Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Having your mugshot appear online can be deeply distressing. In Massachusetts, while arrest records are public, how that information is displayed and used—especially online—has become a matter of legal and personal concern. This guide outlines the current laws, your rights, and the legal pathways available for Massachusetts mugshot removal in 2025.
Table Of Content
Why Mugshots Remain a Public Problem
Although a mugshot is a byproduct of an arrest—not a conviction—it’s often treated by the public as evidence of guilt. Mugshots on Google or people search websites can:
- Harm employment prospects
- Jeopardize housing or loans
- Fracture personal relationships
- Cause long-term reputation damage
Even if charges were dropped or sealed, mugshots may persist online unless formally removed. What makes this more troubling is the fact that some websites deliberately amplify mugshot visibility by indexing them with full names, charges, and dates, ensuring they dominate search engine results pages (SERPs).
Are Mugshots Public in Massachusetts?
Yes. Under Massachusetts public records law, arrest records, including booking photos, are generally accessible unless:
- The case is sealed or expunged
- The subject is a juvenile
- A court order restricts access
However, how these records are used and republished—especially by third-party websites—is increasingly scrutinized by lawmakers. Some proposed state bills aim to prevent the monetization of mugshot data or prohibit its misuse.
Massachusetts also complies with some elements of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which enables journalists and the public to access booking photos. While transparency is essential for public accountability, it must be balanced with individual privacy and rehabilitation opportunities.
Massachusetts Mugshot Law: Key Legal Developments
As of 2025, Massachusetts does not have a comprehensive law prohibiting the publication of mugshots. However, several developments provide legal recourse:
Chapter 66: Public Records Law
- Governs access to public documents and booking photos
- Does not prevent republication by third-party websites
Consumer Protection Act (Chapter 93A)
- Prohibits unfair or deceptive business practices
- Can be used if mugshot websites demand payment for removal or hide removal policies
Harassment and Defamation Laws
- Defamatory captions or commentary with mugshots may qualify as libel
- Publishing false allegations along with a mugshot may trigger legal action
- Massachusetts courts recognize both actual damages and emotional distress claims under certain defamation cases
Massachusetts Expungement and Sealing Law (MGL c.276 §100A-100U)
- Allows eligible individuals to seal or expunge records
- Once sealed or expunged, mugshots should no longer appear on state databases
- State agencies must confirm non-disclosure once a record is sealed
Additional proposed legislation in the state aims to:
- Prevent mugshots from being released for minor, non-violent offenses
- Ban commercial use of mugshots unless the individual was convicted
How to Remove a Mugshot in Massachusetts
Step 1: Request Record Sealing or Expungement
Eligibility criteria:
- Charges dropped or dismissed
- Certain misdemeanor or felony convictions after waiting period
- First-time offenses and juvenile records
File through the court that handled your case or consult a legal expert. Sealing a record prevents its release to the public or third-party agencies. Expungement is a full erasure of the arrest record.
Step 2: Submit Takedown Requests to Websites
While not required by law, many websites will honor removal requests if:
- The record has been sealed or expunged
- The arrest did not lead to conviction
Tips:
- Include documentation showing case outcome
- Use professional language
- Keep records of all correspondence
- Screenshot every instance of the mugshot for tracking
Step 3: De-Index From Google and Other Search Engines
Once removed from the original site, the mugshot image or page may still appear in search results. Request removal through:
Provide proof that the content is no longer live. Also use Google’s “Outdated Content” tool if applicable.
Civil Action Against Mugshot Websites
In some cases, you may be able to sue websites that:
- Charge fees for mugshot removal
- Display false or misleading content
- Refuse to update sealed or dismissed records
A 2013 ruling by the Federal Trade Commission led to the shutdown of several pay-for-removal mugshot operations for violating consumer protection laws. Massachusetts residents may also have standing to file under Chapter 93A for unfair or deceptive business practices.
Massachusetts Court Orders and Their Impact
Obtaining a court order to remove content online is rare but powerful. This may be pursued when:
- A sealed or expunged record continues to appear on search engines
- A mugshot is used maliciously to harass or defame
- You can prove economic harm or reputational damage
A court order can compel websites or platforms to remove or block access to specific content. Courts may also issue injunctive relief to stop ongoing damage.
SEO Suppression Strategies for Mugshot Removal
When removal isn’t possible, you can suppress mugshots in search results by promoting accurate, positive content:
Recommended Platforms
- LinkedIn, About.me
- Medium blogs
- Personal websites
- Google Business Profiles
- YouTube and Vimeo (branded videos)
Content Ideas
- Press releases on new achievements
- Blog posts on community work
- Guest articles in local media
- Positive reviews and testimonials
- Interviews with regional news outlets
Use structured schema markup to help Google understand and prioritize your content:
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Person",
"name": "John Smith",
"url": "https://johnsmithportfolio.com",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsmithma",
"https://www.facebook.com/johnsmith"
]
}Also consider optimizing metadata, headlines, and alt text with your name to reinforce authority.
How Defamation Defenders Helps with Massachusetts Mugshot Removal
We offer customized solutions for:
- Mugshot takedown and de-indexing support
- Expungement coordination with legal professionals
- SEO content campaigns to bury news articles and arrest photos
- Brand monitoring to detect re-posted content
- Legal liaison and takedown advocacy for high-authority publishers
🛡️ Start a confidential consultation now to restore your reputation.
Monitoring Your Online Footprint After Mugshot Removal
Use these tools to track changes and stay protected:
- Google Alerts
- Mention.com
- BrandYourself
- Talkwalker
- VisualPing (to track specific URLs)
- SEMrush or Ahrefs (for search visibility)
Schedule monthly audits and adjust content strategy as needed. Consider publishing quarterly updates to push down negative search results continually.
Massachusetts Resources for Record Sealing and Expungement
- Massachusetts Court System Sealing Guide
- Greater Boston Legal Services
- Committee for Public Counsel Services
- Volunteer Lawyers Project
- Mass Legal Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Mugshots are public records. However, using them in exploitative or defamatory ways may be illegal.
Possibly. If the site is profiting from removal or displaying false information, it may violate consumer protection laws.
Sealed records should no longer be publicly accessible through official channels. However, third-party sites may not update automatically.
Takedown requests can take days to weeks. Suppression campaigns may take 2–6 months for optimal visibility shift.
Report it directly to the platform. Use their privacy and harassment policies. If necessary, pursue legal action.
Yes. If eligible, we can coordinate removals, de-indexing, and launch suppression campaigns tailored to your situation.
Use Google’s Image Removal tools and reverse image search to track spread. Suppression and takedown strategies must be applied across both page and image search results.
