Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Mugshots and the Internet: Why They Stick Around
- 1 Mugshots and the Internet: Why They Stick Around
- 2 Can You Legally Pay to Remove a Mugshot?
- 3 What Happens If You Pay for Mugshot Removal?
- 4 Safer Alternatives to Paying for Removal
- 5 How Much Do Legitimate Mugshot Removal Services Charge?
- 6 What to Avoid When Seeking Removal Help
- 7 Role of State Law in Your Rights to Removal
- 8 Remove Arrest: Safe, Legal, Proven
- 9 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Mugshots are typically taken during the booking process after an arrest. Although they serve as identification tools for law enforcement, many mugshots are:
- Uploaded to county jail websites
- Scraped by third-party mugshot aggregator sites
- Indexed by search engines like Google and Bing
This means even if your charges were dropped, your mugshot may still appear in search results.
Some states now prohibit commercial use of mugshots, but enforcement varies widely.
These images can remain online indefinitely unless proactive legal or SEO action is taken. Even expunged or sealed records may leave behind a traceable visual record if they were published prior to sealing.
Can You Legally Pay to Remove a Mugshot?
The Short Answer:
In some states, no. In others, it depends.
Mugshot removal used to be a lucrative business for unscrupulous websites. They would publish arrest records, then charge hundreds of dollars to take them down. This led to widespread legal reforms.
State Restrictions on Pay-to-Remove Practices:
| State | Law or Regulation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| California | SB 1027 bans removal fees if no conviction | Illegal |
| Texas | BCC §109.002 outlaws mugshot payment schemes | Illegal |
| Oregon | ORS 646.608 prohibits mugshot pay-for-removal | Illegal |
| Georgia | OCGA § 10-1-393.5 requires free removal | Illegal |
| Florida | Regulation pending (as of 2025) | Limited |
If you live in a regulated state, paying for removal may be unlawful and may perpetuate exploitation.
What Happens If You Pay for Mugshot Removal?
While some websites offer takedown services for a fee, risks include:
- Payment Without Removal
- Some sites take money and don’t remove content
- Fake or ghost sites impersonate removal services
- Republishing by “Sister Sites”
- Your mugshot may be reposted on another domain controlled by the same operator
- This creates a cycle of repeated payments and no permanent resolution
- No Guarantee of Search Engine Removal
- Even if removed from the host site, Google may continue to display the cached version
- Without de-indexing, your mugshot remains visible in image and text search
- Violation of State Consumer Protection Laws
- You may unintentionally participate in an illegal transaction
- Some victims have filed lawsuits after being scammed by such removal schemes
- Increased Exposure Through Metadata
- Some sites use payments as data collection tools, further amplifying the visibility of your arrest photo
Safer Alternatives to Paying for Removal
1. Legal Takedown Requests
If your charges were:
- Dropped
- Dismissed
- Expunged
you may have the legal right to request removal under state law. States like Utah and Georgia mandate mugshot removal within a set number of days after valid notice is received.
2. Google Removal Requests
Use the Google Removal Tool:
- Provide court documentation
- Attach the URL of the mugshot
- Request de-indexing from search results
3. Outdated Content Removal
If the page no longer exists but still shows in Google:
- Submit a request through the Google Outdated Content Tool
4. SEO Suppression Techniques
Push negative results down in search results with optimized content:
- Personal website using your full name
- LinkedIn, Crunchbase, and About.me profiles
- Regular blog posts and YouTube videos
- Syndication of positive news coverage or PR
Tip: Use structured data and schema markup to ensure Google understands your profiles are trustworthy sources.
How Much Do Legitimate Mugshot Removal Services Charge?
Legitimate removal services do not charge for takedowns from illegal sites. Instead, they offer:
- Legal document filing (fees vary: $100–$750)
- SEO suppression packages (from $500 to $2,500+ depending on scope)
- Monitoring and alerts (monthly or annual plans)
Typical Deliverables Include:
- Detailed report of removal steps
- Court-certified communication with aggregators
- De-indexing confirmations from Google
- Ongoing ranking tracking for your name
Always ask for:
- A written service agreement
- Proof of completed takedowns
- Timeline estimates and refund policy
What to Avoid When Seeking Removal Help
- Paying anonymous or offshore entities: Check for a physical U.S. office and verifiable company profile.
- Sending personal information to unverified websites: Avoid uploading legal documents without secure encryption.
- Accepting “guaranteed removal” without proof: No company can guarantee 100% removal in all jurisdictions.
- Believing removal equals instant search result erasure: De-indexing can take time, and suppression is often necessary.
Role of State Law in Your Rights to Removal
Expungement, sealing, or non-conviction may grant you legal leverage. Here are examples:
| State | Rights Triggered by Expungement |
| Utah | Requires mugshot sites to delete within 30 days |
| New York | FOIL amendments limit mugshot release |
| Nevada | Allows de-indexing post-sealing |
| Illinois | Expunged arrests cannot be commercially used |
Each state’s framework can support your case with proper legal guidance.
Reference: NCSL Mugshot Laws by State
Remove Arrest: Safe, Legal, Proven
At Remove Arrest, we don’t pay shady websites—we fight them.
Our services include:
- Legal takedown documentation
- Mugshot removal under state law
- De-indexing campaigns with Google
- SEO suppression strategies
- Client support for expungement filings
Get a free removal consultation to learn what legal and ethical options apply to your case.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In some states, yes—but many prohibit the practice due to past abuses.
Contact an attorney or removal expert. You may have a claim under consumer protection laws.
Yes. Expungement, court dismissal, and verified Google requests are free (though they may take time).
SEO suppression using high-authority sites and frequent updates is the most effective.
It can, especially if another site reposts it. That’s why monitoring and suppression are essential.
Yes, many use mirrored domains or partner networks that replicate arrest content. Addressing one site often isn’t enough.
MLA Citations:
- “Expungement and Sealing of Criminal Records Statutes.” National Conference of State Legislatures, www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/expungement-and-sealing-of-criminal-records-statutes.aspx.
- “Remove Personal Information from Google.” Google Support, support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/3111061.
- “Outdated Content Removal.” Google Search Console, search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content.
- “Mugshots and Consumer Protections.” Electronic Frontier Foundation, www.eff.org/issues/mugshots.
- “State Laws on Mugshot Publishing and Removal.” Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, www.privacyrights.org.