In this online reputation guide, we’re diving deep into online mugshots to answer the question, “Are mugshots public record in the U.S.?”

From the moment someone is arrested and charged with a crime, whether minor or serious, the legal process begins. This usually starts at the local police station.

An important part of this procedure is taking a mugshot of the individual, which also happens at the police station.

Have you been arrested and have had your mugshot taken? Whether or not you were ultimately found guilty, your mugshot may still be available online and can show up with a simple Google search for public records.

Does that mean mugshots are part of the official public record in the United States?

Let’s get into it.

What Are Mugshots?

A man with disheveled hair and a beard is holding a booking placard with the number "04392" in front of a corrugated metal wall. Wearing an orange jumpsuit, he appears to be in a serious or contemplative mood, perhaps aware that mugshots are public record.

Mugshots are booking photos of a person who’s been arrested. Whether the person faces charges for a minor crime or a felony, police will take a mugshot. Police agencies typically take these photos, and they may post them online.

Standard mugshots include two images: a front view and a side view of the person from the shoulders up.

To focus on the individual, officers take these booking photographs against a plain or simple background. Oftentimes, the person arrested holds a placard that contains the following information:

  • Date
  • Name
  • Booking number
  • Other relevant information (height, etc.)

These mugshots are then included in the person’s record and in public records.

You may think mugshots are kept privately in a person’s criminal record. It’s common to assume they’re safely kept at the sheriff’s office, police station, or another local law enforcement agency.

In reality, law enforcement frequently uses mugshots, and anyone can search for them online.

Why Do Mugshots Matter to Law Enforcement Agencies?

Two uniformed officers sit at a table with paperwork. The officer in the foreground is focused on writing, while the officer in the background is working on a laptop. Both appear to be in a serious discussion, possibly in an office or briefing room, perhaps debating whether mugshots are public record.

Mugshots make it quick and relatively easy to identify and arrest someone who has committed a crime. When mugshots appear on law enforcement websites, it’s much easier to identify who may be responsible for a crime and what that individual looks like so officers can catch them.

In addition, the police can easily send and share the photos with other law enforcement agencies or a neighboring police department. This can help them find an individual or catch a suspect.

Mugshots can also help you learn about a person’s condition at the time of booking. For example, you can see whether the person had any wounds or injuries when the photo was taken.

How Are Mugshots Used in Criminal Investigation Records?

Usually, mugshots are taken as part of the legal booking process for arrested or detained individuals. A law enforcement agency takes the arrest photos and completes other booking procedures, such as taking fingerprints.

Afterward, defendants will stay in the city or county jail until they are either bailed out or brought to court with their criminal defense lawyer.

It’s clear why mugshots help law enforcement. However, any random user can also find them online by searching an individual’s public records.

Does this mean that mugshots are actually part of the public record in the United States?

Are Mugshots Public Record in the United States?

A person in a blue shirt is typing on a laptop keyboard. Above the laptop, floating icons of documents with checkmarks and X marks indicate approval and rejection. A smartphone is on the table beside the laptop, possibly to check if mugshots are public record.

Mugshots are part of law enforcement agencies’ arrest records, and they’re also part of the public domain in the United States, at least in most states. Because of laws like the Freedom of Information Act, anyone can access these mugshots.

According to the publication Public Access to Criminal History Record Information from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “At the federal level, and in every state, freedom of information or open record statutes make [government-held records] available to the public, subject to a showing that the records are exempt from disclosure.”

However, guidelines may specify which records to seal, making them unavailable to the public. For information specific to your area, find your state’s public records act.

For example, according to the New York State Unified Court System, “Sealing means that the record still exists, but all related fingerprint and palmprint cards, booking photos, and DNA samples may be returned to you or destroyed [and] hidden from the public.”

That said, mugshots are usually considered public records and part of what you can find in arrest records online. Throughout the United States, a myriad of local, state, and federal laws require records collected by government agencies to be published to publicly accessible databases.

Anyone Can Find Mugshots Online Through Mugshot Websites

A website titled "Mugshots.org" displays celebrity mugshots with a menu bar, search options, celebrity photos, and a sidebar showing latest mugshots and a "View Criminal Records Online" banner ad at the top.

Even though police departments take mugshots and use them primarily for arrest records, you can often find mugshots online of famous and non-famous people who’ve been arrested.

All you need to do is search a mugshot website, then browse the results to find the person you’re looking for. Some people even do more casual searches, simply browsing mugshot websites to see which images are available.

Are mugshots wreaking havoc on your personal or professional life? For a free consultation and removal analysis, contact us today.

An Overview of Popular Mugshot and Mugshot-Related Websites

Today, the internet lets anyone search for court records, arrest records, and mugshots from the comfort of their living room.

While some people feel mugshot websites serve the public interest by increasing safety and transparency, others worry about privacy and the damage past, outdated, or misunderstood information could do to their reputation.

In this section, we’ll discuss some of the more popular mugshot websites and sites that are similar to mugshot finders.

