Search Woodstock Bench Warrants
Woodstock bench warrants come from judges in the Cherokee County court system when someone fails to show up for a hearing or violates bond conditions. Woodstock sits in Cherokee County, which means the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office handles all bench warrant processing for the city. The city has grown fast over the past decade and now has close to 40,000 residents. There is no public website where you can look up outstanding warrants for Woodstock. To check on a bench warrant, you need to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office or visit the courthouse in Canton, which is the county seat.
Woodstock Quick Facts
Cherokee County Sheriff and Woodstock Warrants
Sheriff Frank Reynolds leads the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. You can reach them at 678-493-4200. The sheriff's office processes every bench warrant issued by courts that cover Woodstock. When a judge signs the warrant, staff enter it into the Georgia Crime Information Center database. The warrant then gets pushed to the NCIC system, which means officers across the country can see it. A Woodstock bench warrant does not stay local. It follows you anywhere a law enforcement officer runs your name.
The Woodstock Police Department is at 12453 Highway 92. You can call them at 770-592-6000. Officers run into bench warrants during traffic stops and other calls. But the police department does not handle walk-in warrant inquiries. That is the sheriff's job. All bench warrants in Cherokee County route through the sheriff for processing and service.
| Sheriff | Frank Reynolds |
|---|---|
| Phone | 678-493-4200 |
| Police Department | 12453 Highway 92 Woodstock, GA 30188 Phone: 770-592-6000 |
Note: The Cherokee County courthouse is in Canton, not Woodstock, so you may need to drive to Canton to handle some bench warrant matters in person.
Searching for Bench Warrants in Woodstock
Cherokee County does not offer an online warrant search tool for the public. If you want to check for an active bench warrant tied to Woodstock, your first move should be a call to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office at 678-493-4200. Give them your full legal name and date of birth. Staff may confirm warrant status by phone or ask you to come in. If you visit in person, go to the Cherokee County Justice Center in Canton. Bring a valid photo ID.
The Clerk of Superior Court in Cherokee County keeps all case files. If you know the case number, the clerk can pull up the record and tell you if a bench warrant was issued. The Magistrate Court also handles certain misdemeanor cases and can issue bench warrants on its own. Both courts are in Canton. The Georgia.gov warrant search guide has a general walkthrough of how to check on a warrant in any Georgia county.
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association site lets you look up any county sheriff in the state, including Cherokee County's office that handles Woodstock warrants.
Woodstock Bench Warrant Penalties
Skipping a court date in Woodstock triggers the same penalties as anywhere else in Georgia. 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. Felony bail jumping is worse. You face one to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. These come on top of the original charges. Missing court turns one problem into two.
Traffic cases have their own set of penalties. Under O.C.G.A. 40-13-63, a failure to appear for a traffic hearing in Woodstock means a $200 fine and up to three days in jail. The Cherokee County court can also ask the Georgia Department of Driver Services to suspend your license under O.C.G.A. 40-5-56. The reinstatement fee is $100 at a DDS office or $125 by mail. That cost is separate from court fines.
Georgia law provides a 30-day grace period for traffic bench warrants under O.C.G.A. 17-6-11. The clerk sends a notice letter first. If you take care of the case within those 30 days, the judge may not issue the warrant. Once that window closes, the Woodstock bench warrant enters the database and does not expire.
How to Resolve Woodstock Warrants
Dealing with a bench warrant head-on is always the best path. You can go to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and turn yourself in. The judge will set a new court date and may allow you to post bond again. Voluntary surrender generally leads to a better outcome than getting picked up during a traffic stop or at another unrelated call. Some people in Woodstock prefer to hire a lawyer first, and that is a smart move.
A lawyer can file a motion to recall the bench warrant in Cherokee County. If the judge agrees, you get a new hearing date without the arrest step. This is especially useful for people who had a good reason for missing court. Work conflicts, medical emergencies, and address changes are common reasons. The Georgia Courts sheriff directory can help you find the right contact for Cherokee County if you need to reach out before your attorney files the motion.
Under the Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, you can request your case file from the Cherokee County Clerk of Court. Getting copies of the bench warrant paperwork and related documents helps your lawyer prepare.
Note: Bench warrants issued in Cherokee County do not expire, so a Woodstock warrant from years ago is still active.
Cherokee County Bench Warrants
Woodstock falls under the Cherokee County court system. All bench warrants for cases filed in Cherokee County go through the sheriff's office in Canton. For more details on the county-wide process, courthouse info, and additional contact numbers, visit the Cherokee County page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Woodstock and each has its own bench warrant resources. Canton is also in Cherokee County, while Kennesaw and Marietta fall under Cobb County.