How to Remove Mugshots from the Internet (2026 Guide)

Mugshots end up on the internet through two main channels:

1. Government sources. When you are arrested and booked, the jail takes a mugshot. This photo becomes a public record in most states. Many county jails, sheriff offices, and police departments publish arrest records and mugshots on their official websites. This is considered public information under freedom of information laws.

2. Mugshot aggregator websites. Private companies scrape mugshot data from government websites and republish them on commercial sites like Mugshots.com, BustedNewspaper.com, Arrests.org, and dozens of others. These sites often appear high in Google search results for a person's name. Some of these sites have historically charged hundreds of dollars for removal -- a practice that many states have now outlawed.

The problem is timing and fairness. A mugshot is taken at the time of arrest -- before any conviction. Even if charges are later dropped, you are found not guilty, or the case is expunged, the mugshot may continue to appear online. This can affect employment, housing, relationships, and reputation for years.

The scope of the problem: A 2021 study found that mugshot websites contained over 100 million mugshot photos. Google searches for common names frequently return mugshot website results on the first page. For people trying to rebuild their lives, this is a serious barrier.

Before paying anyone, try these free methods:

1. Contact the mugshot website directly. Most mugshot websites have a removal request form or email. Go to the site where your mugshot appears and look for a 'Removal' or 'Contact' link. Submit a removal request including your full name, the URL of the mugshot page, and (if applicable) documentation showing the case was dismissed, expunged, or you were acquitted. Under state mugshot laws, many of these sites are now legally required to remove your photo for free.

2. Submit a Google removal request. Even if the mugshot website does not remove the photo, you can ask Google to remove the URL from search results. Go to Google's 'Request to remove personal information' page (support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/9685456). Google has expanded its removal policies and now allows removal of arrest records and mugshots in many circumstances, especially if the charges were dropped.

3. Contact the original source. If the mugshot was originally posted by a county jail or sheriff's office, contact them and ask for removal. Many law enforcement agencies will remove mugshots from their websites when charges are dismissed or records are expunged. Some states require this by law.

4. Expungement. If you are eligible, getting your record expunged gives you the strongest legal basis for demanding removal from all websites. An expungement order can be sent to each mugshot website as legal proof that the record should not exist.

5. DMCA takedown (limited applicability). If the mugshot website is using your photo without authorization and you can argue copyright (rare for mugshots, which are government-created), a DMCA takedown notice to the hosting provider may work.

As of 2026, at least 18 states have enacted laws specifically addressing mugshot websites. These laws generally: prohibit mugshot websites from charging fees for removal, require removal within a set timeframe (10-30 days) after a written request, apply when charges were dismissed, the person was acquitted, or the record was expunged, and impose penalties on websites that do not comply.

The strength of these laws varies. Some states (California, Florida, Texas, Illinois) have strong enforcement provisions. Others are weaker and harder to enforce because many mugshot websites operate from out of state or even overseas.

Even if your state does not have a specific mugshot removal law, you still have options. The free methods described in this guide (direct requests, Google removal, expungement) work regardless of state law. And the trend is toward more states passing these laws -- several additional states have bills pending.

If a mugshot website violates your state's law by refusing to remove your photo or charging a fee, you may have a legal claim. Contact your state attorney general's consumer protection division or a consumer rights attorney.

Google has significantly expanded its policies for removing mugshots and arrest records from search results. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Go to Google's removal request page. Navigate to support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/9685456 or search for 'Google remove personal information.'

2. Select the type of content. Choose 'Content involving you' and then select the category that best fits (personally identifiable information, arrest records, etc.).

3. Provide the URLs. List every Google search result URL that shows your mugshot. You can find these by Googling your name and copying the URLs of any mugshot-related results.

4. Explain the situation. State that the mugshot is from an arrest that did not result in a conviction, that charges were dropped/dismissed/expunged, or that the content is outdated and harmful. Be specific and factual.

5. Provide documentation. Include any court documents showing dismissal, acquittal, or expungement. This significantly speeds up the process.

6. Wait for a response. Google typically responds within 2-4 weeks. If approved, the URL is removed from Google search results (deindexed). The photo may still exist on the source website, but people will not find it when Googling your name.

7. If denied, you can appeal. Google's initial review may be denied. You can submit an appeal with additional documentation.

Important: Google removal only removes the link from Google search results. The content still exists on the mugshot website. For complete removal, you need the source website to delete it as well. However, Google deindexing is extremely effective because almost all mugshot discovery happens through Google searches.

