Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
A single arrest photo can become a life-altering obstacle. Even if you were never convicted—or the charges were later dropped—your mugshot may still haunt search engines, background checks, and reputation screens. While many believe mugshots disappear with time, the truth is far more complex. The real answer to how long mugshots stay online depends on jurisdiction, legal status, website policies, and how proactively you pursue removal.
This in-depth guide explores everything from the origin of online mugshot exposure to your legal rights, removal methods, and how to reclaim control over your online identity.
Table Of Content
The Journey of a Mugshot: From Booking to Google
The Booking Process
When you’re arrested, local law enforcement agencies take a mugshot as part of routine processing. This image becomes part of the official arrest record, even before you’re convicted or arraigned.
Data Sharing with Public and Private Entities
Public records laws enable media, journalists, and third-party “information” websites to obtain and republish these mugshots. Many of these sites:
- Automate scraping from police or sheriff’s department feeds
- Post mugshots in mass, searchable databases
- Profit from ad views, public shaming, and often, removal requests
Unlike official police databases, these third-party sites rarely remove images voluntarily, and may keep them posted indefinitely.
How Long Are Mugshots Public in the U.S.?
Varies by State Law
In many states, mugshots are deemed public records. But laws governing their publication, access, and removal vary widely.
Examples:
- Georgia: Allows media to access arrest photos under the Georgia Open Records Act, but mandates removal upon request for first-time offenders whose cases were resolved favorably.
- California: Limits law enforcement from publishing mugshots online unless the suspect is considered a threat to public safety.
- Utah: Restricts commercial publication of mugshots by third-party sites.
- Texas: Mugshots remain public unless sealed or expunged, and removal laws are lenient toward third parties.
Time-Based Access Policies
Some agencies follow their own internal policies:
- Automatic removal after a case resolution or expiration of statutes
- Request-based removal when a person provides expungement proof
- Permanent retention, regardless of outcome, unless ordered by a judge
Mugshots and Search Engines: A Sticky Partnership
Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo cache mugshot images, even when the original page is removed or taken offline. These images:
- Appear in auto-suggestions
- Can populate image search carousels
- Are often indexed by aggregator blogs or third-party re-posting sites
How Long Do They Stay on Google?
If not acted upon:
- Mugshots can remain for years
- Cached versions may still be visible after deletion
- Google’s Outdated Content Tool can help, but only after site-level removal or content change
The Mugshot Industry: A Profit Model Built on Public Shaming
Over the past decade, a cottage industry has emerged—one that monetizes public arrests:
- Sites like Mugshots.com, BustedMugshots, and Arrests.org use bots to collect images
- Some sites demand fees ranging from $100 to $1000+ for removal
- Even when you pay, the image may be reposted elsewhere
This practice, while legally gray, has drawn criticism from media, lawmakers, and civil rights organizations.
“Online mugshots can violate due process when used as de facto punishment for people who were never convicted.”
— Brennan Center for Justice
Do Mugshots Ever Expire?
Not automatically. There’s no set expiration date for online mugshots unless:
- The platform has a removal policy based on legal status
- Legislation mandates removal
- A successful takedown request or court order is issued
Sites that operate internationally or anonymously may never remove content unless compelled by legal action.
Expungement ≠ Removal (Without Action)
Many people believe that once their record is sealed or expunged, all traces of it vanish. Unfortunately:
- Court and police records may be updated
- But private sites are often unaware of the expungement and continue displaying mugshots
Only after sending proof of expungement (and often legal threats) will some platforms comply.
🔗 NC Expunction Resource Guide
Civil Remedies for Mugshot Exposure
If your mugshot is still online and affecting your life, you may be able to pursue civil claims such as:
1. Defamation
Applies when the content falsely implies guilt, misrepresents facts, or suggests the person was convicted when they weren’t.
2. False Light
A privacy tort that penalizes statements or imagery that paint a misleading impression—even if technically true.
3. Commercial Misappropriation
Applies if your likeness is being used for profit (e.g., in a public database that generates ad revenue) without consent.
4. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
Applicable if the mugshot posting was malicious or has caused severe emotional trauma.
Removal Options Based on Case Outcome
| Case Outcome | Mugshot Removal Options |
|---|---|
| Dismissed charges | Strong grounds for removal & reputation repair |
| Not guilty verdict | Eligible for removal via expungement or demand |
| Pending charges | May face limitations—some agencies retain images |
| Conviction | Harder, but suppression or search demotion possible |
| Expunged/sealed record | Eligible for takedown requests or court order |
Suppression vs. Removal: What’s the Difference?
- Removal = Eliminating the mugshot from its source
- Suppression = De-ranking or burying mugshot results on search engines
Search engine suppression involves:
- Publishing positive content (profiles, articles, etc.)
- Optimizing content for your name
- Using advanced SEO techniques to push mugshot results to page 2+
Role of Defamation Defenders in Mugshot Management
At Defamation Defenders, we specialize in legal and reputational strategies that eliminate or suppress harmful content, including mugshots.
Our services include:
- Legal takedown letters and DMCA filings
- Expungement support and documentation guidance
- Court order facilitation where applicable
- Long-term SEO-driven suppression campaigns
- Private monitoring tools to alert you when new listings appear
🛡️ We don’t just clean up online records—we help you rebuild your digital footprint with confidence.
👉 Request a free mugshot removal consultation now
Tools and Resources You Can Use
- Google Content Removal Tool
- Wayback Machine to capture snapshots for legal use
- DMCA Takedown Templates
- Public Records Laws
Alternative Tactics When Removal Fails
If direct takedown efforts don’t succeed, consider:
- Filing a small claims lawsuit for reputational harm
- Petitioning for a court order or injunction
- Requesting help from a reputation attorney
- Working with a search engine optimization expert
Frequently Asked Questions (Expanded)
In most states, mugshots are public record and legally postable. However, profiting from mugshot removal may violate privacy or extortion statutes.
In some cases, yes—especially if:
The record has been expunged
You file a successful DMCA request
The website honors voluntary takedown requests
No. Google will only remove mugshots that violate:
Privacy rules (e.g., explicit images)
Local laws (e.g., expungement orders)
Content policies (e.g., medical data, financial fraud)
Georgia: Requires removal within 30 days for dismissed charges
California: Prohibits law enforcement from publishing mugshots without public safety justification
Utah: Bans paid removal schemes
Yes. Employers, landlords, and schools often review search engine results as part of screening—even if they don’t pull official background reports.
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Works Cited
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“Mugshot Publication and Privacy.” American Civil Liberties Union. https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/online-mugshot-racket-threatens-innocent-people
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“Mugshot Removal and Expungement.” Legal Aid of North Carolina. https://www.legalaidnc.org/expungement
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“Public Records Laws by State.” Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide
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“Google Search Console – Outdated Content.” Google Support. https://search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content
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“California Mugshot Privacy Law (AB 1475).” California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
