Key takeaways
- Most mugshot pages copy booking photos that police or jails made public. The site that posted it is the first place to ask.
- Many sites have a removal policy. Proof that charges were dropped, or that your record was cleared, makes your request much stronger.
- Some US states limit mugshot sites that charge money to remove photos. Check your state's current law, or ask a lawyer.
- Never pay a site that demands money for removal until you know your rights.
- Once the page is gone, ask Google to refresh its old copy, so the photo stops showing in search.
A booking photo is taken on one of the worst days of your life. Years later, it can still be the first thing people see when they search your name, even if the charges were dropped or you were never convicted. That can cost you jobs, homes, and peace of mind.
You are not stuck with it. This guide explains where mugshot pages come from, how to ask a site to take one down, what the law may say, and how to clear the old copy from Google.
Where mugshot pages come from
In many places, a booking photo is part of the public record. Some police departments and jails post them online, and other websites copy them from there.
- Police and sheriff websites, or jail booking lists.
- Mugshot websites that collect booking photos from many places.
- Local news sites and "arrest" pages that publish recent bookings.
- Social media posts by police departments, news pages, or local groups.
One photo is often copied to several sites. Before you start, search your name in a private window, and check Google Images too. Write down every page that shows the photo, with its link and the date you found it.
Step 1: ask the site to remove it
Many mugshot sites and news sites have a removal policy, often for people whose charges were dropped, dismissed, or ended in a not guilty verdict, or whose record was cleared by a court. Some ask for proof of who you are, too.
Find the removal policy
Look for a link like "Removal", "Contact", "Privacy", or "Corrections", usually at the bottom of the page.
Gather your proof
Get a copy of the court record that shows how your case ended, such as a dismissal, an acquittal, or an expungement or sealing order.
Send a short, calm request
Give the exact link, say how your case ended, attach your proof, and ask for the page to be removed.
Ask the source too
If the photo is on a police or jail website, ask that agency about its rules for old booking photos.
Keep a record
Save every message, the date you sent it, and any reply. Follow up once if you hear nothing.
If your record has been cleared, our guide on expungement and sealing explains how to use your court order in removal requests.
State laws and pay-to-remove sites
Some websites post mugshots and then charge people a fee to take them down. Several US states have passed laws to limit this, for example by stopping sites from charging to remove a booking photo. Some places have also changed when police may post booking photos at all.
These laws are different in each state, and they change over time. Check your state's current law, or ask a lawyer, before you rely on one. We are not lawyers, and this guide is not legal advice.
Google also has a policy for sites like these. If a site asks for payment to remove content about you, you may be able to ask Google to remove those pages from search results for your name, using its personal information removal request.
Step 2: clear Google's old copy
Even after a site removes your photo, Google can keep showing the old title, text, or image for a while. You can ask it to catch up.
- 01Site removes itThe photo is taken down.
- 02Google lagsOld results still show.
- 03Ask GoogleUse the outdated content tool.
- 04Search updatesResults catch up.
Google's outdated content tool lets anyone ask Google to refresh a page or image that has been removed or changed. You paste in the link, and Google checks the live page. Our guide to Google's removal tools explains each tool, and our guide on removing an image from Google covers Google Images.
If the page stays online
Sometimes a site says no, or never replies. You still have options:
- Ask about clearing your record. An expungement or sealing order often changes how sites respond. A lawyer or a local legal aid service can tell you if you qualify.
- Check the law and Google's policies again. A pay-to-remove site may fall under your state's mugshot law or Google's policy.
- Push the result down. True, current pages about you can rank above the old photo. See our guide on pushing down negative search results.
- Keep watching. Removed photos can be copied again. Search your name now and then, so you spot a new copy early.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Every platform and country has its own rules, and they change. We are not lawyers. For legal questions about your case, please speak to a qualified lawyer.