Why mugshots stay online and what you can actually do about them
Once a mugshot appears online, it spreads across dozens of websites that republish it automatically. You cannot delete it everywhere at once, and no single government office will remove it for you. What you can do is contact the websites directly, request removal under state law or their own policies, and in some cases pay a removal service to handle the process. The fastest results come from contacting the original source — usually the police department or county jail — and then working through the largest republishing sites one by one.
The reason mugshots persist is straightforward: websites make money by hosting them. A mugshot database attracts traffic, and traffic attracts advertisers. Even after you remove a photo from one site, it may reappear on another because the second site scraped it from the first. This is not a technical accident — it is the business model. Understanding this explains why removal takes persistence rather than a single request.
Key Takeaways
- Mugshots are public records, so you cannot force removal from official government sources, but many states let you request removal after charges are dropped or you are found not guilty.
- Private websites that republish mugshots are not required to remove them, but many will if you contact them directly and cite your state's law or their own removal policy.
- The largest mugshot aggregator sites — like Mugshots.com, BeenVerified, and when ready Checkmate — handle hundreds of removal requests and have established processes for doing so.
- Removal services charge $500 to $3,000 to contact sites on your behalf, but you can do the same work yourself by finding the sites, locating their contact forms, and sending removal requests.
- Even after removal, new sites may republish your mugshot from archived copies, so you may need to repeat removal requests months or years later.
Getting the mugshot removed from the original source
The original source is usually the police department or county jail that took the photo. If your charges were dropped, dismissed, or resulted in acquittal, you have the strongest case for removal. Contact the records department of the police agency or jail that booked you and ask whether your state allows removal of mugshots in your situation.
Some states — including California, Colorado, and Utah — have laws that require removal after acquittal or dismissal. Others, like Texas and Florida, treat mugshots as permanent public records and do not remove them. Your state's law matters more than the individual agency's willingness. If your state does allow removal, send a written request that includes your case number, booking date, and the outcome of your case. Ask for written confirmation once the photo is removed from their public database.
Even if removal is granted, the original source may only remove it from their own website. They cannot force private websites to delete copies they already downloaded. This is why the next step — contacting the republishing sites — is necessary.
Identifying which websites are hosting your mugshot
Search for your name plus "mugshot" in Google Images to see where your photo appears. You will likely find it on multiple sites. The largest ones — Mugshots.com, BeenVerified, when ready Checkmate, and TruthFinder — host thousands of mugshots and handle removal requests regularly. Smaller local sites may also carry it.
Write down the URL of each site where you find your photo. Some sites make their removal process obvious on the page itself; others bury it in a footer or contact form. Check each site's terms of service or privacy policy for a removal request procedure. Many sites have a specific email address or web form for removal requests, and using the official channel increases the chance of a response.
Do not assume a site will ignore your request. Most major mugshot sites receive hundreds of removal requests and have staff who process them. The process may take weeks, but it usually works if you follow their stated procedure.
Contacting mugshot websites directly
When you contact a site, be specific and professional. Include your full name, the URL where your mugshot appears, your case number if you have it, and the reason for removal — such as charges being dropped or case dismissed. If your state law allows removal, mention that law by name. If you have documentation (a court order, a letter from the prosecutor, or a police record showing dismissal), attach it or offer to send it.
Most sites will ask you to prove your identity and the facts you are claiming. They do this to prevent someone else from removing your mugshot as a prank or harassment. Be prepared to provide a copy of your ID and any court documents that support your request. This verification step can add one to two weeks to the process.
If a site does not respond within two weeks, send a follow-up email. If it does not respond within a month, move on to the next site. Some sites are more responsive than others, and persistence matters more than perfection.
Understanding what removal services do and whether they are worth the cost
Removal services charge between $500 and $3,000 to contact sites on your behalf and request removal. They maintain relationships with major mugshot sites, know which sites are most likely to respond, and handle the back-and-forth communication. For someone with limited time or multiple mugshots across many sites, this can be worth the cost.
What removal services cannot do is force a site to remove your photo. They send the same requests you could send yourself. Their advantage is scale and persistence — they contact dozens of sites at once and follow up repeatedly. They also know which sites are most likely to respond and which ones rarely grant removal requests.
Before paying a removal service, try contacting the largest sites yourself. If you get responses and removals within a few weeks, you may not need a service. If you contact five sites and hear nothing back, a service may save you time and frustration. Read reviews of any service before paying, and avoid services that may provide removal — no legitimate service can may provide that.
Why mugshots reappear and what to do when they do
Months or years after removal, you may find your mugshot on a new site you have never seen before. This happens because websites scrape content from each other, and archived copies of old pages still exist. A site that went offline years ago may have been archived by the Internet Archive, and a new site may pull from that archive. This is frustrating but normal.
When a mugshot reappears, treat it the same way: search for it, identify the new sites, and contact them with removal requests. You may need to repeat this process multiple times over several years. Some people find that removal requests become easier the second time because they already have the documentation and know which sites to contact.
If you find your mugshot reappearing constantly on new sites, a removal service may be more practical than handling each site individually. Some services offer ongoing monitoring and will contact new sites as they appear.
What you cannot do and why
You cannot force Google to remove your mugshot from search results unless the photo itself is removed from the underlying websites. Google does not host the mugshots — it only indexes them. Asking Google to remove the search result without removing the photo from the source site is like asking a library to remove a book from its catalog while the book still sits on the shelf.
You also cannot sue a website for hosting your mugshot in most cases. Mugshots are public records, and republishing public records is generally legal. Some states have passed laws limiting how mugshot sites can operate — for example, requiring them to remove photos after a certain time or prohibiting them from charging for removal — but these laws are new and vary widely. Unless your state has a specific law against mugshot republishing, a lawsuit is unlikely to succeed.
What you can do is work within the systems that exist: state law, website policies, and direct contact with site operators. These methods work, but they require patience and documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my mugshot removed if I was convicted?
Removal is much harder after conviction because the mugshot is part of a public criminal record. Some states allow removal after a certain number of years have passed or after you complete your sentence, but most do not. Contact your state's records office to learn what your state allows. Private websites are under no obligation to remove it, though some may do so if you ask.
How long does removal usually take?
If you contact a site and they have a clear removal process, expect two to four weeks for a response. If they ask for documentation, add another one to two weeks. Some sites take much longer or never respond. Removal services typically take four to eight weeks because they contact many sites at once and follow up multiple times.
Do I have to pay to get my mugshot removed?
No. Websites should remove mugshots for free if you make a valid request. Removal services charge a fee, but you can contact sites yourself without paying anything. Be wary of any website that charges you to remove your own mugshot — that is a scam.
What if a website says they will not remove my mugshot?
If a site refuses removal and your state has a law requiring removal, you can report the site to your state's attorney general. If your state has no such law, the site is likely within its legal rights to keep the photo. In that case, your options are limited to removal services, which may have better luck, or accepting that the photo will remain online.
Will removing my mugshot from Google search results help?
Only if the photo is removed from the websites themselves. You can request removal from Google's search index, but Google will only grant it in specific cases — for example, if the photo violates Google's policies or if a court orders removal. Removing the search result does not remove the photo from the underlying websites, so someone searching directly on those sites will still find it.