Privacy After Arrest: How to Remove Your Mugshot from Google Images & News

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Why Mugshots on Google Are So Damaging

A mugshot in Google Images can be just as damaging as a conviction. For employers, landlords, and even casual acquaintances, a simple image search can shape their opinion of you instantly.

Even if your charges were dropped or your case was expunged, your mugshot may still appear across Google search results, including:

• Google Images
• Google News tab
• Auto-suggest results tied to your name
• Featured snippets from news articles or arrest blotters

Search engines index these pages quickly, and once they rank, they tend to stay near the top—unless you actively remove or suppress them.

How Mugshots End Up on Google Images

When you’re booked after an arrest, your mugshot becomes part of the public record. That photo is then:

1. Published by sheriff or police department websites
2. Picked up by mugshot aggregators
3. Indexed by search engines like Google
4. Used in online news stories

Some mugshot sites even upload images to third-party photo sharing platforms to exploit Google Image search algorithms.

Step-by-Step: How to Remove Mugshots from Google Images

Step 1: Identify All Pages Displaying Your Mugshot

Search your name using different variations:

"First Last" mugshot OR arrest OR booking photo

Record URLs from:

• Image search results
• News articles
• County jail websites
• Mugshot aggregators (e.g., jailbase, arrestfacts)

Step 2: Remove the Mugshot from the Source Website

Google only indexes content; it doesn’t host it. That means you’ll need to go after the source site first.

If it’s a government website:

• Contact the sheriff’s office or department’s webmaster
• Request removal based on expungement, sealing, or outdated info

If it’s a private mugshot site:

• Look for a removal request form
• Submit a takedown letter with proof of expungement or dismissal

If it’s a news site:

• Request a content update, correction, or unpublishing if the charges were dropped

You’ll be more successful with removal requests if you attach legal documentation.

Step 3: Submit a Google Removal Request

Once the source has been updated, tell Google to remove the cached image or de-index the link.

Use the Google Content Removal Tool

Choose:

• “Remove information you see in Google Search”
• Select “In Google’s search results and on a website”

Provide:

• Direct URL of the offending content
• Screenshots
• Legal documents (expungement order, court dismissal, etc.)

Common reasons Google honors removal requests:

• Violations of personal privacy
• Legal court orders
• Non-consensual imagery (includes booking photos in certain states)

Step 4: Request Removal from Google Images

Google stores and displays images independently of text pages. To remove mugshots from Google Images:

• Go to Remove Outdated Content
• Paste the image URL (ends in .jpg, .png, etc.)
• Submit the page URL if available
• Provide the reason and supporting evidence

If the image is hosted on a live page, the page must be updated or removed first.

SEO Suppression: Burying Mugshots That Can’t Be Deleted

When removal isn’t an option, search engine suppression is your next best strategy. This involves publishing positive content to outrank the mugshot.

Top Platforms for Suppression:

• LinkedIn (public profile and posts)
• Medium.com articles
• Google Sites
• Crunchbase profile
• YouTube videos using your full name

SEO Best Practices:

• Use your full name as the keyword
• Add structured data (schema markup)
• Include photos with proper ALT tags
• Link to your content from press releases and social media

Build a Personal Website:

Register yourfullname.com and optimize it with:

• About Me
• Resume or professional portfolio
• Blog with ongoing content
• Press/media updates

Google prefers high-authority, regularly updated pages. The more quality content you post, the better chance you have to outrank the mugshot.

Special Case: Removing Mugshots from Google News

Step 1: Locate the Article

Use the Google News tab with your full name. Find all articles that:

• Feature your name and mugshot
• Appear in search previews

Step 2: Contact the Publisher

Politely request:

• Removal of the image
• Update or correction of the article
• Unpublishing the post if charges were dropped

Include:

• Court documents
• Link to your LinkedIn or professional site
• A brief explanation of your situation

Step 3: Submit a Legal Removal Request to Google

If the article includes outdated or damaging information:

• Visit Google Legal Help
• Choose “Remove information from Google”
• Specify it involves a legal removal based on privacy, defamation, or expungement

Removing Mugshots from Third-Party Aggregator Sites

These sites often copy and host mugshots even after news or government sites remove them. Some notorious examples:

• mugshots.zone
• arrest.org
• bustednewspaper

Tactics That Work:

• Send a certified letter demanding takedown
• Cite relevant state laws (e.g., Georgia Code § 10-1-393.5)
• File DMCA complaints if images are duplicated without consent
• Request Google de-indexing after takedown

Use Legal Templates:

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is [Your Full Name]. I request the removal of the following mugshot image from your website [insert URL] under [State] law and due to an expunged/dismissed record.

Attached are the court documents and proof of identity. Please confirm the removal.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

States That Support Mugshot Removal

Several states have made it easier to remove mugshots:

Check your eligibility using the NCSL Expungement Database.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

MLA Citations:

“Your Right to Be Forgotten in the United States.” Electronic Frontier Foundation, https://www.eff.org/issues/mugshots

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

“Expungement and Sealing of Criminal Records Statutes.” National Conference of State Legislatures, https://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/expungement-and-sealing-of-criminal-records-statutes.aspx

“Legal Removals.” Google Legal Help, https://support.google.com/legal/troubleshooter/1114905

“Online Arrest Records and Mugshot Websites.” American Bar Association, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/criminal-justice/criminal-record-clearing/