Search Cook County Busted Mugshots and Arrest Records

Cook County is a south Georgia county with Adel as its county seat, located along the I-75 corridor between Valdosta and Tifton. The Cook County Sheriff's Office handles all local bookings and is the primary source for arrest records and busted mugshots in the county. This page covers the tools available for searching Cook County records, how Georgia law governs booking photo access, and how to make a formal request for certified documents.

Cook County Sheriff and Jail Booking Records

The Cook County Sheriff's Office in Adel processes all local arrests and manages the county jail. Each booking creates a public record that includes name, charges, booking date, and arresting agency. Georgia law bars law enforcement from posting booking photos on the internet, so the sheriff's office does not publish mugshots on a public website. Booking data is accessible through a direct request to the office, and certified records require a written open records request.

Cook County sits along the I-75 corridor, which brings some interstate-related arrests to the county jail. The daily booking volume is moderate for a rural south Georgia county. For custody status checks, calling the sheriff's office in Adel is usually the fastest method. For documents, a written request is the right approach, and the office must respond within three business days under the Georgia Open Records Act.

Criminal cases from Cook County move through Superior Court in Adel. Felony convictions can result in state prison sentences, shifting records from the county jail to the Georgia Department of Corrections. If you need to trace a full record history, you may need to check both the local county system and the statewide GDC database.

The screenshot below shows the GBI homepage, the state agency that maintains criminal records for all Georgia counties including Cook.

The GBI operates the GCIC and holds criminal history for all Georgia counties, making it a key resource for Cook County arrest record searches at the state level.

State Tools for Finding Cook County Arrest Records

Several Georgia state databases supplement the local Cook County Sheriff for arrest record and booking data searches. The Georgia Crime Information Center, part of the GBI, holds criminal history for every Georgia county. A GCIC background check covers Cook County alongside the full state. Contact GCIC directly to request a check. Fees vary by record type and purpose.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 and returns fast results on felony conviction records statewide. It is a practical tool for quickly checking whether someone has a felony tied to a Cook County arrest or any other Georgia case. The service runs through georgia.gov and pulls from official state records. No formal request is needed, and results come back quickly.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free and includes photos. It covers state prison inmates, not the local Cook County Jail. For someone convicted in Cook County and serving a state sentence, the GDC database has their current status and a photo that is not available through the county system.

The screenshot below shows the GDC offender search, a free tool with photos covering state prison inmates including those convicted in Cook County.

The GDC tool is free and photo-enabled, making it useful when a Cook County arrest led to a felony conviction and a state prison sentence.

Georgia Law on Cook County Busted Mugshots

Two Georgia statutes are important for anyone searching Cook County busted mugshots or trying to remove their own booking photo from a website. The first is O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, passed in 2014. This law prohibits Georgia law enforcement agencies from posting booking photos on the internet. The Cook County Sheriff's Office cannot publish mugshots on a public website under this rule. Booking photos are public records but are only accessible through the formal open records process.

The second statute is O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 (2013), which covers commercial mugshot websites. If such a site published your Cook County booking photo, you can send a certified mail demand for removal. The site must take down the photo free of charge within 30 days. The Georgia Consumer Protection Division provides step-by-step guidance on how to write the demand letter and which sites are covered.

The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 governs formal record requests. Agencies must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of staff time and the first 20 pages are free. Beyond that, the cost is $0.10 per page. These rules apply to all requests sent to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

Cook County booking photos are public records under Georgia law. The challenge is that accessing them requires a formal process rather than a simple online search.

Cook County Sex Offender Registry and GBI Records

The Georgia Sex Offender Registry, maintained by the GBI, is searchable by name or address and covers Cook County and all other Georgia counties. Photos are included where available. The registry is free to use and does not require creating an account. It is a distinct database from general arrest records and focuses only on those required by state law to register as sex offenders.

The GBI's open records portal handles requests for state-held records. If a Cook County case involved GBI investigation, related files may be at the state level rather than with the county sheriff. The portal accepts online submissions and tracks requests through to completion. The same Open Records Act deadlines apply at the state level as at the county level.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Sex Offender Registry, a GBI tool that covers Cook County and all of Georgia at no cost.

The GBI updates the registry regularly and includes photos for most registrants, making it one of the more accessible free tools for Cook County area searches.

How to Request Cook County Booking Photos and Arrest Records

To get a Cook County booking photo or certified arrest record, contact the Cook County Sheriff's Office in Adel with a written open records request. Include the subject's full name and the arrest date or case number if you have them. A written request is more reliable than a phone call when you need documents, and it starts the three-business-day response clock under the Georgia Open Records Act.

For state-level records, use the GBI open records portal. Booking photos and local jail records stay with the county. GCIC criminal history and GBI investigative files go through the state portal. For a full picture of someone's contacts with law enforcement in Cook County and beyond, you may need to request from both the county and the GBI.

Cook County booking photos are public records. The 2014 state law bars the sheriff from posting them online but does not change their public status. Your right to request them through the formal process is intact. Most simple requests fall within the free threshold, but plan for a small per-page fee if your request generates more than 20 pages of documents.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Consumer Protection page on mugshot website removal rights for Georgia residents including those with Cook County booking photos.

Georgia law gives Cook County residents the right to demand free removal of their booking photo from commercial mugshot sites within 30 days under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5.

Cities in Cook County

No city in Cook County currently meets the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated busted mugshots page. For arrest records in Adel, contact the Cook County Sheriff's Office directly.

Nearby Counties

Cook County borders several south Georgia counties along the I-75 corridor.