Wondering how long mugshots stay online? In most cases, a mugshot appears online within 1-3 days of an arrest. It can stay there indefinitely unless you remove it.

Most of the time, mugshot websites scrape public records and upload embarrassing content within minutes. From there, Google takes anywhere from hours to a few days to rank these images on the first page.

If you’ve been arrested and want to know how long your mugshot will stay online, where to find it, and what you can do to take it down and repair your reputation, this guide walks through the timeline, the search process, removal options like contacting site owners or hiring a removal service, and ways to push positive content higher in search results.

In the past, you’d have to walk to the county clerk’s office to request a copy of a criminal record. Now you don’t even have to leave your couch. With your smartphone, you can simply Google someone’s name with the word “arrest” to find what you’re after.

Nine times out of ten, Google will show you recent news and mugshot photos on the Images tab. Those results can affect jobs, housing, loans, and even personal relationships long after the arrest itself.

When Searching Mugshots Online, Be Careful

When you search for your own mugshot online, don’t click on the site. At least not directly from Google.

Why? The more clicks a site gets on Google, the more Google sees it as “relevant.” When that happens, Google often moves that negative link higher in the search results.

So what can you do? Where can you look without setting off any alarms?

Keep reading. In this article, we cover:

  • The best websites to find your mugshots
  • How long it takes for an inmate to show in the system
  • How long mugshots stay online
  • How long mugshot removal takes
  • How long before mugshots are posted online
  • How to remove your arrest records and restore your online image

How Long Do Mugshots Stay Online?

Longer than you’d wish.

Don’t expect your arrest record to drop off Google on its own. Mugshot publication sites often keep images up permanently to maximize ad revenue. Because mugshots are public records, private third-party sites can copy booking photos and keep them indefinitely. That’s one reason a mugshot can remain online for years unless you take active steps to remove it.

State and local law varies on whether and how you can get a mugshot removed from online databases, so your rights depend on your jurisdiction.

These sites rarely remove mugshots on their own, especially if the photo has a chance of going viral. If you want to remove mugshots from Google search, you have a few routes to take.

Contact The Webmaster

You can usually find contact information, such as an email address, on most mugshot publication websites. Send the webmaster a polite email asking how to remove your mugshot from the site. Many states require commercial sites that publish mugshots to remove them upon request, and some jurisdictions restrict online publication of minor offenses. In Florida, the law requires removal within 10 days of a formal removal request. If your charges were dismissed or you weren’t found guilty, dismissal or expungement documents can help, since case disposition often improves your odds of removal. Discrediting the media online is an easy way to get it removed.

Hiring a Mugshot Removal Company

If you’re worried about how long mugshots stay online and think you won’t manage to remove yours, you can turn to a professional company. Some mugshot removal websites charge high fees, so compare your options carefully.

EraseMugshots, for example, can help you locate all your mugshots online and remove the content directly from the source.

Once the webmaster agrees to remove your mugshot, our team follows up with Google to update their results. An attorney can also help with record sealing or expungement, but even after expungement, you may still need legal help to get the mugshot removed from websites or search results. The damage can continue whether or not a conviction remains on your record. The process typically takes 1-2 weeks, and we guarantee it 100%.

Promote New Content

If you can’t reach the webmaster of a mugshot website, you can promote yourself online in a positive light. Fresh, positive content can help bury old mugshot pages in search results over time, so daily uploads of new photos across your social media profiles can make a real difference.

If you’re comfortable building and uploading content to a WordPress website, we highly recommend it. Build targeted pages and social profiles that support name-based searches. This process may take months or even years before you see consistent results.

Most Popular Mugshot Websites

Back in 2014, numerous mugshot publication websites began to emerge. Individuals just like you or me operate these websites, ones you’ve probably never heard of until now.

After an arrest, you shouldn’t have to worry about how long before mugshots are posted, since they can appear online within hours of an arrest, even before any conviction or final outcome, or how long they’ll stay online after that. Apart from court duties and fees, you’ll face an endless list of amends to make in your personal life too. It’s not fun to keep adding to the pile, especially if you’re looking for a new job or home, applying for a loan, or trying out online dating.

As we mentioned above, the mugshot publication “Ring of Fire,” as we like to call it, took shape roughly 7 years ago. Individuals originally created these websites to provide transparency between the government and citizens. Over time, they turned into tools for harassment and even blackmail. Here’s a list of the top 5 mugshot sites where you’re sure to find arrest details. Some private sites, along with certain police and police department pages, may keep arrest photos active for a year or longer.

  • Mugshots.com
  • Arrests.org
  • Rapsheetz.com
  • Bailbondsearch.com
  • BustedMugshots.com

2026 Mugshot Removal Solutions From EraseMugshots.com

EraseMugshots.com takes a proactive approach to online mugshot removal. We work fast to eliminate new threats and protect your personal reputation.

Through round-the-clock monitoring of mugshot sites across the web, we identify and remove new arrest records before they appear on Google, preventing long-term damage to your friendships, image, and career.

Even after removal at the source, search engine indexing and caching can keep pages or images visible for days or weeks until search engines refresh their cached versions.

If a site refuses to remove it, you can report the page as outdated content to search engines.

Fast, Effective Mugshot Removals

With a preemptive mugshot removal strategy from EraseMugshots.com, you can:

  • Identify new threats as soon as they go live
  • Remove mugshots directly from the source
  • Stop the spread of negative online info
  • Prevent mugshots from reaching Google and ruining your reputation
  • Repair your image and build a more positive personal brand online

Using the latest 24/7 monitoring and removal technology, our removal experts navigate the online removal process and deliver guaranteed results fast, giving you the peace of mind you deserve.

Our team scours the web to locate any trace of your information. That lets us identify new threats and start removals before they harm your digital presence.

To date, we’ve performed thousands of successful removals across the web. We provide clients with proven digital solutions to delete negative info so they can pursue their goals with confidence.

With our preemptive, personalized mugshot removal service, you’ll take an important step toward protecting your personal brand and restoring control over your online destiny.

Contact Us For Removal Assistance

EraseMugshots.com has assisted individuals just like you for nearly a decade.

With over 30,000 satisfied customers, our team of reputation specialists knows how to get the job done right. Stop stressing about how long it takes for an inmate to show in the system or how long mugshots stay online. It’s time to do something about it.

Complete the form below to get started. One of our reputation analysts will email you a free removal analysis that discloses all your options. Remember, we guarantee all solutions 100%.