Remove Arrest Records from the Internet for Free (2026)

Court Records vs. Mugshot Sites vs. Background Check Sites: Key Differences

These are three separate systems requiring three separate strategies, confusing them is the most common mistake people make.

Expungement vs. Data Broker Removal: Completely Different Processes

Expungement is a court-ordered process that seals or destroys the official criminal record at the court level. It requires filing a petition with the court, often with the help of an attorney. Once granted, government databases update, but third-party sites that already scraped the record may still display it. Data broker removal is a privacy opt-out you submit directly to private companies. It does not change the official court record but removes your profile from the sites that rank in Google. You need both for comprehensive removal.

Step-by-Step: Mugshot Site Removal

1. Search your name on major mugshot sites: Mugshots.com, BustedMugshots.com, JailBase.com, Arrest.org, MugshotFinder.com, and Busted.com.
2. For each site where your photo appears, find the site's removal or opt-out page (usually in the footer under "Privacy" or "Remove").
3. Submit a removal request, most sites accept free removal requests when the arrest was dismissed, expunged, or did not result in conviction. Reference your expungement order if available.
4. If the site offers free removal but it is hard to find, send a direct email to their abuse or privacy contact citing your state's mugshot removal law (currently enacted in ~40 states).
5. After 7–14 days, verify removal. Use Google's Remove Outdated Content tool to de-index the URL.

Step-by-Step: Background Check Site Removal

1. Identify which background check sites show your arrest record: BeenVerified, Spokeo, Radaris, Instant Checkmate, SpyFly, Intelius.
2. Submit opt-out requests to each site citing CCPA Section 1798.105 (California) or your state's equivalent privacy law.
3. Include a reference to the specific record and request deletion within the legally mandated 45-day window.
4. Use OfflistMe to batch-send these requests across 300+ brokers simultaneously.

When Sites Charge for Removal: Extortion Tactics

Some mugshot sites charge $100–$400 to "remove" your photo, this is widely considered extortion and is illegal in many states. Do not pay. Instead: (1) file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, (2) file a complaint with your state Attorney General, (3) check if your state has a specific mugshot extortion law (California, Georgia, and others have made fee-for-removal illegal). Many sites will remove your photo for free when faced with a formal legal complaint referencing your state's statute.