Find Bench Warrants in Kennesaw

Bench warrants in Kennesaw are issued by judges in the Kennesaw Municipal Court and Cobb County courts when someone misses a scheduled hearing. Kennesaw has about 38,000 residents and sits in Cobb County in the northwest part of the metro Atlanta area. The Cobb County Sheriff's Office handles all warrant processing for the county, including warrants from Kennesaw courts. To search for an active bench warrant in Kennesaw, start with the Cobb County Sheriff's Office. The Kennesaw Police Department can also answer general questions about cases within the city.

Kennesaw Municipal Court Bench Warrants

The Kennesaw Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations and certain misdemeanor charges within city limits. If someone fails to appear for a hearing, the judge can issue a bench warrant that day. The warrant goes to the Cobb County Sheriff's Office for processing and entry into the Georgia Crime Information Center database and the NCIC system. Once logged, any law enforcement officer in the state or the country can see the active Kennesaw bench warrant during a stop or encounter.

The court is on Cherokee Street in Kennesaw. Court staff can answer questions about your case, but they cannot recall or clear a bench warrant over the phone. That authority belongs to the judge who issued it. Cases that went through Cobb County Superior Court or the Magistrate Court are handled by the Cobb County Clerk of Court rather than the municipal court.

Note: Kennesaw bench warrants stay active indefinitely until the person appears in court or is arrested.

Cobb County Sheriff and Kennesaw Warrants

Sheriff Craig Owens leads the Cobb County Sheriff's Office. This office processes all bench warrants for cases filed in Cobb County courts, and that includes every warrant from Kennesaw. The warrant unit handles intake, background checks, and entry into GCIC and NCIC databases. Cobb County is one of the most populated counties in Georgia and handles a large volume of warrants each year. The sheriff's office serves Kennesaw along with Marietta, Smyrna, and other Cobb County cities.

There is no online warrant search tool for Kennesaw or Cobb County at this time. The sheriff's office does not typically share warrant status over the phone or by email. You need to go in person with a valid photo ID to check for an active bench warrant. Staff will look up your name and date of birth. If you have an active warrant, you could be taken into custody right there. Many Kennesaw residents hire a lawyer to make this inquiry on their behalf. The sheriff's office can be reached at 770-499-4611 for general questions about their process.

The Georgia.gov warrant search guide explains what to expect when visiting any sheriff's office in the state to ask about bench warrants, including the Cobb County office that serves Kennesaw.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association provides a directory of every sheriff in the state, helpful for locating the right office for a bench warrant inquiry beyond Cobb County.

How to Search Kennesaw Bench Warrants

Start at the Cobb County Sheriff's Office with a valid photo ID. Staff will run your name and date of birth. If a bench warrant shows up, they will give you the charge, the issuing court, and the case number. The sheriff's office is in Marietta at the Cobb County Courthouse. This is the most reliable way to check for warrants tied to Kennesaw cases.

The Kennesaw Police Department at 770-429-4533 can answer general questions. Officers encounter bench warrants during traffic stops and calls for service, but they do not typically run checks for walk-in requests. The Georgia Crime Information Center runs the statewide warrant database. Every Kennesaw bench warrant enters this system. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory is a helpful resource if you need to check with a sheriff in a different county.

Kennesaw Bench Warrant Penalties

Failing to appear in court in Kennesaw leads to extra penalties on top of the original charge. Under O.C.G.A. 16-10-51, bail jumping on a misdemeanor carries up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. For felony cases, it is one to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The judge issues the bench warrant and the case continues without you.

Traffic bench warrants in Kennesaw have separate consequences. Under O.C.G.A. 40-13-63, failing to show for a traffic case can mean a $200 fine and up to three days in jail. The court can also ask the Georgia Department of Driver Services to suspend your license under O.C.G.A. 40-5-56. Reinstatement costs $100 in person at a DDS office or $125 by mail. That does not include any fines or court costs you still owe from the Kennesaw case.

Georgia law offers a short grace period for some traffic warrants. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-11, the clerk must mail a notice and wait 30 days before the bench warrant goes active. If you take care of the case in that 30-day window, the warrant may never be issued. Once that time passes, the Kennesaw bench warrant takes full effect and never expires.

Kennesaw Warrants and Public Records

Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives anyone the right to request public records from government agencies. Bench warrant records are court records and generally open to the public. You can submit a request to the Cobb County Clerk of Superior Court in person or in writing.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the Georgia Crime Information Center, the central database for warrant records from every county in Georgia. When a bench warrant is issued in Kennesaw, it enters this system through the Cobb County Sheriff's Office. The GBI does not take individual warrant questions from the public. But their database is the core of what law enforcement uses to track people with active bench warrants across the state.

Note: A Kennesaw bench warrant can show up on a background check and affect more than just the court case it was issued for.

Resolving Kennesaw Bench Warrants

Handle a bench warrant in Kennesaw before it leads to an arrest. The most direct path is to go to the court and turn yourself in. The judge will set a new date and may let you post bond. This removes the warrant from the system. Some Cobb County courts hold special sessions where people can come in and address outstanding warrants without being taken into custody immediately.

Hiring an attorney is another path. A lawyer can go to court on your behalf and ask the judge to recall the Kennesaw bench warrant. This works well if you want to avoid the risk of arrest at the courthouse. The lawyer can also negotiate with the prosecutor on your case. The Georgia Courts sheriff directory helps you find the right sheriff's office to contact if you are not sure which court issued the warrant. Acting fast matters because fines and fees can grow and every encounter with law enforcement becomes more complicated while a bench warrant is active.

Cobb County Bench Warrants

Kennesaw sits in Cobb County. All bench warrants from Cobb County courts go through the sheriff's office in Marietta. Cobb is one of the most populated counties in Georgia. For a full breakdown of the Cobb County warrant process, sheriff contact details, and all related resources, visit the county page.

View Cobb County Bench Warrants

Nearby Cities

Several cities near Kennesaw are in Cobb County or neighboring Cherokee County. If you are not sure where a bench warrant was filed, check the court name on any paperwork you have. Each city below has its own page with local bench warrant information.