A Cobb County arrest can happen at any time, and it almost always catches families off guard. One moment, everything is normal. The next, someone you love is being transported to one of the largest jail facilities in the state of Georgia.
Understanding what happens during and after an arrest in Cobb County takes a lot of the fear out of the situation. When you know the steps, you can act faster, avoid costly mistakes, and get your loved one home sooner. This guide walks you through the entire process from the moment of arrest through booking, bail, and release at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center in Marietta.
Who Makes Arrests in Cobb County?
Several law enforcement agencies operate within Cobb County. Any of them can make an arrest that lands someone at the county jail.
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office handles a wide range of law enforcement duties, including criminal warrant execution, fugitive investigation, and court security. Sheriff Owens took office in January 2021 after making history as the first African American elected sheriff in Cobb County. The office employs more than 800 deputies and civilians.
The Cobb County Police Department is a separate agency that handles patrol, criminal investigations, and traffic enforcement across the county’s unincorporated areas. Municipal police departments in Marietta, Kennesaw, Acworth, Smyrna, Austell, and Powder Springs also make arrests within their city limits.
Regardless of which agency makes the arrest, most adults taken into custody in Cobb County are processed through the same facility.
Where Are People Taken After a Cobb County Arrest?
After a Cobb County arrest, the person is transported to the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. The facility is located at 1825 County Services Parkway in Marietta, Georgia 30008. You can reach the jail by phone at (770) 499-4200. That line is staffed around the clock.
In addition to the main jail, the complex includes a Work Deployment Center for non-violent offenders participating in work release programs, a Records and Identification Unit that maintains all arrest and incarceration records, and a Transport Section that handles secure inmate movement to and from court.
The Sheriff’s Office headquarters is at a separate location: 185 Roswell Street NE, Marietta, GA 30060. General information for that office is available at (770) 499-4600.
What Happens During the Booking Process?
Booking is the official process of recording an arrest and entering a person into the jail system. Here is what it looks like at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.
When the person arrives, the arresting officer fills out booking forms that document the charges. This paperwork becomes part of the official booking record, which is public information.
The person being booked goes through several steps. They are fingerprinted, and a booking photograph is taken. Personal information is collected and entered into the system, including full legal name, date of birth, and physical description.
All personal property is collected and logged. This includes cash, keys, phones, jewelry, and anything else the person has with them. These items are stored and returned at the time of release.
Each person booked into the facility receives a Sheriff’s Office Identification number, commonly called an SOID. This number is important. You will need it for inmate searches, visitation registration, sending mail, and adding money to a commissary account.
The entire booking process can take several hours depending on how busy the facility is. Weekends, holidays, and late nights tend to be the busiest times.
How to Find Someone After a Cobb County Arrest
Once your loved one has been booked, their information should appear in the Cobb County online inmate search. You can access this through the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office website.
To search, you will need either the person’s full legal name (entered as last name, then first name) or their SOID number. If you know the person is currently in custody, use the “In Custody” option. If you are not sure, use the “Inquiry” option, which searches more broadly.
The search results typically show booking data, charges, bond amounts, and bond status. If you cannot find your loved one online, try common misspellings of their name. If that does not work, call the jail directly at (770) 499-4200 and provide the person’s full name and date of birth.
Keep in mind that it can take time for a newly arrested person to appear in the system. If the arrest just happened within the last few hours, the booking process may not be complete yet.
If you are having trouble locating someone or need help understanding the charges and bond information you are seeing, A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds can help. Our team works with the Cobb County jail system daily and can locate your loved one and walk you through what comes next. Call us anytime at (770) 627-3235.
Understanding the Court System After an Arrest
Cobb County has a multi-court system, and where a case ends up depends on the type of charge.
The Cobb County Magistrate Court, located at 32 Waddell Street in Marietta, plays a critical role in the early stages of a criminal case. This court issues arrest warrants and holds first appearance hearings where bail is initially addressed. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and can be reached at (770) 528-8900.
The Cobb County State Court, located at 12 East Park Square in Marietta, handles misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic violations. The State Court Clerk can be reached at (770) 528-2660.
The Cobb County Superior Court, located at the Justice Center at 70 Haynes Street in Marietta, handles all felony cases. It also has jurisdiction over divorce, title to land, and appeals from lower courts. The Superior Court Clerk’s number is (770) 528-1300.
There are also municipal courts in cities like Marietta, Kennesaw, and Smyrna that handle local ordinance violations. Cases from municipal courts can sometimes be transferred to the State Court if the defendant requests a jury trial.
How Bail Works in Cobb County
After a Cobb County arrest and booking, the next critical step is the question of bail.
Under Georgia law, a person who is arrested must be brought before a judicial officer for an initial appearance within a timeframe set by statute. The court is required to hold this hearing promptly after the arrest, and the specific deadline can depend on whether the arrest was made with or without a warrant.
