Who Truly Owns Arrests.org?
- 1 Who Truly Owns Arrests.org?
- 2 How Arrests.org Aggregates Data
- 3 Business Model & Monetization Strategy
- 4 Website Practices & Public Backlash
- 5 Legal Framework & Ethical Implications
- 6 How to Remove Your Info from Arrests.org
- 7 Why Choose Remove Arrest for Mugshot Removal
- 8 Safeguarding Your Online Reputation
- 9 Frequently Asked Questions
- 10 Works Cited
Arrests.org is a widely known mugshot publishing site that scrapes booking information from public databases and republishes it for commercial use. While the domain may appear straightforward, tracking its true ownership has proven difficult.
The domain arrests.org was registered on August 12, 2001. As of 2025, it is associated with an offshore company known as 1337 Services LLC, incorporated in Charlestown, St. Kitts & Nevis. This company is widely believed to act as a privacy shield, which helps conceal the real owners of the domain.
Offshore jurisdictions are often selected by mugshot website operators for two primary reasons:
- Legal protection from U.S. lawsuits
- Anonymous domain registration and reduced scrutiny
Despite the public-facing domain registration, the actual individuals or companies behind Arrests.org remain obscured, likely by design. This lack of transparency has drawn increasing criticism, especially from privacy advocates and state lawmakers.
How Arrests.org Aggregates Data
Arrests.org functions by compiling arrest information from law enforcement agency websites, particularly county sheriff departments, and organizing it by state. The site operates subdomains for various states (e.g., florida.arrests.org, georgia.arrests.org).
The site covers roughly 39 U.S. states, although coverage may fluctuate depending on availability of public records.
“Once you appear in a sheriff’s public database, there’s a chance you’ll end up on Arrests.org within 24 to 72 hours.”
How the Scraping Works
# Pseudocode Example
for county_url in sheriff_department_list:
page = requests.get(county_url)
mugshot_data = parse_html_for_mugshots(page)
upload_to_arrests_org(mugshot_data)Automated scraping bots routinely visit public jail databases, extract booking details and mugshots, and upload them to Arrests.org subpages. In some instances, these processes were traced back to individuals like Rob Wiggen, a Florida-based developer and convicted felon, who reportedly operated Arrests.org’s scraping infrastructure.
Business Model & Monetization Strategy
Arrests.org generates revenue primarily through:
- Display advertising (Google Ads, Taboola, etc.)
- High search engine rankings for personal names
- Opt-out request forms, which redirect users to third-party services
While there is no direct paywall on the site, individuals often feel compelled to use paid removal services due to the reputational damage caused by their public booking photo appearing in search results.
Some legal experts have compared the business model to online extortion:
“This is legalized blackmail. You are posted until you pay someone to take it down.”
The American Bar Association and other watchdog groups have raised concerns about the ethical implications of such business practices, particularly when the arrest did not lead to a conviction.
Website Practices & Public Backlash
Arrests.org presents information in a sensationalized format. Mugshots are displayed under tags like “Hotties,” “Scary,” or “WTF,” depending on user submissions.
This tabloid-style framing exacerbates the stigma faced by individuals whose mugshots are published. Complaints have surfaced on platforms like Trustpilot and Reddit, where users cite outdated information, failed opt-out attempts, and reputational damage.
The site has also faced:
- Negative media coverage
- Cybersecurity concerns (flagged as malware-prone by certain browsers)
- State lawsuits, especially in California and Florida
In 2021, the Florida Action Committee exposed Arrests.org as one of the top mugshot publishers targeted by expungement advocates.
Legal Framework & Ethical Implications
Public Record vs. Public Shame
Publishing mugshots is protected under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), yet critics argue that commercial reuse of these records crosses ethical boundaries. The monetization of arrest records, especially for individuals never convicted, remains hotly contested.
States Fighting Back
Numerous states, including California, Georgia, Texas, and Oregon, have passed mugshot legislation to restrict the publication or reuse of arrest photos for commercial purposes. These laws often include:
- Ban on payment-for-removal models
- Mandatory takedowns for expunged cases
- Fines for non-compliance
Despite these legal efforts, many mugshot publishers exploit jurisdictional loopholes, especially if hosted offshore.
How to Remove Your Info from Arrests.org
Step-by-Step Opt-Out Process:
- Visit the appropriate subdomain (e.g., florida.arrests.org)
- Locate your mugshot entry
- Click on the opt-out or contact link
- Submit identification documents and legal proof (e.g., expungement orders)
- Wait 5 to 30 business days for a response
Warning: Even if your entry is removed, there is no guarantee that it will stay down. Re-indexing is common due to recurring scraping cycles.
Why Choose Remove Arrest for Mugshot Removal
Remove Arrest is an industry leader in helping individuals:
- Submit takedown requests
- Push down unwanted URLs in search results
- Ensure court compliance and legal documentation
- Monitor online reputation long-term
“Our experts handle the entire removal process so you don’t have to relive the trauma of a public arrest.”
To learn what we can do to help you get your mugshot removed from Arrests.org and keep it off Google Schedule a free consultation now, and reclaim control over your personal search results.
Safeguarding Your Online Reputation
Long-Term Strategy for Privacy
- Google yourself monthly
- Set up alerts for new mentions of your name
- Create positive content: LinkedIn posts, bios, blogs
- Register domains with your name to control your search footprint
What if it comes back?
If a mugshot resurfaces due to scraping, working with a professional mugshot removal team like Remove Arrest ensures faster response, better documentation, and consistent monitoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arrests.org is registered to 1337 Services LLC, a St. Kitts & Nevis-based privacy company. Real operators remain anonymous.
Yes, it leverages public records law, though many states now restrict how mugshots can be used commercially.
In theory, yes—but success depends on state law, jurisdiction, and your ability to identify the true owners.
Follow the opt-out process on the site or hire Remove Arrest for professional help.
You’re still likely to be listed unless you submit proof of dismissal or expungement.
Sites like Arrests.org use recurring scrapers, so takedowns without blocking future indexing are temporary.
No, most jurisdictions legally block the release of juvenile records.
Only under rare conditions—usually for minors or expunged records.
We handle full-cycle removals, from legal documents to search suppression, ensuring lasting results.
Anywhere from 48 hours to 30 days depending on the case and jurisdiction.
Works Cited
“Mug-Shot Industry Will Dig Up Your Past, Charge You to Bury It Again.” Wired, Aug. 2011.
“Mug shot publishing industry.” Wikipedia, 2025.
Florida Action Committee. “Are you listed on a commercial ‘mugshot’ site?” 18 May 2018.
Trustpilot, Arrests.org Reviews. www.trustpilot.com.