Can I Remove My Mugshot from Online Databases?

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Why Mugshots Are Published Online in the First Place

Mugshots are taken during the arrest booking process and treated as public records in most states. Law enforcement databases either host these images directly or make them available to the public upon request. From there:

• Mugshot aggregator websites scrape and republish them
• People-search engines use them in background reports
• Search engines index them, placing them in search results

Even if you’re never convicted, your mugshot may still show up online and remain visible for years.

Can You Legally Remove Your Mugshot from the Internet?

Yes—in many cases, you can request mugshot removal, especially if:

• Your charges were dismissed or dropped
• The arrest record was sealed or expunged
• Your state bans paid mugshot removal schemes
• You can demonstrate reputational harm

Some states even require mugshot websites to remove content within a certain timeframe.

State Laws That Support Mugshot Removal

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures

Steps to Remove Your Mugshot from Online Databases

1. Verify Where the Mugshot Appears

Use searches such as:

"First Last Name" mugshot site
"First Last Name" arrest photo + city

Check:

• Google search and images
• Bing
• People-search engines (BeenVerified, Spokeo, Whitepages)
• Aggregator sites (mugshots.zone, bustednewspaper, etc.)

2. Gather Legal Documents

To support your removal request, compile:

• Expungement orders
• Case dismissal notices
• Government-issued ID (with SSN and DOB redacted)

3. Submit Takedown Requests to Website Administrators

• Locate the contact page or legal removal section
• Submit a formal request including your supporting documents
• Cite your state’s legal framework if applicable

4. Use the Google Removal Tool

Access the Google Removal Tool:

• Choose “Remove information you see in Google Search”
• Include URLs, court documents, and screenshots

5. Remove Cached or Outdated Versions

If the page is gone but still appears in search:

• Use the Outdated Content Tool

What If the Mugshot Website Asks for Payment?

In many states, this is illegal.

• Never pay a site that requests removal fees unless you’ve verified that your state has no such restriction.
• Many scam sites will:
  • Repost on affiliated domains
  • Disappear without removing your content
  • Leak your payment or personal info

Notable Legal Cases

In 2018, the owners of Mugshots.com were arrested and charged with extortion, money laundering, and identity theft for operating a pay-for-removal network. This landmark case led to increased enforcement in states like California and New York.

In another case, the state of Georgia fined a mugshot site $250,000 for refusing to comply with mandatory takedown laws under OCGA § 10-1-393.5.

If contacted by a site demanding payment, report it to your:

• State attorney general
• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
• Hosting provider (via WHOIS lookup)

Always document any communications and avoid submitting personal data to questionable domains.

In many states, this is illegal.

• Never pay a site that requests removal fees unless you’ve verified that your state has no such restriction.
• Many scam sites will:
  • Repost on affiliated domains
  • Disappear without removing your content
  • Leak your payment or personal info

If contacted by a site demanding payment, report it to your:

• State attorney general
• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
• Hosting provider (via WHOIS lookup)

Suppressing Mugshots That Can’t Be Removed

Even if a website refuses to remove your mugshot, you can still bury it in search results using SEO suppression.

Build a Strong Online Presence

• Register your full name as a domain: yourfullname.com
• Create a professional website including:
  • Resume
  • Biography
  • Portfolio

Publish Regular Content

• Write blog articles about your field or interests
• Contribute to community websites or industry publications
• Post on Medium, Substack, or LinkedIn with your name prominently displayed
• Submit press releases to EIN News, GlobeNewswire, or PR Newswire

Use Video and Multimedia SEO

• Create YouTube videos titled with your name and area of expertise
• Use your full name in the video description and tags
• Add captions or transcripts to increase keyword relevance

Apply Structured Data (Schema Markup)

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "name": "Jane Doe",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.linkedin.com/in/janedoe",
    "https://janedoe.com"
  ]
}

Real-World Suppression Example

A client named David M., a licensed contractor, had a dismissed misdemeanor arrest showing on Google image results. Within 4 months, Remove Arrest executed an SEO strategy that pushed all mugshot listings off page one. Today, David’s online presence is dominated by contractor reviews, trade association listings, and personal blog content about building design.

Even if a website refuses to remove your mugshot, you can still bury it in search results using SEO suppression.

Build a Strong Online Presence

• Register your full name as a domain: yourfullname.com
• Create a professional website including:
  • Resume
  • Biography
  • Portfolio

Publish Regular Content

• Write blog articles
• Post on Medium or LinkedIn
• Submit press releases to EIN News

Use Video and Multimedia SEO

• Create YouTube videos titled with your name
• Use name-based tags and descriptions

Apply Structured Data (Schema Markup)

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "name": "Jane Doe",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.linkedin.com/in/janedoe",
    "https://janedoe.com"
  ]
}

How Expungement Helps Remove Mugshots

Expungement strengthens your ability to:

• Demand legal removal from aggregator sites
• Submit effective removal requests to search engines
• Seal your criminal record from further publication

Expungement processes vary by state but often apply to:

• Non-convictions
• First-time offenses
• Juvenile charges

How Long Expungement Takes

Expungement can take anywhere from 30 to 180 days depending on the jurisdiction. In some states like Illinois or California, processing times are reduced for non-conviction cases. In others, such as New York, the process may require a formal petition and court hearing.

Does Expungement Affect Already Published Mugshots?

Not automatically. Even if your record is sealed or expunged, you must still request third-party websites and search engines to remove or de-index mugshots that were posted before expungement. Legal documentation helps validate your claim but does not trigger automatic takedown.

Expungement strengthens your ability to:

• Demand legal removal from aggregator sites
• Submit effective removal requests to search engines
• Seal your criminal record from further publication

Expungement processes vary by state but often apply to:

• Non-convictions
• First-time offenses
• Juvenile charges

What Remove Arrest Can Do for You

At Remove Arrest, we combine legal strategy and SEO to:

• Remove mugshots under applicable laws
• Submit official de-indexing requests
• Create reputation recovery content
• Monitor search engines for reappearance

Contact Remove Arrest to get a free analysis of your mugshot and a proven strategy to remove or suppress it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Related Contents:

• New York Arrest Record and Mugshot Removal