How to Remove Mugshots from Google: 8 Ways to Remove Arrest Photos

Seeing your mugshot appear when someone searches your name on Google can affect far more than your search results. An old arrest photo can influence employers, customers, landlords, professional contacts, dates, and anyone else researching you online—even when the charges were dismissed, the case was expunged, or you were never convicted.

Fortunately, mugshots can often be removed from Google Search or made substantially less visible.

The best method depends on who published the mugshot, whether the original page still exists, whether the website charges people to remove arrest information, the outcome of the criminal case, applicable state law, and whether the image has been copied to other websites.

Quick Answer: How Do You Remove a Mugshot From Google?

To remove a mugshot from Google, first identify every website and URL displaying the arrest photo. Then determine whether you can:

1. Remove the mugshot from the original website.
2. Request removal under Google’s policies.
3. Report an exploitative mugshot website that charges for removal.
4. Use a legal removal process when applicable.
5. Remove outdated Google results after the source page is deleted.
6. Remove copies of the mugshot from other websites.
7. Request removal of the mugshot from Google Images.
8. Suppress remaining results with stronger reputation assets.

Removing the mugshot at its original source is usually the strongest long-term solution. Once the source deletes the page or image, Google will normally update its index after recrawling the website. If Google continues showing an outdated result, its Refresh Outdated Content tool can sometimes accelerate the update.

This guide explains each option in detail.

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Why Do Mugshots Appear on Google?

Google usually does not create, own, or publish the mugshot appearing in its search results.

Instead, Google discovers webpages and images published elsewhere on the internet and may index them so they can appear in Search.

Common sources include:

• sheriff and county jail websites;
• arrest-record databases;
• mugshot websites;
• local news websites;
• police blotters;
• court-record websites;
• background-check services;
• public-record aggregators;
• social media accounts; and
• websites that republish arrest records from other sources.

If one of these pages mentions your full name and contains an arrest photo, Google may determine that the page is relevant when someone searches for you.

That is why a Google search for:

John Smith

can sometimes produce a result titled:

John Smith Mugshot – Arrest Records

even though Google had nothing to do with the original arrest or publication.

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Can You Remove Mugshots From Google?

Yes, many mugshots can be removed from Google Search.

However, there is no single universal “delete my mugshot” button.

There are three fundamentally different ways to deal with an unwanted mugshot:

1. Source Removal

The website that published the mugshot deletes the photo or webpage.

This is generally the best outcome because the information disappears at its source rather than only being hidden from one search engine.

2. Google Removal or Deindexing

The original page remains online, but Google stops displaying the URL for some or all searches.

Google permits removal requests in certain circumstances based on its policies or applicable law.

3. Search Result Suppression

The mugshot remains online and indexed, but more authoritative and favorable results rank above it.

Suppression is generally used when removal is unavailable or when multiple copies of an arrest record remain online.

The right strategy frequently combines two or all three methods.

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Step 1: Find Every Mugshot and Arrest Record About You

Before contacting anyone, perform a thorough reputation audit.

Search Google using multiple variations of your identity.

Try searches such as:

• "First Last"
• "First Middle Last"
• "First Last" mugshot
• "First Last" arrest
• "First Last" arrested
• "First Last" booking
• "First Last" charges
• "First Last" jail
• "First Last" + city
• "First Last" + county
• "First Last" + state

Also check Google Images.

A webpage can disappear from normal web results while the underlying mugshot continues appearing in image searches.

For every result you locate, record:

• website name;
• exact page URL;
• image URL if available;
• Google ranking position;
• page title;
• arrest date;
• charges shown;
• whether the information is accurate;
• whether the case was dismissed, sealed, or expunged;
• whether the publisher offers or demands paid removal.

Take screenshots before beginning the removal process.

This creates a baseline and makes it easier to verify that each copy has actually disappeared.

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Step 2: Identify Who Published the Mugshot

Not all mugshot websites should be handled the same way.

A county sheriff’s office is very different from an independent commercial arrest-record website.

