Online Mugshot Removal Service
Remove your mugshot and arrest record from the internet — from the websites that posted it and from Google and Bing search results. Most removals resolve within a few days to a few weeks. Defamation Defenders handles every step privately, and you pay after removal, so you only pay for results.
- Free, confidential quote
- Pay after removal: pay only for results
- Removed from the site, Google and Bing
- Most removals resolve in a few days to a few weeks
Can you remove a mugshot from the internet?
Yes. Mugshots published on commercial mugshot websites can almost always be removed, and once the source pages are gone they can be cleared from Google, Bing and image search. We've helped more than 4,000 clients over 10+ years, and pages on commercial mugshot websites are among the most removable content we handle.
A mugshot online can follow you into job interviews, background checks, apartment applications and first dates — whether or not you were convicted, and even after a record is expunged or sealed. We remove it at the source, then make sure it drops out of search results so it stops showing up when someone searches your name.
Why an online mugshot can follow you for years
Mugshot websites copy booking photos from sheriff and police sites and build pages designed to rank for your name. Unless someone takes action, those pages stay up indefinitely.
It ranks for your name
Employers, landlords, clients and dates search your name. A mugshot page is often one of the first results they see.
Expungement doesn't erase it
A dismissal, sealing or expungement clears your official record — but not the copies mugshot sites have already published.
It spreads
One booking photo gets copied to several mugshot sites, aggregators and image results. If one copy is left behind, Google may simply rank that one instead.
Which mugshots and arrest records can be removed?
Timing and pricing depend on where your mugshot was published. Here's how the most common sources are handled.
| Where it's published | Removable? | Typical path |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial mugshot websites (Arrests.org, Mugshots.com, etc.) | Yes | Removal directly from the site — usually the fastest route |
| Copies on aggregator and scraper sites | Yes | We find and remove every duplicate tied to your name |
| Google, Bing and image search results | Yes | Cached pages and images cleared once the source is gone |
| Local news articles and police blotters | Often | Editorial removal request — see our news article removal service |
| Government or county jail pages | Often | Deindexing from search engines — takes longer and is priced separately |
How to get a mugshot removed
You can try this yourself or have us handle it. Either way, these are the steps that work.
Find every copy
Search your full name with your city, state and words like “arrest” or “mugshot” on Google, Bing and Google Images, and note every URL. Our guide to finding mugshots online covers the main databases.
Check your state’s mugshot law
Some states limit what mugshot websites can charge or require removal on request, including Texas, Ohio, Colorado and Georgia. A dismissal, acquittal or expungement often strengthens a request.
Request removal from each website
Use each site’s removal form or contact page, include the exact URL, and keep a record of what you sent. Requests are handled site by site, and some sites don’t respond.
Clear it from Google and Bing
Once a page is gone, ask Google to update the result with its Refresh Outdated Content tool and use Bing’s Content Removal Tool. Cached pages and images can linger until you do.
Watch for re-posts
Booking photos get scraped onto new sites. Set a Google Alert for your name or use reputation monitoring so a new copy doesn’t catch you off guard.
| Step | Doing it yourself | With Defamation Defenders |
|---|---|---|
| Finding every copy | Manual searches by name | We search for every copy tied to your name |
| Website requests | One site at a time; some don’t respond | We prepare and submit each request for you |
| Google and Bing cleanup | You file each request | Included |
| Cost | Your time; some sites may charge | Firm written quote; pay after removal on eligible cases |
| If it’s re-posted | Start over | Free re-removal if re-posted on the same site |
How to remove a mugshot from Google
Short answer: Google doesn’t host the mugshot, so it can’t delete the page. Remove the mugshot from the website first, then ask Google to update or drop the outdated result.
If a website charges people to take mugshots down, Google may also remove its pages from results for your name under its policy on sites with exploitative removal practices. That request goes through Google’s personal information removal form.
Image results take one more step: once the page is gone, request a refresh for the image as well. See our guide to removing mugshots from Google Images.
When the source is a government or county jail website that won’t take a page down, Google deindexing may be the realistic option. It takes longer and is priced separately.
How our mugshot removal process works
You send us the links. We handle everything else — privately, and you only pay for results.
Free, confidential quote
Send us the link to your mugshot. We review it and give you a firm price and timeline — no obligation.
We find every copy
We search for every instance tied to your name across mugshot sites, aggregators and image results so nothing gets missed.
Removal at the source
We use more than a decade of working relationships with site operators to take your mugshot down from the sites that published it.
Google and Bing cleanup
We clear cached results and images from Google Search, Google Images, Bing, DuckDuckGo and Yahoo.
Confirmation
Most removals resolve within a few days to a few weeks. We confirm every link is gone before we close out your case.
It stays down
Mugshot-site pages we remove are guaranteed to stay down. If a removed mugshot is ever re-posted on the same site, we remove it again at no extra cost.
Why people choose us for mugshot removal
We know how much an online mugshot can cost you — personally and professionally. Here's what you get when you work with us:
- Pay only for results. You pay after removal, once the mugshot is down. If we can't remove it, you don't pay.
- Fast turnaround. Most removals resolve within a few days to a few weeks.
- Permanent removal. Pages we remove from mugshot sites stay down.
- Clear, upfront pricing. A firm quote before any work begins.
- Flexible payment. All major credit cards and Zelle, with split payments for multiple mugshots.
- Complete privacy. Your case is handled confidentially from start to finish.