At this first appearance hearing, the magistrate judge does two things: reads the charges to the defendant, and considers the question of release.
For misdemeanor charges, the magistrate judge can set bail at the initial appearance. For many felony charges, the magistrate can also set bail. However, for certain serious felonies designated under Georgia law, only a Superior Court judge can set bail. An attorney can advise whether a particular charge falls into that category.
If bail is not set at the first appearance, the defendant or their attorney can file a motion for bond. The court will then schedule a bond hearing.
Judges consider several factors when setting bail: the seriousness of the charges, the defendant’s criminal history, ties to the community, employment status, whether the person poses a flight risk, and whether they present a danger to the community. Every case is different, and bail amounts reflect those individual circumstances.
Options for Posting Bond in Cobb County
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Bonding Administration oversees the process for securing someone’s release from the detention center. Georgia law gives the Sheriff authority to establish the rules and procedures for bonding. Here are the general ways a bond can be posted.
Cash bond: You pay the full bail amount in cash at the jail’s bonding window. When the case concludes and the defendant has appeared at all required hearings, the cash is returned to the surety (the person who posted it). Contact the jail for current accepted payment methods.
Professional surety bond: A licensed bail bond company posts the bond on your behalf. Any bonding company operating in Cobb County must be registered and authorized by the Sheriff’s Office. The company charges a non-refundable fee for this service. This is the most common way families handle bail because it requires only a portion of the total bond amount rather than the full sum. A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds is registered and authorized to write bonds at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center and can walk you through the entire process. For general bonding questions, you can also contact the Sheriff’s Office Bonding Information line at (770) 499-4255.
Property bond: Real estate can sometimes be used as collateral to secure a bond. Property bonds have specific requirements and involve additional processing time. Talk to an attorney or a licensed bail bond agent about whether this option is available for your situation.
Pretrial release: The Cobb County Pretrial Services program reviews defendants still in custody. If eligible, an inmate may be interviewed and recommended for a reduction in bond or conditional release with specific requirements.
The bonding process has specific rules and requirements that can vary depending on the charges and circumstances. For the most current details on accepted payment methods, fees, and eligibility, check with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office bonding page or call the Bonding Information line directly. You can also call A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds at (770) 627-3235 any time, day or night, and we will explain your options and handle the paperwork for you.
What to Expect After Bond Is Posted
Once a bond is posted, the jail processes the release. This does not happen instantly. Paperwork has to be verified, conditions of release have to be documented, and personal property needs to be returned. Release processing times vary depending on the time of day and how busy the facility is.
Most bail comes with conditions. The defendant is expected to attend every scheduled court hearing. Missing a court date triggers serious consequences, including forfeiture of the bond, a bench warrant, and possible additional charges for failure to appear.
Depending on the charges, a judge may also impose conditions like staying away from certain locations or individuals, submitting to drug or alcohol testing, maintaining employment, or wearing an electronic monitoring device.
If electronic monitoring is ordered as a condition of release, A 2nd Chance Monitoring provides GPS monitoring, alcohol monitoring, and other court-ordered monitoring services throughout the Metro Atlanta area, including Cobb County. Getting set up with a monitoring provider promptly can help avoid delays in the release process.
How A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds Can Help After a Cobb County Arrest
When someone you care about is sitting inside the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, the clock feels like it is standing still. You want answers. You want them home.
A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds has a Marietta office that serves families throughout Cobb County, including Marietta, Smyrna, Kennesaw, Acworth, Austell, and Powder Springs. Our office is located just minutes from both the Adult Detention Center and the Cobb County courthouse complex.
We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. When you call (770) 627-3235, you reach a real person who can help you locate your loved one in the system, explain their charges and bail amount, complete the bond paperwork, and work toward the fastest possible release.
A 2nd Chance is a registered and authorized bonding company with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office. We have been helping families in Metro Atlanta and across Georgia for nearly 20 years. We understand how the Cobb County system works, and we know how to keep the process moving.
If your loved one’s release requires electronic monitoring, A 2nd Chance Monitoring can handle that too. We coordinate monitoring setup so there are no unnecessary delays between bond posting and release.
A Cobb County arrest does not have to turn your world upside down. Call A 2nd Chance and let us help you take the next step.
About A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds
A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds has been reuniting families with their loved ones for nearly 20 years. With multiple office locations across Metro Atlanta and Birmingham, Alabama, our licensed bail bond agents are available around the clock to provide fast, professional, and respectful service. We handle bonds from any jail, any city, from local to federal.
Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information about arrest and booking procedures in Cobb County, Georgia. It is not legal advice. Laws, procedures, and policies can change at any time. For questions about a specific case, consult with a licensed attorney. For the most current information about jail procedures and bonding rules, contact the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office or the appropriate court directly.