Determine whether the source is:

Government Website

Examples include sheriff, police, corrections, and county jail websites.

Government-record removal usually depends heavily on state law, agency policy, and the legal status of the record.

News Organization

News publishers may invoke editorial discretion and public-interest considerations. The strongest request will usually explain why continued publication is inaccurate, outdated, misleading, legally problematic, or unnecessarily harmful.

Mugshot or Arrest-Record Website

Some commercial websites collect arrest data and republish it at scale.

These sites may have internal removal procedures, and some qualify for special treatment under Google policies if they engage in exploitative removal practices.

Data Broker or Background-Check Website

The site may provide an opt-out mechanism rather than a conventional content-removal procedure.

Social Media or User-Generated Website

A mugshot posted to Facebook, Reddit, X, TikTok, Instagram, or another community platform may need to be addressed through that platform’s reporting procedures.

Correctly identifying the publisher determines which removal strategy has the best chance of working.

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Step 3: Request Removal From the Original Mugshot Website

Whenever practical, try to remove the mugshot from its original source.

Google itself advises that removing information at the source is generally the best option because Google can remove a result from Search but cannot delete a page from a third-party website.

Your removal request should identify:

• your name;
• exact URL;
• arrest or booking information;
• reason you are requesting removal;
• final disposition of the case when relevant; and
• supporting documentation.

Relevant documentation may include:

• dismissal orders;
• expungement orders;
• sealing orders;
• proof of mistaken identity;
• acquittal documentation;
• updated court records; or
• other evidence showing why the listing should be removed or corrected.

What If the Charges Were Dismissed?

A dismissal does not automatically erase every copy of an arrest record from the internet.

However, it can materially strengthen a removal request.

If a website prominently displays the original arrest but fails to explain that the case was dismissed, the result can create a misleading impression about the outcome.

Include documentation demonstrating the dismissal and ask that the record either be removed or accurately updated.

What If You Were Never Convicted?

An arrest and a criminal conviction are not the same thing.

If the mugshot creates the impression that you were convicted when the charges were dropped, dismissed, reduced, or resulted in an acquittal, explain the disposition clearly.

Avoid claiming that truthful historical information is necessarily false simply because the case had a favorable outcome.

Instead, focus on the complete and accurate record.

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Step 4: Check Whether Google Will Remove an Exploitative Mugshot Result

This is one of the most important removal options for certain mugshot websites.

Google maintains a policy covering sites with exploitative removal practices.

Google says it may remove links to information about a person when all of the following generally apply:

• the requester is the subject of the content;
• the website is not a business-review site; and
• the website requires payment to itself or another agency to remove the content.

That can potentially apply to some mugshot and arrest-record websites that monetize the removal of personal information.

If the website tells you that you must pay money to remove your mugshot, preserve evidence.

Take screenshots showing:

• the removal fee;
• payment instructions;
• emails requesting payment;
• pricing pages;
• third-party agencies the site directs you to use; and
• the URL containing your mugshot.

Then submit the relevant URLs to Google through the personal-content removal process.

A successful Google request does not necessarily delete the mugshot from the offending website.

It can instead prevent the reported URL from appearing in Google Search, making the page substantially harder to discover.

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Step 5: Determine Whether Another Google Removal Policy Applies

A mugshot does not automatically qualify for removal simply because it is embarrassing or damaging.

However, other information on the page may qualify under Google’s personal-content policies.

For example, the page may also expose sensitive personal information.

Google provides procedures for requesting removal of certain categories of personal information from Search.

The important point is to evaluate the entire page, not just the arrest photo.

A mugshot page can contain:

• home addresses;
• phone numbers;
• email addresses;
• identifying information;
• financial information; or
• other sensitive data.

If information on the page independently qualifies under a Google removal policy, submit the exact URL and clearly identify the information at issue.

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Step 6: Consider Legal Removal Options

Some mugshot and arrest-record situations involve legal rights rather than Google’s voluntary content policies.

Potential legal grounds vary considerably based on jurisdiction and circumstances.

