Cook County Felony Records

Cook County felony records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office in Adel. This small south Georgia county has around 18,000 residents and falls within the Alapaha Judicial Circuit. The clerk stores all felony case filings and the sheriff manages arrest records and jail bookings. Searching Cook County felony records can be done at the courthouse in Adel, by phone, or through Georgia's statewide online databases.

Cook County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court is the main office for felony records in Cook County. Every criminal case filing comes through here. Indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and case dispositions are all on file. The clerk keeps paper records and digital files for cases heard in the Cook County Superior Court.

Visit the courthouse at 212 N. Hutchinson Avenue, Adel, GA 31620 to search records in person. Bring a valid photo ID and know the name of the person you are looking for. A date of birth or case number helps the clerk find the right file. Copies are $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Certified copies cost a bit more. Call (229) 896-7716 for questions about Cook County felony case records.

Walk-in requests are taken during regular hours. You can also mail a written request. Cook County is a small county, so the clerk's office is typically not crowded. Most simple requests can be handled fairly fast.

Cook County Sheriff's Office

The Cook County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and jail bookings for the county. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff must keep records of everyone held in the county jail. These records include the person's name, the charges, the booking date, and which court issued the warrant. Felony arrest records in Cook County are public under state law.

The sheriff's office is at 1000 County Farm Road, Adel, GA 31620. Call (229) 896-7474 for inmate information or to ask about recent arrests. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, local agencies can charge up to $20 for criminal history checks. Cook County's jail is a smaller facility, but it follows the same state rules as every other county jail in Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search shown above can help you find Cook County inmates who were sentenced to state prison.

Booking records from the sheriff are separate from court disposition records at the clerk's office. If you need both types of information, you will have to contact both offices.

Searching Cook County Felony Records Online

State databases let you search Cook County felony records from anywhere. This is the fastest approach if you cannot travel to Adel.

The GDC Offender Query is free. It lists all state prison inmates, past and present. If someone from Cook County received a prison sentence, they show up here. Search by name, GDC ID, or physical description. Results show charges, sentence length, facility, and possible release dates.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search and checks the GCIC database for all felony convictions statewide. You need the person's full name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back right away. A "no record found" result still costs $15. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-35, this data can be released without fingerprint comparison. This is the most thorough paid search for Cook County felony records that you can do online.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority connects all 159 county clerk offices. Cook County is part of this shared system. Some court filings and real estate records are available through the GSCCCA website. Criminal data online is limited but expanding over time.

Record Access and Restrictions

Felony records in Cook County are mostly public. Anyone can ask for them. Court files, arrest records, and jail booking data are open under the Georgia Open Records Act. Agencies must respond within three business days.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some arrest records can be restricted if the case was not prosecuted. For arrests after July 1, 2013, the prosecuting attorney handles restriction requests. Older cases are handled by the arresting agency. Restricted records are hidden from the public but remain visible to law enforcement.

The First Offender Act, O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1, allows first-time offenders to seal their records after completing probation. Serious violent felonies per O.C.G.A. § 17-3-2.1 carry a seven-year waiting period. Most felony convictions in Cook County remain on the public record.

State Resources for Cook County

The Georgia Crime Information Center collects criminal history data from all 159 counties, including Cook. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33, GCIC must maintain complete arrest and disposition records. You can request a background check through the Cook County Sheriff or GCIC directly.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority links all county clerk offices in the state. Cook County uses this shared system for filings and record management. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles handles parole data for offenders convicted in Cook County or elsewhere in Georgia.

State databases sometimes lag behind the latest filings from the Cook County Superior Court. For the most current records, call the clerk's office directly at (229) 896-7716.

Getting Copies of Cook County Records

The most direct way to get copies is to visit the courthouse in Adel. Bring your ID and ask the clerk for the case file you need. Standard copies are $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost more and may be needed for certain legal uses.

Mail a written request to the Cook County Clerk of Court at 212 N. Hutchinson Avenue, Adel, GA 31620. Include the person's full name, date of birth if known, and a check or money order for copy fees. The clerk will send the records back by mail.

For arrest records, contact the Cook County Sheriff at (229) 896-7474. Booking reports and arrest details fall under the Open Records Act, so the sheriff must respond within three business days. If you need a criminal history beyond Cook County, use the Georgia Felon Search tool or request a GCIC report.

Cities in Cook County

Cook County includes the city of Adel and a few small communities. None of the cities in Cook County meet the population threshold for individual city pages. All felony cases from these areas go through the Cook County Superior Court in Adel.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Cook County. Each maintains its own felony record system at their courthouse.