Erase Arrest Records from People-Search Databases: 2025 Update

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Why People-Search Sites Keep Your Arrest Records

People-search sites collect publicly available information and repackage it for search engines. They profit from:

• Selling full background reports
• Serving ads to visitors searching names
• Charging monthly subscriptions for access to arrest histories

Most of these sites scrape data from:

• County court systems
• Jail rosters
• Police blotters
• Booking photo repositories

They may also purchase bulk public records through open government portals or third-party vendors.

If your arrest is online—especially one tied to your name—it likely appears on:

• Whitepages
• Spokeo
• BeenVerified
• Intelius
• Instant Checkmate
• MyLife

Some sites share data, creating mirror listings across networks, further amplifying your exposure.

The Problem with Leaving Your Record Online

Even if your case was dropped, expunged, or dismissed, people-search databases may still:

• Display outdated information
• List your mugshot
• Rank in Google when someone searches your name

This can result in:

• Denied job offers
• Lost housing opportunities
• Damaged relationships
• Identity confusion
• Harassment or online shaming

Public record abuse can persist for years without intervention. Many users remain unaware until a background check or Google search costs them a major opportunity.

Are These Sites Legal?

Technically, yes. People-search engines operate under laws that allow access to public records.

However, their practices often:

• Test the boundaries of privacy law
• Violate consumer protection statutes
• Mislead users into believing data is 100% accurate

As of 2025, several states (including California, Utah, Oregon, and New York) have passed legislation restricting the publication or monetization of mugshots and arrest data.

Common Legal Loopholes:

• Listing outdated arrests without updating outcomes
• Using unclear or opt-out-unfriendly privacy policies
• Offering “premium” removal options that may violate state law

Some aggregators have been fined or sued under consumer fraud and extortion statutes.

How to Remove Arrest Records from People-Search Sites in 2025

Step 1: Identify Where Your Arrest Record Is Published

Search your name using variations like:

"First Last" mugshot
"First Last" arrest record
"First Last" city + booking

Also use incognito mode and alternative search engines (Bing, DuckDuckGo) to find listings that Google may not show due to personalization.

Take note of:

• Which people-search sites your record appears on
• Whether the listing includes a mugshot
• The domain ranking position (Page 1, 2, etc.)
• Any mirror or duplicate sites

Step 2: Opt Out of Major People-Search Sites

Each site has its own process. Follow their links to initiate the removal:

Whitepages Opt-Out

• Search your name
• Select your listing
• Verify via phone call or SMS

Spokeo Opt-Out

• Paste listing URL
• Provide email address for confirmation
• Confirm via link within 24 hours

BeenVerified Opt-Out

• Locate your report
• Submit opt-out form with full name and DOB
• Completion confirmed via email

Intelius Opt-Out

• Search for your name
• Submit required details
• Upload proof of ID (censored for privacy)

MyLife Removal

• Use CCPA request form
• Identify listing by link or email
• Request full data deletion under California law

Make sure to screenshot each confirmation page and email for documentation.

Step 3: Monitor and Repeat

These sites may:

• Re-list your record after a data refresh
• Clone listings to sister domains
• Delay removal or fail silently

To stay ahead:

• Set up Google Alerts for your full name
• Recheck top 3 pages of search every 30 days
• Save opt-out confirmations in a secure folder

Also monitor PeopleWhiz, TruePeopleSearch, and smaller aggregators that often copy larger databases.

Fast Removal Tactics Used by Experts

While manual opt-outs work, professionals use enhanced strategies:

1. Bulk Takedown Requests

Experts contact dozens of data brokers at once using:

• Expungement orders
• Cease and desist letters
• Privacy law citations (like CCPA or GDPR)

2. Host & Registrar Escalation

If a site is uncooperative:

• Use ICANN Lookup to find hosting info
• Contact abuse@ and legal@ addresses
• Reference Terms of Service violations

3. Court-Enforced Removal

For sealed or expunged records:

• File a motion in court
• Obtain an injunction or enforcement order
• Send it to website operators and data hosts

These legal routes can result in permanent takedowns across dozens of platforms.

What About Google Search?

Google does not host arrest records—but it amplifies their visibility.

To Remove Listings from Google:

Use the Google Removal Tool

• Submit URLs of the people-search pages
• Include legal documentation (court orders, privacy complaints)
• Track status via your Google account

For Outdated Snippets and Images:

Use the Outdated Content Tool

• Enter removed or changed URLs
• Google will erase cached versions from search results

Also review Google’s personal information policy to determine if your data qualifies for removal under privacy grounds.

SEO Suppression: Long-Term Reputation Strategy

When you can’t remove, suppress.

Build Positive Content to Push Records Down:

• Create a branded website (yourfullname.com)
• Write articles on Medium and Substack
• Fill out full bios on LinkedIn, Crunchbase, About.me

Optimize for Your Name:

• Include your full name in page titles, URLs, headers, and ALT text
• Use consistent branding and schema markup
• Include contact info and positive reviews/testimonials

Submit Content Weekly:

• Press releases on EIN Presswire
• YouTube videos with SEO titles
• Blog posts on case studies, credentials, or achievements

Suppression works when your positive assets outnumber the harmful ones. Build authority consistently.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Paying removal fees (illegal in many states)
• Ignoring opt-out follow-ups
• Failing to check for mirror sites
• Using spammy link networks or AI-generated content
• Not using HTTPS or SEO-friendly formats for your own site

Avoid one-time fixes. Managing your online reputation is a long-term investment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

MLA Citations:

“How to Remove Yourself from Whitepages.” Whitepages, www.whitepages.com/suppression_requests.

“Your Privacy Rights Under CCPA.” Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, www.privacyrights.org/resources/your-privacy-rights-under-california-consumer-privacy-act-ccpa.

“Expungement and Sealing of Criminal Records Statutes.” NCSL, www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/expungement-and-sealing-of-criminal-records-statutes.aspx.

“Remove Personal Information from Google.” Google Search Help, support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/3111061.

“Outdated Content Removal.” Google Search Console, search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content.