Examples can include:

• expungement or sealing statutes;
• state mugshot laws;
• privacy laws;
• copyright claims;
• defamation;
• court orders;
• inaccurate information;
• identity theft;
• impersonation; or
• other applicable state or federal laws.

Google provides a separate process for reporting content for legal reasons.

Does Expungement Automatically Remove a Mugshot From Google?

Usually, no.

Expungement changes the legal status or accessibility of the underlying record according to applicable law, but it does not automatically erase every copy that was previously published online.

You may still need to:

1. identify websites publishing the record;
2. provide the expungement documentation;
3. request source removal;
4. address republished copies; and
5. update Google after deletion.

Depending on state law, however, an expungement or sealing order can make removal substantially easier.

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Step 7: Remove the Mugshot From Google After the Website Deletes It

Suppose the mugshot website agrees to remove your record.

You search Google the next morning and the result is still there.

That does not necessarily mean the removal failed.

Google’s index may simply be outdated.

Google periodically recrawls webpages and updates its search index, but that process is not always immediate.

If a third-party webpage or image:

• has been deleted;
• returns a 404 or similar error; or
• has been materially changed so the mugshot or sensitive information is gone,

you can use Google’s Refresh Outdated Content process.

Google specifically states that this tool is intended for pages or images that no longer exist or have removed significant content.

Important Limitation

Do not use the outdated-content tool simply because you dislike the information.

If the mugshot is still visible on the live webpage, the tool is generally not the appropriate removal mechanism.

The source has to be gone or meaningfully changed.

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Step 8: Remove Mugshots From Google Images

Do not stop after checking normal Google web results.

Arrest photos frequently continue appearing in Google Images even after their original webpages have changed.

Image removal can involve multiple URLs:

1. the webpage containing the mugshot; and
2. the direct image location.

Google’s outdated-content procedures specifically provide a method for requesting updates to outdated images.

You may also need to address every website that copied the same photo.

Removing one image does not automatically remove identical copies hosted by other domains.

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Mugshot Removal From Google vs. Mugshot Removal From the Internet

These are not the same outcome.

Imagine a mugshot is located at:

examplemugshots.com/john-smith

If Google approves a removal request, the page may disappear from Google Search.

But the page could still be accessible:

• through its direct URL;
• through Bing;
• through another search engine;
• from social media;
• through links on other websites; or
• through the publisher’s own site search.

By contrast, if the publisher deletes the webpage entirely, the source itself disappears.

That is why source removal is normally preferable to Google-only deindexing whenever source removal is possible.

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Can Google Remove a Mugshot Even If the Website Refuses?

Sometimes.

A website’s refusal to delete information does not necessarily prevent Google from removing the URL from its own results.

Possible Google-level options can include:

• personal-content policies;
• exploitative-removal policies;
• applicable legal requests;
• outdated-content requests after a page changes; and
• other policy-specific procedures.

However, Google does not guarantee removal simply because the result is harmful to your reputation.

Each request is evaluated under the applicable policy.

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Can Mugshot Websites Legally Charge for Removal?

Laws governing commercial mugshot publication and paid removal vary by state.

Some states have enacted laws addressing practices such as:

• charging people to remove booking photographs;
• publishing mugshots for commercial purposes;
• failing to remove records after favorable dispositions;
• refusing removal after expungement; or
• requiring removal within a specified period.

Because these rules differ significantly by jurisdiction, avoid assuming that one state’s requirements apply nationwide.

The state where the arrest occurred, the location of the publisher, and other factors can all matter.

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What If the Mugshot Is From Years Ago?

Age alone does not automatically qualify a mugshot for removal.

However, older content can present additional arguments, particularly when:

• the arrest did not result in conviction;
• the record was expunged or sealed;
• the information is no longer accurate;
• a long period has passed without subsequent incidents;
• the site uses exploitative removal practices; or
• applicable privacy or state law provides additional rights.

Old arrest information can also be particularly vulnerable to reputation suppression because stronger, newer sources may eventually outrank it.