The mugshot removal industry is full of scams. Here is what you need to know:

Red flags for scams: They guarantee instant removal. They charge $400-$1,000+ per website. They are connected to the mugshot websites themselves (this is an actual scheme -- the mugshot site and removal service are owned by the same people). They demand upfront payment with no clear process. They use high-pressure tactics.

What some paid services actually do: Legitimate reputation management companies submit the same removal requests you can submit for free. They send removal letters citing state laws. They submit Google deindexing requests. They may create positive content to push mugshot results lower in search results (SEO suppression).

When a paid service might be worth it: You have mugshots on dozens of websites and do not have time to contact each one. You have tried free methods and they failed. You need professional reputation management for business reasons.

Reasonable costs: A legitimate reputation management attorney should charge $1,000-$5,000 for a comprehensive mugshot removal campaign. Any service charging per-website fees of $400+ is likely a scam.

Better alternatives: Do it yourself using the free methods in this guide. Hire a consumer rights attorney if websites violate state law. File complaints with your state attorney general. Use expungement as your primary legal tool.

Bottom line: The vast majority of people can remove their mugshots for free using the methods described here. Paid services are rarely necessary and often overpriced for what they actually do.

Expungement is the most powerful tool for mugshot removal. Here is why:

An expungement order is a court order that seals or destroys your criminal record. When you have an expungement order, you have a legal document you can send to any website hosting your mugshot. The website is legally required to remove the content because the underlying record has been officially erased.

How to use expungement for mugshot removal: Get your record expunged (see secondchanceinfo.com/expungement for state-by-state guides). Obtain certified copies of the expungement order from the court. Send the expungement order to every website hosting your mugshot with a written request for removal. Send the expungement order to Google with a deindexing request. If any website refuses, you may have legal claims under both the expungement statute and any applicable mugshot removal law.

Expungement eligibility varies by state. Most states allow expungement of dismissed charges, acquittals, and certain completed sentences. Some states have 'clean slate' laws that automatically expunge eligible records. The process typically takes 2-6 months and costs $100-$500 in filing fees (or $1,000-$3,000 with a lawyer).

Even without full expungement, other court dispositions help. A dismissal order, acquittal record, or nolle prosequi documentation gives you a legal basis for removal requests, especially in states with mugshot removal laws.

The 'right to be forgotten' is a legal concept that originated in Europe (under the EU General Data Protection Regulation / GDPR) that allows individuals to request removal of personal information from search engines and websites.

In the United States, there is no federal 'right to be forgotten' law. However, the concept is gaining traction:

California. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) give California residents the right to request deletion of personal information from businesses. This can be used against mugshot websites that operate as businesses collecting and publishing personal data.

State mugshot laws. The 18+ state mugshot removal laws are effectively a limited form of 'right to be forgotten' for arrest records.

Google's policies. Google has adopted some 'right to be forgotten' principles voluntarily, allowing removal of certain personal information including arrest records from search results.

Practical application: While you cannot cite a 'right to be forgotten' in the U.S. the way Europeans can under GDPR, you can use state privacy laws, mugshot removal laws, and Google's policies to achieve similar results. The legal landscape is moving in the direction of more privacy protections for arrest records.

Mugshots online can have devastating effects on employment and housing, even when charges were dropped:

Employment. Nearly 96% of employers conduct background checks. Even if a formal background check comes back clean (because charges were dismissed or expunged), many employers also Google applicants' names. A mugshot appearing in search results can lead to immediate rejection, even if the applicant is legally qualified. Under EEOC guidelines, employers should not use arrest records (as opposed to convictions) to make employment decisions, but enforcement is limited.

Housing. Landlords frequently Google applicants. A mugshot in search results can result in a denied rental application, even if the applicant has no convictions and passes the formal background check. Fair housing laws provide some protections, but proving discrimination based on a mugshot search is difficult.

Relationships and social impact. Mugshots are frequently shared on social media. They can damage personal relationships, professional networks, and community standing. For people in recovery or rebuilding their lives, this is an additional burden.

What you can do: Remove the mugshot using the methods in this guide. If an employer takes adverse action based on an arrest record (not a conviction), you may have claims under the EEOC guidance and state fair employment laws. If a landlord denies housing based on a dismissed or expunged case, you may have claims under fair housing laws. Document everything -- if you are denied a job or housing and suspect the mugshot is the reason, this documentation may be important.

Prevention: Get your mugshot removed proactively before applying for jobs or housing. This is much more effective than trying to explain the mugshot after it has been discovered.