How Do I Remove A Mugshot From Search Engines?

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Why Mugshots Appear on Search Engines

When someone is arrested, their mugshot is usually taken during the booking process. If released as a public record, the photo may:

• Be published on local law enforcement or sheriff websites
• Be scraped by mugshot aggregator sites
• Be indexed by Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo

Once indexed, the mugshot often ranks for your name, making it visible to employers, landlords, and the public.

How Search Engines Index Mugshots

Search engines rank mugshot pages because:

• They include your full legal name in titles, meta tags, and URLs
• They are hosted on high-authority domains
• They receive backlinks and page visits from other sources

These factors make mugshot pages rank highly for name-based searches, unless actively removed or suppressed.

3 Paths to Remove Mugshots from Search Engines

1. Remove at the Source

Search engines don’t control content—they reflect it. To truly remove a mugshot from Google or Bing, the source page must be deleted.

Steps:

1. Identify the mugshot URL (copy the page link)
2. Contact the website owner or webmaster
3. Provide documentation: expungement, case dismissal, court orders
4. Request complete removal of the page or image

Many sites have contact forms or emails for takedown requests.

2. De-Index from Search Engines

If the site refuses to remove the content, your next option is to remove it from search results (aka de-indexing).

Google:

Use the Google Removal Tool

• Select “Remove content from Google search”
• Provide URL and screenshots
• Attach legal documentation (if available)

Bing:

Use the Bing Content Removal Tool

• Sign in with a Microsoft account
• Submit page or image URL for review

3. Suppress Using SEO

If removal and de-indexing fail, suppression is the most reliable long-term solution.

Strategy:

• Create high-authority personal content
• Publish frequently using your full name
• Build backlinks to your content
• Use schema markup for identity association

This forces mugshot links to drop off page one in search results.

Step-by-Step Mugshot Removal Process

Step 1: Search Yourself

Use Google, Bing, and image search to find all mugshot-related results. Try queries like:

"Your Full Name" mugshot
"Your Full Name" arrest photo site:.com

Document URLs, screenshots, and source websites.

Step 2: Contact the Source Site

Send a polite removal request with supporting documents. Sample:

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is [Your Full Name]. I am writing to formally request the removal of my arrest photo located at [URL]. This photo is no longer relevant, as the charges were dropped/expunged. Attached is proof of the court ruling.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Step 3: Submit to Search Engines

Use the appropriate removal tool for:

• Google: Content Removal Tool
• Bing: Bing Webmaster Tools

Upload:

• URL to page or image
• Screenshot
• Legal documentation

SEO Suppression: Building a Positive Online Identity

Mugshots can persist on the web for years. Suppression builds a new image that ranks higher than your arrest photo.

Step 1: Register a Personal Website

Use a domain like:

yourfullname.com

Create:

• Home, About, Blog, and Contact pages
• SEO-friendly titles and meta descriptions
• Schema markup for Person data

Step 2: Publish High-Authority Content

Post to:

• LinkedIn (with custom URL)
• Medium and Substack
• Crunchbase, YouTube, About.me

Use blog headlines like:

• “John Smith: Community Leader & Volunteer”
• “John Smith on Career Growth & Success”

Step 3: Build Backlinks

Links from high-authority domains improve ranking. Methods:

• Guest posting
• Press releases via EIN or PRWeb
• Collaborations or interviews on niche blogs

Step 4: Track and Adjust

Use:

• Google Alerts
• SEO monitoring tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush)
• Reputation tracking software

What If the Mugshot Was Expunged or Sealed?

You May Be Eligible for Full Removal

Some states require mugshot sites to:

• Remove photos within 30 days
• Offer free takedown with expungement proof

States with protective laws include:

• California (SB 1027)
• Georgia (OCGA §10-1-393.5)
• Texas (BCC §109.002)
• Oregon (ORS 646.608)
• New York (FOIL amendments)

Refer to NCSL Expungement Law Map

When Google Removes Expunged Content

Google may de-index:

• Expunged or sealed mugshots
• Content that violates personal privacy policies

Attach legal proof of record clearance in your submission.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Paying shady websites for removal
• Ignoring re-published or mirrored mugshots
• Failing to act quickly after an arrest
• Submitting incomplete requests
• Creating duplicate or spammy SEO content

Consistent, ethical SEO and legal compliance lead to long-term results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Related Contents:

• Clear Your Name: Strategies for Removing Online Arrest Records and Protecting Your Privacy

Remove Arrest: Your Partner in Mugshot Removal

Remove Arrest specializes in fast, reliable mugshot removal from Google, Bing, and across the web.

We help clients:

• Request removals and takedowns
• Submit legal documentation
• Optimize and publish SEO-rich personal content
• Suppress arrest-related listings
• Monitor reappearances

Contact Remove Arrest today for a free mugshot visibility report.

MLA Citations:

• “Remove Personal Information from Google.” Google Search Help, support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/3111061.
• “Bing Content Removal Request Tool.” Bing Webmaster Tools, www.bing.com/webmasters/tools/content-removal.
• “Expungement and Sealing of Criminal Records Statutes.” National Conference of State Legislatures, www.ncsl.org.
• “Right to Be Forgotten in the U.S.” Electronic Frontier Foundation, www.eff.org/issues/mugshots.
• “Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide.” Google Search Central, developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/seo-starter-guide.