Understanding where your information may show up is the first step to taking control of it and protecting your online reputation.

Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website

Unlike a typical privately operated mugshot website, the National Sex Offender Public Website is run by the United States Department of Justice. As its name suggests, this site is a sex offender registry that allows visitors to search for sex offenders in a specific area.

Employers, parents, and other individuals may use the NSOPW search engine to get official records about serial rapists and other sex offenders from their own neighborhoods or from other communities and states. This sex offender registry is constantly updated, with the information provided by different jurisdictions.

This site may look largely similar to other mug shot sites. However, because the government operates it, you can be assured the information here is more accurate than on other mug shot websites.

Also, this site specifically focuses on sex crimes only. It was pioneered to protect vulnerable populations.

Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator

In addition to the Department of Justice’s NSOPW, the Federal Bureau of Prisons also offers an online service that lets people search for an inmate.

This is similar to what you’ll find on mugshot sites. However, the search results don’t include an actual mugshot or the inmate’s criminal record. Instead, you can get details like the inmate’s name, register number, age, race, gender, release date, and location.

A search results page for Mike Smith includes details like name, register number, age, sex, and release date, along with related links such as "are mugshots public record," "call or email," "send mail/package," "send money," "visit," and "voice a concern.

The inmate locator doesn’t function as a mugshot website. However, it remains a reliable way to find information about those in jail, even if they’ve been released.

Consumer Reporting Agencies

Consumer reporting agencies may look similar to traditional mugshot sites, but it’s not as clear-cut as it seems.

A mugshot website lists mugshots of people booked by law enforcement. A consumer reporting agency, by contrast, collects data about people and provides consumer reports to companies.

Unlike mugshot websites, consumer reporting agencies are bound by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This preserves the personal privacy of the people involved. They must keep records up to date.

That doesn’t mean that criminal information won’t be included, though.

According to the Federal Register, the reports “sometimes include information about a consumer’s credit history, rental history, employment, salary, professional licenses, criminal arrests and convictions, and driving records.”

What Are the Implications of Mugshots Being Public Records?

A man in a suit and tie stands against a height chart background, holding a sign with the number "367985." The chart shows height measurements in feet and inches. The man's neutral expression adds to the typical look often seen in mugshots, which are public record.

In some cases, accessing mugshots online can improve public safety and protect vulnerable populations.

Even if you’ve never seen an individual in person, an online mugshot search can help you make better decisions about whether to engage with them. It can also help the public to identify criminals who need to be turned in to the police.

That said, mugshots also have strong downsides. When anyone can view a mugshot, mugshot extortion becomes possible.

Safeguard Yourself Against Mugshot Extortion

Arrest records and mugshots were public before Google and other search engines could mine the internet for data.

While that information was intended to be public, it wasn’t necessarily meant to be found with a quick, easy online search.

However, because of the Freedom of Information Act, data brokers and mugshot websites can scrape the internet. This gathers booking details, court records, arrest records, and mugshot photos.

This can lead to reputational damage, personal humiliation, and an unwanted invasion of privacy. Regardless of your past or why you had your mugshot taken, being listed on a mugshot website makes it seem like you’re a criminal and should be considered suspicious.

Furthermore, even if you were found innocent, having a mugshot can make you look like a guilty criminal. Employers, potential romantic partners, landlords, and others in your life will judge you immediately when they find your mugshot online, regardless of the circumstances.

This could seriously impact your employment chances, online reputation, personal life, and the opportunities you come across.

To prevent this, you should have your mugshots removed from online search results. For immediate help, contact us today.

How To Remove Mugshots Online

Unless you take action to remove your mugshots, they may stay online indefinitely.

One option is to file a petition with the court. Ask the court to seal or expunge your arrest records or other relevant records. If this is successful, you can send the expungement order to specific mugshot sites that have published your mugshot.

Some mugshot sites also have their own procedures for mugshot removal.

It is important to note, though, that the process for getting your mugshot removed may depend on the following:

  • How serious the charges are
  • Whether a conviction was made
  • Whether charges were expunged, dismissed, or dropped
  • When the incident happened

A simpler, more convenient, and more reliable way to protect your information online is to opt for mugshot removal services. By entrusting mugshot removal to a professional, experienced third-party service, you can be sure your mugshot will be removed, and your online reputation will be managed.

Get a free removal analysis today.

Mugshots Don’t Make People Criminals

Mugshots simply record an individual’s booking. They do not prove whether a person is guilty.

When you see or search for mugshots online, remember that not everyone there is a charged criminal and that these sites aren’t completely accurate.

Some cases may be closed where the defendant was charged but found innocent. There may also be cold cases with no verdict. Ultimately, the court determines whether a charged or arrested individual is guilty.

Do you need help removing your personal info and mugshots from the web? Contact us today for a free consultation and removal analysis. You can also learn more about mugshot removal and negative content suppression by calling 866-601-6803 .