# How to Remove Your Arrest Record & Mugshot from the Internet (Free 2026 Guide)

You were arrested years ago. The charges were dropped, or you completed your sentence. You have moved on.

But the internet has not. Your mugshot and arrest record still appear on Google, on data broker sites, and on predatory mugshot publication websites. They show up when employers search your name, when landlords run a check, or when a date gets curious.

This guide covers the exact steps to remove arrest records from Google and the internet, for free, using your legal rights.

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

Arrest records spread across three layers: government databases, data brokers, and mugshot extortion sites.

You have legal rights under CCPA, GDPR, and state expungement laws to request removal.

Google offers a free tool to remove arrest records from search results once the source page is taken down.

Data brokers like Spokeo, Instant Checkmate, and BeenVerified publish arrest data and must honor opt-out requests.

Why Your Arrest Record Is Still Online

Arrest records are "public records." That means data brokers and mugshot sites legally scrape them from county court databases and republish them online. Even if you were found not guilty, the arrest itself remains public unless you take action.

There are three layers to remove:

1. Mugshot extortion sites that charge fees to take down your photo.

2. Data brokers like CyberBackgroundChecks, Instant Checkmate, and TruthFinder that aggregate court data.

3. Google search results that index all of the above.

Step 1: Check Your State Expungement Laws

Before anything else, check if your arrest qualifies for expungement or record sealing in your state. If a judge grants expungement, the arrest is legally erased, and you have ironclad grounds to demand removal everywhere.

As of 2026, most US states allow expungement for:

Arrests that did not result in conviction.

Misdemeanors after a waiting period (typically 1-5 years).

First-time offenses under diversion programs.

Juvenile records.

How to apply: Contact your county clerk of court or search "[your state] expungement petition" online. Many states now offer free online filing. Legal aid organizations also help with free expungement clinics.

Step 2: Remove Mugshots from Extortion Sites

Mugshot publication sites scrape booking photos from county jails and publish them online. Some charge $400 or more to remove them. Do not pay.

Under laws in states like California, Oregon, Georgia, and Utah, it is now illegal for mugshot sites to charge for removal. Here is what to do instead:

Send a CCPA deletion request (if you are a California resident) demanding removal under Section 1798.105.

File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Use Google's removal tool (covered in Step 4) to de-index the mugshot from search results even if the site refuses to cooperate.

Use OfflistMe to generate legally structured removal requests for all sites publishing your record.

Step 3: Opt Out of Data Brokers That Publish Arrest Data

The following data brokers are the most common sources of arrest records and background check data online. Each one has a legally required opt-out process:

Spokeo: Aggregates court records and public filings. Opt out via their removal page.

Instant Checkmate: Publishes criminal records and mugshots. Has an online opt-out form.

BeenVerified: Shows arrest data in its "Criminal Records" section. Submit an opt-out request.

CyberBackgroundChecks: Indexes background check data. Send a CCPA request.

TruePeopleSearch: Sometimes surfaces court records. Opt out for free.

FastBackgroundCheck: One of the most commonly searched background check sites.

You can generate removal requests for all of these at once using OfflistMe. Each request cites the relevant privacy law (CCPA, GDPR, or state consumer protection act) and is sent directly from your own email.

Step 4: Remove Arrest Records from Google Search

Once the source pages are taken down (or return a 404), you need to tell Google to update its index. Google will not automatically remove cached results for weeks or months.

Use Google's free tools:

1. Results About You: Go to your Google account settings and use the "Results About You" tool to flag pages showing your arrest record. Google will review and de-index them.

2. Outdated Content Removal Tool: Go to Google's Remove Outdated Content page and submit the URL of the cached page. Google will re-crawl it and remove the outdated snippet.

3. Legal Removal Request: If the arrest was expunged, you can submit a Google Legal Removal Request citing the court order. This is the strongest option.

Step 5: Monitor for Reappearance

Arrest data reappears because data brokers refresh their databases from government sources. Even after you remove your record from ten sites, a new aggregator may scrape and republish it.

Set up monitoring:

Google Alerts: Create an alert for your full name plus keywords like "arrest" or "mugshot."

Periodic searches: Google your name every 60-90 days to check for new listings.

Re-run removal requests: Use OfflistMe to periodically send fresh removal requests to brokers that may have re-listed your data.

Your Legal Rights (2026)

CCPA (California): Right to deletion. Data brokers must comply within 45 days.

GDPR (EU residents): Right to erasure under Article 17.

State mugshot laws: 20+ states now prohibit mugshot sites from charging for removal.

Expungement orders: Override all data brokers. Once expunged, no one can legally publish the record.

The Bottom Line

Arrest records should not define you forever. The internet makes them permanent unless you take action. The process is straightforward: check expungement eligibility, send removal requests to data brokers, clean up Google, and monitor for reappearance.

You have the legal right to control this information. Use it.

Start removing your arrest records from 200+ sites →

How to Remove Your Arrest Record & Mugshot from the Internet (Free 2026 Guide)