What our clients say
"I struggled for months after my mugshot appeared online. It affected my job search and my self-esteem. Thanks to the team at Defamation Defenders, my mugshot was removed in record time. I feel like I have my life back and can move forward more confidently! I can't thank them enough for their help."— Jane S., Chief Financial Officer
Our guarantee: after your free review, we tell you exactly what we can remove and what it costs. You pay after removal and only for results: if we can't remove it, you don't pay.
Mugshot websites we remove from
We work with the operators of mugshot sites every day. Some of the most common include:
Arrests.org
A nationwide database that republishes booking photos and arrest details from local agencies. We can typically remove your listing within days.
BustedNewspaper.com
Publishes arrest information from police reports and sheriff's offices in a news-style format built to rank high in Google.
The Georgia Gazette
Posts Georgia jail booking photos and arrest details. Many people qualify for free removal under Georgia law; we handle the request and the Google cleanup.
Mugshots.com
One of the oldest and best-known mugshot sites, publishing arrest records from across the U.S.
Mugshot.Zone
A fast-growing site whose pages often rank near the top of Google, Bing and image search results.
RecentlyBooked.com
Publishes recent booking photos and arrest reports from select U.S. regions.
SouthFloridaRecords.com
A regional site publishing arrest records and mugshots from South Florida, in Spanish.
SayCheese
A network of Texas county Facebook pages that repost booking photos and charges, often within hours of an arrest. We remove the post, its copies, and the search results.
Don't see the site your mugshot is on? We remove mugshots from hundreds of other sites, too — just send us the link.
Is there free mugshot removal?
Sometimes. You may be able to get a mugshot removed for free when:
- Your state restricts mugshot websites, as Georgia, Texas, Ohio and Colorado do in different ways.
- Your charges were dismissed, you were acquitted, or the record was expunged or sealed. Some sites remove these on request.
- The site offers its own free removal request form.
- You file the Google and Bing requests yourself.
Free routes take time and usually cover one site at a time. Our service makes sense when your mugshot is on several sites, a site ignores your requests, or you want it handled quickly and confidentially. The quote is free either way.
How to choose the best mugshot removal service
Before you hire anyone, get clear answers to these questions in writing.
Do I pay before or after removal?
Look for pay-after-removal options or a money-back guarantee on agreed removals.
What exactly will be removed?
The quote should list every URL and say whether Google and Bing cleanup is included.
What if it comes back?
Ask whether a re-posted mugshot is removed again at no cost, and for how long.
Who submits the requests?
Confirm the company prepares and submits each request for you, rather than leaving parts to you.
What can’t be removed?
A good provider tells you up front which pages, like government records, need a different process.
How is my information handled?
Your case should stay confidential, with one point of contact from quote to confirmation.
Mugshot removal FAQs
How long do mugshots stay online?
Often indefinitely. Booking photos are public records in most states, and mugshot websites copy them from sheriff and police sites and keep them up long after the original record is gone. Some states have passed laws restricting how mugshot sites operate, but those laws don't remove the pages that are already out there. Unless someone takes action to remove them, most mugshots stay online and searchable for years.
How long does mugshot removal take?
Most removals resolve within a few days to a few weeks, including cleanup from Google and Bing. Timing depends on which sites are involved — commercial mugshot sites are usually fastest, while government or county jail pages and news articles can take longer. You'll get a timeline for your specific case with your quote. For results that can't be removed, our online reputation management services can push them down in search.
How much does mugshot removal cost?
Pricing depends on how many sites have published your mugshot and which sites they are. Discounts apply when we're removing it from multiple sites. Government records and news articles are priced separately because they require a different process. Send us the links and we'll give you a firm, written quote before any work begins — no obligation. You pay after removal, so you only pay for results.
What if my mugshot comes back?
It won't. Mugshot site pages we remove are guaranteed to stay down. If the same mugshot is ever re-posted on the same site, we'll remove it again at no additional cost. News articles aren't covered by free re-removal; your written quote states exactly what is covered.
Can I get my mugshot removed if my case was dismissed or expunged?
Yes — and you should. A dismissal or expungement clears your official record, but it doesn't remove copies that mugshot websites have already published. We remove those pages whether or not your case was dismissed, sealed or expunged.
How did my mugshot end up online?
When you're booked into jail, your booking photo usually becomes part of the public record. Many sheriff's offices post these photos online, and mugshot websites automatically scrape them, republish them, and optimize the pages to rank for your name. That's why one arrest can show up on several sites within days — and why our content removal services target every copy.
How can I find my mugshot online?
Search your full name in quotes on Google and Bing, both in regular results and Google Images, and add your city or state to narrow it down. Also check the website of the agency that booked you, since many sheriff's offices publish booking photos. Not sure you've found everything? We'll run a free search and show you every copy we find.
How do I get a mugshot removed for free?
Check your state’s mugshot law, ask each website to remove it through its removal form, and then ask Google and Bing to refresh the outdated results. Free options work best when your mugshot is on one or two sites and your case was dismissed, expunged or sealed.
How do I remove a mugshot from Google?
Remove the mugshot from the website that published it, then use Google’s Refresh Outdated Content tool so the result drops out. If the site charges for removal, Google may also remove its pages under its exploitative removal practices policy.
How do I choose a mugshot removal service?
Get a written quote that lists every URL, confirm whether Google and Bing cleanup is included, ask whether you pay before or after removal, and get the re-removal policy in writing.
Get your mugshot removed
Talk to a mugshot removal specialist about your options. Send us the links, and we'll give you a firm quote and a guaranteed timeline — no obligation.
Published · Last updated by the Defamation Defenders team