Alabama Mugshot Laws

In Alabama, it is a crime to publish or disseminate the mugshot of an individual who has been arrested for a misdemeanor offense without that person’s consent. The penalty for violating this law is a fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 6 months.

This law was enacted in response to the growing trend of websites and other businesses that make money by publishing mugshots online and then charging arrestees a fee to have their mugshot removed. These businesses often do not remove the mugshot even if the charges are later dismissed or the arrestee is found not guilty.

The Alabama law applies to any person who publishes or disseminates the mugshot of an individual who has been arrested for a misdemeanor offense, regardless of whether that person consented to the publication. This includes website operators, newspaper publishers, and anyone else who distributes Mugshots.

If you have been arrested and your Mugshot has been published without your consent, you may be able to take legal action against the person or business responsible. If you are successful, you may be awarded damages, including punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees. You may also be able to remove mugshots from the internet.