Mugshot removal is the process of getting a booking photo off the sites that republished it, using your state's mugshot statute or an expungement order as the basis, and then asking Google to drop the stale result. Whether the charge was dropped, dismissed, or expunged is what determines how much leverage you have.
Mugshot websites are some of the most predatory operations on the internet. They scrape booking photos from county jail and police department websites, republish them with your full name and arrest details, and then rank prominently in Google. Some then charge hundreds of dollars to remove the photo.
We do not believe anyone should have to pay extortion money to protect their reputation. We never recommend paying these sites. There is a better way.
How the mugshot site model works
The business model is simple and exploitative. Mugshot sites collect booking photos published as public records by law enforcement agencies. They repost these photos on their own websites, optimize the pages for Google, and wait. When the person in the photo discovers it and wants it removed, some sites charge removal fees. Others have shifted their model after legal crackdowns but still operate in a gray area.
The fact that you were arrested does not mean you were guilty. Many people whose mugshots end up on these sites were never convicted. Charges may have been dropped, cases dismissed, or the person may have completed a diversion program. None of that context appears on the mugshot site. Just your face, your name, and the arrest charge.
Do not pay the removal fee
We are firm on this. Paying a mugshot site to remove your photo rewards the predatory business model and does not solve the problem. Many sites that accept payment simply repost the photo on a different domain. Other mugshot sites pick it up and publish it themselves. You end up in an endless cycle of paying for removal.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has documented this directly, noting that mugshot sites function as a form of extortion and that state-level legislation remains inconsistent. Over 18 states have passed laws giving people the right to demand removal. If your state has one, use it. If it does not, you still have options.
How to get your mugshot removed
Step one: document every site. Search your name in Google and specifically check Google Images. Save the full URL of each page that has your mugshot.
Step two: check your state's mugshot removal laws. Several states prohibit mugshot sites from charging removal fees or require them to remove photos within a set timeframe upon request. If your state has one of these laws, cite it in your removal request. This carries legal weight and many sites will comply rather than face litigation.
Step three: pursue expungement if eligible. If your arrest did not lead to a conviction, pursue expungement through the court system. An expungement order gives you the strongest legal basis for demanding removal from any website. Many states allow expungement for dismissed charges, acquittals, and completed pretrial programs. See our guide on what to do after expungement for the full cleanup process.
Step four: submit removal requests directly. Contact each mugshot site. Reference your state's law if applicable. Include your expungement order if you have one. Be direct about what you want removed. Do not pay any fees.
Step five: request Google deindexing. After the source site removes the photo, submit a Google removal request for any pages that still appear in search results. Google also has specific policies about removing certain types of personal information that may apply to your situation.
Step six: address the court record databases. Mugshot sites are only one part of the problem. Sites like CourtListener, Justia, Trellis, UniCourt, PacerMonitor, DocketBird, and Casemine may also have your case information. Our complete court record removal guide covers those platforms in detail.
When sites ignore you
Some mugshot operators register domains offshore and ignore removal requests even when state law is on your side. In these cases, escalate. File a complaint with your state attorney general. Submit Google removal requests under Google's personal information policies. Google often de-indexes the pages before the offshore domain responds.
For sites that keep reposting under new domains, document each new URL. Submit fresh Google removal requests. Build suppression content, professional profiles, published articles, and a personal website, that pushes the mugshot down in search results. Our DIY reputation management guide covers what you can do yourself.
We handle mugshot removals without paying extortion fees. We use legal frameworks, state laws, direct platform outreach, Google removal tools, and content suppression to clean up your search results. For arrest-related records beyond just the mugshot, see our guide on removing arrest records from Google.
Mugshot networks copy each other, so one booking photo becomes a dozen listings and the sites that ignore your letters are usually the ones ranking. Chasing that down is the job. Let's get to work.
Related resources
- Remove arrest records from Google. What to do about the underlying arrest record.
- Complete court record removal guide. All platforms, all record types.
- What to do after expungement. Using your court order for digital cleanup.
- Remove mugshot after expungement. Specific process for expunged cases.
- Support for justice-impacted individuals. Rebuilding after the system.