requests are no longer accepted. The GBI can help with statewide criminal history checks and record questions.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, defense lawyers can request criminal history data from the GCIC with a written request that includes the case number and defendant info. This is used often by attorneys in the Cobb Judicial Circuit. Fees may be waived for defendants who cannot pay.

Local legal aid in the Marietta area is available through the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, which serves Cobb County residents. They help with record restriction petitions and court navigation for people who qualify based on income. The Cobb County Bar Association also runs a referral service if you need a private attorney.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Marietta also have criminal court records resources. Each city runs its own municipal court for local offenses, while felonies go to the county level.