Are mugshots ever deleted from the web? Even if you were never charged with a crime, your mugshot could still be found online. Here’s everything you need to know about finding and removing your mugshot from the Internet. 

Whether you’re applying for a job, looking for an apartment, or simply tracking your online reputation, you’ve probably looked up your own name in a search engine. It may have shocked you to see personal information pop up in the results — especially images like mugshots. These photographs, taken when someone is booked into police custody, don’t indicate whether someone was actually guilty of a crime. In fact, you may have had your photograph taken in police custody and never even been charged! Nevertheless, arrest records or a mugshot can damage your reputation when they circulate so easily.

If you’re facing this and want to have your mugshot removed from the Internet, there are solutions. Keep reading to learn about your options, including professional services that can help.

The History of Mugshots

The modern-day notion of mugshots began in the mid-1800s in Europe and gained notoriety in the United States when the Pinkerton National Detective Agency began using mugshots on wanted posters for fugitives. They continued to grow in popularity as a way to track convicted prisoners and enlist the public’s help in identifying criminals.

Today, an arrested person is usually made to hold a sign with sensitive personal information like name, date of birth, and weight while being photographed, and the mug shot is then uploaded to a digital registry. Mugshots are often pulled up when people apply for jobs, apartments, or — in today’s digital age — even go on a first date. Much has been written about the many discriminatory ways mugshots are referenced in everything from employment to housing, and they have even been criticized as having a negative effect on juries.

Mugshots & the Public Record

One of the first questions many people ask is, “How did my mugshot get released in the first place?” Unfortunately, mugshots are public record because of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which, starting in 1967, made everything from marriage certificates to death certificates part of the public domain. In 1996, an amendment to the Act made it even easier to access this type of information electronically.

Juvenile records are usually withheld from the public, but in rare cases, juvenile mugshots are uploaded if they commit a crime that results in them being charged as adults. There are also severe laws regarding the publication of information related to sex offenders — depending on the crime, it may actually be required for a mugshot to be stored in an online database for public viewing.

Some states also have laws that prohibit public access to mugshots depending on the crime, but in many cases, local or federal government databases upload mugshots daily. For instance, you can check the inmate search tool on your state’s department of corrections website, or Google the websites of your local police departments and sheriff’s office. From these databases, humans or even bots can pull mugshot images and post them elsewhere, and they often spread like wildfire across mugshot-based websites.

The Danger of Mugshot Websites

Dozens of websites claim to operate as “news” outlets to avoid legal scrutiny and rank higher in search results. In the 21st century, mugshots have become big business. Even newspapers and celebrity tabloids publish mugshots to boost sales. While these outlets claim they’re providing an important public service, or even helping apprehend criminals, they’re actually damaging reputations without consequences.

Beyond just mugshots, these sites often also post information like criminal records, social media handles, and even addresses, often pulled from police reports. Beyond creating problems with a potential employer or romantic interest, this type of information can also open the door to identity theft. So how can the average person begin the mugshot removal process when it seems so daunting?

Beginning the Mugshot Removal Process

You can take several steps to get your mugshot removed from the Internet, but the difficulty depends on your circumstances. Start by figuring out how many sites have published your arrest record and mugshots. Search your name on Google and check the “Images” section for your mugshot. You can also scour sites like FindMugshots.com and PrisonHandbook.com, or check the app Jailbase and search for your arrest records.

Once you’ve compiled a list of sites that have your pictures and arrest records, you can reach out to them individually. In many states, it is illegal for a website to make you pay to remove mugshots. However, many websites still try. Unfortunately, removing a mugshot from these sites doesn’t guarantee it will be permanently erased from the Internet.

Expunging Your Criminal Records

Another legal route to mugshot removal is to have your record expunged or sealed. Most people don’t have the time or resources to take this step, but if you committed a crime that qualifies under expungement law, you can file expungement paperwork, get it approved by a court, and send it to the mugshot site as proof. If the site still refuses to take down your mugshot, you may need a court order commanding the site to remove it. Work with an attorney to see whether expungement is the right route for your case, as sealed or expunged records can help stop future mugshot images from circulating online.

Will Google Remove Mugshots?

Because individual sites may not permanently delete your mugshots, some hope Google can remove the images. Mugshot removal on Google can be a challenge. Unfortunately, Google will only do so if legal reasons support your request. This will require you to prove the images are damaging you from a legal standpoint, which can be difficult since the mugshots are likely in the public record.

Having your record expunged, or a statement from a criminal defense attorney that charges were dropped or dismissed, can provide legal grounds to request mugshot removal from Google. Check with the company’s content removal policy for details.

Burying the Information in Search Engine Results

Another tactic is to bury the damaging information rather than delete it. In most cases, a potential employer wouldn’t look beyond the first page of results when Googling your name — so you can hypothetically publish enough new information about yourself to push your criminal record to the second page. Obviously, this takes time and energy, as you’ll need to post a lot of information to populate the search results; blog posts, social media accounts, news articles, and more will be needed to fill the results page. And of course, this wouldn’t mean your mugshot is removed from the internet, only pushed farther down online.

Working with Professionals

If the above steps still sound overwhelming, you can hire a content removal specialist. A third-party company, such as an online reputational management (ORM) firm, can erase mugshots for you and even tackle other records that may be on the Internet and damaging your reputation. For a fee, an ORM can identify and permanently delete — not just bury — mugshots and other public records. While an average sleuth may spend hours combing through databases and mugshot sites, an ORM has access to services and technology that let them find mugshots and public records much faster.

Generally, they charge clients only once content is completely removed and promise that, once removed, any damaging online content is gone for life. This helps ensure your criminal record information doesn’t affect future employment opportunities or other personal endeavors.

How Else Can an ORM Help Me?

ORMs can also help with reputation management, which has become increasingly popular in recent years. You may want to create a more positive online presence so you or your business stays at the top of search results. For instance, you can write articles in your area of expertise to establish you and your firm as a thought leader in your niche market. An ORM can also optimize your website, including the About Us and bio section, for search and page ranking. New, relevant content keeps you at the top of Google search results and puts the Internet on your side.

These specialists do more than blog on your behalf—they use advanced strategies to navigate the Google algorithm and rank your business higher across search engines. Working with an ORM can give your company a leg up against the competition when it comes to online traffic.

Can My Mugshots Ever be Deleted?

Ultimately, each person should choose the course of action that works best for them, whether that means sealing or expunging their criminal record, trying the mugshot removal process on their own, or hiring a reputation management company to handle it. The unfortunate truth is that most mugshots may never get fully deleted unless you work with a professional, as it’s not against the law to post them. Until widespread laws are instituted on how we treat those who are arrested and how their public records are disseminated, average citizens will continue to remain under threat from the mugshot publishing industry.

Need help with getting your personal info off the web? Contact us now! Learn more about mugshot removal and negative content suppression by calling 866-601-6803 .