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What If the Mugshot Is Incorrect or Belongs to Someone Else?

Mistaken identity deserves immediate attention.

Common causes include:

• identical names;
• incorrect booking data;
• image mismatches;
• data-import errors;
• incorrect middle names;
• wrong dates of birth;
• publisher mistakes; and
• automated aggregation errors.

Document exactly what is incorrect.

Do not merely say:

“This isn’t me.”

Explain what proves the mismatch.

For example:

• different date of birth;
• different county;
• different middle name;
• different physical description;
• government identification;
• corresponding court documentation.

Request correction or deletion from the source first and document all correspondence.

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What If Multiple Mugshot Websites Copied the Same Arrest?

This is common.

A single arrest record can propagate from a government feed or data provider to numerous websites.

You may remove one page only to discover copies on five more domains.

That is why effective mugshot removal requires a URL-by-URL inventory.

Track each instance independently.

A useful spreadsheet should include:

Website	Page URL	Image URL	Google Rank	Removal Requested	Status
Site A	URL	URL	#2	Yes	Pending
Site B	URL	URL	#5	Yes	Removed
Site C	URL	URL	Images	Yes	Waiting

Continue searching after the first wave of removals because copied records may appear later.

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Can Mugshots Reappear After Removal?

Yes.

A mugshot can reappear when:

• another website republishes it;
• a government database updates;
• an archived URL becomes accessible;
• duplicate URLs exist;
• a second image URL remains indexed;
• a syndication partner republishes the arrest;
• old pages are restored; or
• search engines discover a copy that was previously unindexed.

That is why removal should be followed by monitoring.

Search periodically for:

• your full name;
• your name + mugshot;
• your name + arrest;
• your name + city;
• your name + county.

Google Alerts can help identify newly indexed webpages, but manual monitoring is also useful because alerts do not necessarily capture every new result.

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How Long Does Mugshot Removal Take?

There is no universal timeframe.

The process depends on which strategy is being used.

Source Website Removal

Some websites process valid requests quickly. Others can require repeated follow-up or documentation.

Google Policy Removal

Timing varies depending on the request, policy, complexity, and whether Google requires additional information.

Updating an Already-Deleted Page

Google says Refresh Outdated Content requests can take several days to process.

Organic Google Recrawling

A deleted page may disappear naturally once Google recrawls it, but crawl frequency varies.

Reputation Suppression

Suppressing a strong arrest page can take considerably longer because new assets must become indexed, gain authority, and outrank the negative page.

Be cautious of anyone promising that every mugshot can be permanently removed from every website within a fixed period.

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What Is Mugshot Suppression?

Sometimes complete removal is not possible.

In that situation, mugshot suppression aims to move the arrest result farther down Google by ranking stronger content above it.

Consider someone whose search results look like this:

1. LinkedIn
2. Company website
3. Mugshot website
4. Facebook
5. Arrest database
6. Instagram

A suppression campaign might aim for:

1. Personal website
2. LinkedIn
3. Company biography
4. Professional association
5. News feature
6. Medium profile
7. YouTube
8. Industry article
9. Instagram
10. Mugshot website

The arrest page still technically exists, but fewer people encounter it.

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How to Suppress Mugshots in Google Search

Effective search suppression is substantially more sophisticated than publishing a few social profiles.

Google must have compelling reasons to rank the replacement content above the arrest page.

Useful reputation assets can include:

• a professionally optimized personal website;
• employer or company biography;
• LinkedIn;
• authoritative industry profiles;
• professional directories;
• interviews;
• media coverage;
• association memberships;
• podcasts;
• YouTube profiles;
• authored articles;
• high-quality social profiles; and
• other authoritative pages associated with the person’s name.

Entity Consistency Matters

Search engines increasingly try to understand entities, not merely keywords.

Your legitimate online profiles should consistently identify the same individual through information such as:

• full name;
• professional role;
• company;
• location;
• biography;
• relevant social profiles; and
• authoritative references.

The objective is to help Google confidently understand which reputable pages represent the person being searched.

