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Remove Arrest Records from Google

How to remove arrest records from Google, what Google will deindex, how to get off background check and mugshot sites, and what to expect during each step.

Drew Chapin
By · Founder, The Discoverability Company
Published · Updated

An arrest record appearing in Google is damaging. It does not matter whether you were convicted, whether the charges were dropped, or whether the whole thing was a misunderstanding. When an employer, landlord, or business partner searches your name and sees an arrest record, they form a judgment before you get a chance to explain.

This is particularly critical for job seekers and justice-impacted individuals trying to rebuild. We help people deal with this every week. Here is what you need to know.

The difference between an arrest and a conviction

An arrest means you were taken into custody by law enforcement. A conviction means you were found guilty through a trial or plea. These are different things. The internet does not make that distinction. Arrest records, booking photos, and charge sheets get published online. They look identical to conviction records to anyone who is not reading carefully.

People get arrested and never charged. People get charged and found not guilty. People get charges dismissed or enter diversion programs. None of that matters once the arrest record is on the internet. The damage is done unless you take active steps to remove it.

How arrest records end up online

Arrest records spread through several channels. County sheriff and police department websites publish booking logs and mugshots. Mugshot sites scrape those sources and republish the photos. News outlets cover arrests. Court record databases like CourtListener, Justia, Trellis, UniCourt, PacerMonitor, DocketBird, and Casemine index the resulting court proceedings.

A single arrest can generate multiple web pages across different sites, all ranking in Google for your name.

What you can do about it

Step one: document every URL. Search your name in Google and document every URL that shows your arrest record, mugshot, or related court case. Be thorough. Check Google Images too, because mugshots often appear there.

Step two: check your eligibility for expungement. Many states allow expungement for arrests that did not result in conviction, dismissed charges, and completed diversion programs. An expungement order is the strongest tool you can have. It gives you legal grounds to request removal from third-party sites. After you get the expungement, see our guide on what to do after expungement.

Step three: deal with mugshot sites. If your booking photo is on a mugshot site, see our guide on removing mugshots from Google. Never pay a mugshot site for removal. Use your expungement order and state laws instead.

Step four: submit removal requests to every court record database. Each platform has its own process. Our complete court record removal guide covers all of them with step-by-step instructions.

Step five: request Google deindexing. Google has a specific policy for removing arrest records that did not result in conviction. Submit a removal request through Google's content removal tool after the source pages are down. This removes the result from Google search but does not remove it from the source website.

Step six: build suppression content. For records that cannot be removed, like government booking logs that remain public, the strategy shifts to suppression. Build positive, authoritative content that outranks the negative results. Our DIY reputation management guide covers what you can do yourself.

When removal is not possible

Some arrest records cannot be removed. Government websites are often not required to take down booking logs or press releases, even after expungement. News articles about high-profile arrests are rarely removed. In these cases, suppression is the primary strategy.

This involves creating professional profiles, publishing content on authoritative sites, and optimizing existing web properties to rank for your name. It takes longer than removal but produces durable results. Our court record removal service handles both removal and suppression.

Six steps across a dozen platforms is a long project to run alone. We do this work every week, and it starts with the full list of URLs still carrying the record. Let's get to work.

Related resources

Drew Chapin
About Drew Chapin

Drew is the founder of The Discoverability Company. He has spent nearly two decades in go-to-market roles at startup projects and venture-backed companies, is a mentor at the Founder Institute, and a Hustle Fund Venture Fellow. Read more about Drew →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove my arrest record from Google search results?

Google has a policy for removing arrest records that did not result in a conviction. You can submit a removal request through the Google personal content removal tool. This removes the result from Google but not from the source website. Source-level removal needs to happen separately.

How do I remove arrest records from background check sites?

Each background check site has its own opt-out or dispute process. You need to contact each one individually with documentation showing the arrest was expunged, sealed, or did not lead to a conviction. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have grounds to dispute an expunged record that appears on a background check.

Can an employer still see my arrest record after expungement?

After expungement, most standard background check companies should not report the arrest. If a background check company reports an expunged record, you have grounds to dispute it under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The problem is that many employers search your name on Google before running a formal background check, and Google may still show the arrest from third-party sites.

Does getting an expungement automatically remove my arrest from Google?

No. An expungement order seals or erases the record in the court system, but it does not automatically trigger removal from Google, mugshot sites, or third-party databases. You still need to submit individual removal requests to each platform using the court order as supporting documentation.

Can I use Google's own removal tools to take down an arrest record?

Sometimes. The Google Results About You tool and content removal request form can help when the source page has already been taken down or when the content includes personal identifiers like a home address alongside the arrest detail. Google generally will not remove a live indexed page just because you find the content embarrassing. Get the source removed first.

What if my arrest record is on a government website I cannot control?

County sheriff booking logs and police department press releases are public records. The agency is often not required to remove them. In these cases, the strategy shifts toward suppression: building positive, authoritative content that pushes the government page down in search rankings.

How long does the full removal process typically take?

It depends on how many sources are involved. A single platform removal takes days to weeks. Expungement takes months before you receive an order. Full suppression of a name search with multiple sources requires consistent effort over many months. The key is moving fast. The longer a record stays indexed, the more opportunities other aggregators have to scrape it.

One arrest, a dozen pages, all ranking for your name.

We inventory every mugshot site, aggregator, and court database carrying it, then file the request type each one actually answers. Charges that never became convictions have the strongest path. Government booking logs are the hardest, and we tell you upfront which of yours are which.

Let's get to work→