How to remove your personal info from Mugshot Removal

How Mugshot Extortion Sites Work, and Why They Are (Currently) Legal

Mugshot sites download booking photos from county jail websites (which publish them as public records), then republish them in a searchable database optimized to rank in Google. Many then charge fees of $100–$400 to remove the photo, a business model widely described as extortion. In the US, this is legal in most states because booking photos are public records and the First Amendment protects their republication. However, approximately 40 states have now passed mugshot-specific laws that either require free removal, prohibit charging for removal, or mandate removal upon proof of dismissal or expungement.

The Free Removal Process. Step by Step

1. Find all sites hosting your photo: Search your name + "mugshot" on Google to identify which sites rank. Common offenders: Mugshots.com, BustedMugshots.com, MugshotFinder.com, JailBase.com, Arrest.org, Busted.com, PublicPoliceRecords.com.
2. Gather documentation: If charges were dismissed or you received an expungement, get the court order. This dramatically increases your removal success rate and is required by most state mugshot laws.
3. Contact each site directly: Most sites have a removal page or "privacy" email. Reference your state's mugshot removal law by name (e.g., California Penal Code Section 3, Georgia SB 83) and include your case dismissal documentation.
4. File DMCA takedown if applicable: If you own the copyright to your booking photo (rare but possible in some jurisdictions) or if the site edited the image, a DMCA takedown notice to their hosting provider can force removal.
5. Remove from data brokers: Spokeo, BeenVerified, Radaris, and Instant Checkmate also republish arrest photos. Submit opt-out requests to these brokers using OfflistMe to prevent re-surfacing.
6. Remove from Google: Once the source page is gone, use Google's Outdated Content tool at search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content to accelerate de-indexing.

Top Mugshot Sites and Their Free Removal Links

• Mugshots.com: Email removal@mugshots.com with court documentation. Removal is typically free for dismissed cases.
• BustedMugshots.com: Use the removal form at bustedmugshots.com, free removal for expunged records or dismissed charges when documentation is provided.
• MugshotFinder.com: Contact their privacy team directly via the site's contact page. Free removal for dismissed or expunged cases in most states.
• JailBase.com: Email help@jailbase.com with case details and documentation.
• Arrest.org: Use the removal request form on the site. Free for dismissed/expunged cases.

When Sites Charge for Removal: What to Do

Do not pay. If a site demands payment for removal: (1) File an FTC complaint at reportfraud.ftc.gov. (2) File a complaint with your state Attorney General, especially if your state has a mugshot-fee-prohibition law. (3) Contact the site's web hosting provider with a legal complaint, many hosts will remove the content to avoid liability. (4) Consult a consumer protection attorney, in states with strong mugshot laws, you may have a private right of action against sites that refuse free removal.

Expungement as the Permanent Solution

Mugshot site removal is a temporary fix, the booking photo remains a public record in the county jail database and can be re-scraped. Expungement seals the underlying criminal record and eliminates the public booking photo from official sources, removing the foundation for future re-publication. If you were arrested but not convicted, consult an attorney about expungement eligibility in your state, most US states allow it for arrests without conviction.