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Should You Create Dozens of Websites to Push Down a Mugshot?

Usually not.

Low-quality reputation campaigns often create dozens of thin profiles, duplicate articles, or weak microsites.

This can produce temporary movement but does not necessarily establish lasting search authority.

A better strategy emphasizes quality, authority, relevance, and diversification.

Ten strong assets are often more useful than 100 nearly empty profiles.

Avoid:

• keyword stuffing;
• fake reviews;
• spun articles;
• automated backlinks;
• duplicate websites;
• fake biographies;
• fabricated news coverage; and
• other manipulative SEO tactics.

The goal should be to make accurate, legitimate information about the individual more visible.

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Common Mugshot Removal Mistakes

Paying the Publisher Immediately

If a site demands money to remove personal content, document the demand before paying.

The site may potentially fall within Google’s exploitative-removal policy.

Assuming Expungement Automatically Clears Google

It generally does not.

You still need to identify third-party copies and request removal or updating.

Only Removing One URL

The mugshot may exist on duplicate pages, image URLs, mirrors, and republisher sites.

Forgetting Google Images

The webpage may disappear while the photo remains discoverable in image search.

Using the Outdated Content Tool Too Early

The tool is intended for information that is already gone or materially changed at the source—not simply information you want removed.

Ignoring Search Results After Removal

Republishing happens.

Continue monitoring your name.

Using Aggressive Threats Without a Legal Basis

A factual, documented request is generally more effective than an emotional demand.

Assuming Google Controls the Website

Google usually only indexes third-party content.

Removing a Google result does not necessarily remove the source.

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DIY Mugshot Removal Checklist

Use this process when trying to remove an arrest photo yourself:

1. Search your full name on Google.
2. Search variations involving “mugshot,” “arrest,” and “booking.”
3. Check Google Images.
4. Record every offending URL.
5. Save screenshots.
6. Identify each publisher.
7. Determine the final disposition of the case.
8. Gather dismissal, sealing, or expungement records.
9. Look for the publisher’s removal or opt-out process.
10. Document any demand for payment.
11. Request source removal.
12. Determine whether a Google policy applies.
13. Submit appropriate Google requests.
14. After source deletion, request an outdated-content refresh if needed.
15. Check for duplicate images and republished copies.
16. Build stronger search assets if complete removal is impossible.
17. Continue monitoring your search results.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Removing Mugshots From Google

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Removing Mugshots From Google: The Bottom Line

If an arrest photo appears when someone Googles your name, begin by determining where the mugshot actually comes from.

Google usually is not the publisher.

The strongest strategy is generally:

remove the mugshot from the source → remove duplicate copies → update Google → monitor for republication.

If source removal is unavailable, investigate Google’s removal policies—particularly if the website demands payment to remove personal content.

If neither source removal nor Google deindexing is available, search-result suppression can reduce the mugshot’s visibility by ranking stronger, accurate, authoritative content above it.

Most importantly, do not assume an old arrest photo has to dominate your Google results indefinitely. Depending on the website, case outcome, applicable laws, Google policies, and search environment, there may be several avenues available to reduce or eliminate its visibility.

Need Help Removing a Mugshot From Google?

Google Reputation Manager helps individuals evaluate unwanted Google search results and determine the strongest available strategy for addressing them.

Depending on the situation, that may involve:

• mugshot and arrest-record removal;
• source website removal;
• Google deindexing strategies;
• Google Images removal;
• outdated-result cleanup;
• search-result suppression;
• reputation repair; and
• ongoing Google reputation monitoring.

If a mugshot, arrest record, or booking photo is appearing when people search your name, start by identifying the URLs involved and evaluating whether removal, deindexing, or suppression offers the strongest path forward.

MLA Citations

Google. Search Essentials. Google Developers, https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials.
Google. Remove Information You Believe Is Inaccurate. Google Search Central, https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/6332384.
Google. Transparency Report. Google, https://transparencyreport.google.com/.
National Conference of State Legislatures. State Law Resources. NCSL, https://www.ncsl.org.

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