Mugshot Release Laws Explained (2025): What You Need to Know About Public Records and Privacy

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Mugshots—those unmistakable booking photos taken upon arrest—carry a heavy burden. Whether someone is convicted, acquitted, or the charges are dropped, the image can linger online forever. This 2025 guide covers the evolving laws about releasing mugshots, including your rights, how public record laws affect you, and steps to protect your privacy.

What Is a Mugshot?

A mugshot is a photographic portrait taken after a person is arrested and booked into custody. These photos are typically included in the arrest record, which may also contain:

• Full name and aliases
• Booking and arrest dates
• Charges filed
• Bail amount
• Case status and court jurisdiction

While mugshots serve law enforcement and identification purposes, they’re frequently misused by online databases, media, and data brokers, often divorced from legal outcomes.

Are Mugshots Public Records?

In most jurisdictions across the U.S., mugshots are considered public records. That means they can be:

• Released to the media
• Published on law enforcement websites
• Collected by data brokers and mugshot websites
• Indexed by search engines like Google

Public access is rooted in the principle of government transparency. However, growing concerns around reputation damage, extortion, and data abuse have prompted new legislation. Some courts have begun to consider mugshots as exempt public records, especially if their release serves no legitimate public interest.

Why Mugshot Release Laws Matter

Even when charges are dismissed, a publicly available mugshot can result in:

• Employment discrimination
• Housing application denials
• Damaged personal relationships
• Long-term reputational harm
• Online defamation and cyber harassment
• Automated inclusion in arrest record databases and social feeds

The fallout can persist for years, especially if the mugshot ranks on page one of search engines or is shared on social media platforms.

Current State-by-State Landscape of Mugshot Laws (2025)

States With Strong Restrictions

• California: Under SB 393, mugshots may not be posted by law enforcement for nonviolent crimes unless a public safety threat exists. Additionally, Assembly Bill 1475 bars police from posting mugshots on social media.
• New York: As of 2019, police agencies are generally barred from releasing mugshots under FOIL unless there’s a specific public interest.
• Utah: Enacted laws that prohibit mugshot websites from posting and profiting off mugshots. Violations are subject to fines.
• Georgia: Requires mugshot websites to remove images within 30 days of a takedown request or face civil penalties.
• Colorado: SB20-100 bans the practice of releasing mugshots unless a public safety risk is demonstrated.

States With Partial Protections

• Texas: Public mugshots are accessible but regulated. Laws target the practice of charging removal fees, particularly for expunged records.
• Illinois: Mugshot removal companies are prohibited from collecting money in exchange for image deletion. Arresting agencies must remove photos after expungement.
• Florida: Mugshots are public, but individuals can request takedowns from certain commercial databases under recent consumer protection laws.
• Pennsylvania: Introduced legislation supporting automatic expungement of minor offenses and restricted mugshot publication.

States With Minimal or No Restrictions

• Arizona, Nevada, Ohio: Mugshots are generally available under state public records laws. Removal is challenging without a court order or expungement.
• Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama: Mugshots remain widely accessible, with few if any restrictions on republication.

Federal Considerations

There is currently no federal law specifically governing mugshot publication for arrests at the local or state level. However, federal arrests processed by agencies such as the FBI or DEA are generally excluded from public mugshot release.

In 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice revised policy to restrict public release of federal mugshots, citing privacy concerns and potential harm to due process. FOIA exemptions are applied in most federal mugshot requests.

Mugshot Websites and Privacy Concerns

Thousands of third-party sites collect mugshots for profit. Common practices include:

• Charging for mugshot removal (often $100–$1,000+)
• Republishing old arrest photos without verifying current legal status
• Aggregating mugshots with personal data like address, age, and social media profiles
• Linking mugshots to paid background checks or advertising clickbait

These activities have spurred new state-level efforts to outlaw pay-to-remove schemes and increase transparency. In some cases, mugshot website owners have faced prosecution or FTC enforcement for deceptive practices.

Recent Legislative Trends in 2024–2025

1. No-Pay-to-Delete Laws

Multiple states passed laws prohibiting charging individuals for mugshot removal. Penalties include:

• Mandatory removal timelines (e.g., 30 days)
• Monetary damages for each day of non-compliance
• Attorney’s fees and court costs

2. Right to Be Forgotten Expansion

Several states are exploring the adoption of policies inspired by the EU’s “right to be forgotten,” allowing individuals to request removal of outdated or irrelevant mugshots from public databases.

3. Automatic Expungement and Record Sealing

States like Michigan and Pennsylvania have introduced automated systems for sealing arrest records—potentially affecting the public release of mugshots.

• Michigan’s Clean Slate Law (2021) triggered automatic expungement for qualifying offenses after a set time period

How to Protect Your Privacy From Mugshot Exposure

Step 1: Check for Your Mugshot Online

• Use image search tools like Google Images
• Search your name + “mugshot”
• Check local sheriff and jail websites
• Set up Google Alerts for your name

Step 2: Request Removal From Official Sources

• Contact the arresting agency and ask about mugshot policies
• Submit formal record sealing or expungement petitions where applicable
• Verify state laws that may prohibit online publication

Step 3: Target Data Brokers

• Submit opt-out requests to sites like:
  • Mugshots.com
  • BustedMugshots.com
  • Arrests.org
• Request image removal from search engines using Google’s content removal tool

Step 4: File a Complaint

If a website refuses to remove your mugshot:

• Contact your state attorney general
• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• Consult legal aid or privacy attorneys for state-specific remedies

Step 5: Suppress the Image in Search Results

• Publish positive SEO content under your name
• Claim high-authority profiles on platforms like LinkedIn, Crunchbase, and Medium
• Launch a personal website with your name in the domain

When Legal Removal May Be Possible

You may have a case for mugshot removal if:

• You were not convicted or charges were dropped
• The mugshot is being used in a way that violates state laws
• The website charges a fee to remove the image
• You have obtained record expungement or sealing

Legal routes include:

• Sending a cease and desist letter
• Filing a takedown request with search engines
• Initiating defamation claims
• Requesting a protective court order to prevent future publication

The Role of Media and Ethical Considerations

News outlets often publish arrest photos for high-profile cases. Ethical considerations include:

• Whether the accused has been convicted
• The seriousness of the charges
• The long-term reputational harm vs. newsworthiness

Some media groups, like The Boston Globe and The New York Times, have adopted mugshot publication policies to limit harm when possible. NPR and other public broadcasters have issued editorial guidelines to limit the use of mugshots unless justified by public safety.

What to Expect in the Future

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, trends indicate:

• More state-level regulation of mugshot sites
• Expansion of post-arrest privacy rights
• Legal challenges to the business models of mugshot publishers
• Greater public awareness of online reputation risks
• Push for nationwide standards on arrest photo publication

Defamation Defenders Can Help

At Defamation Defenders, we assist individuals and professionals in removing or suppressing mugshots from the internet. Our services include:

• Mugshot and arrest record suppression
• Search engine deindexing requests
• Coordination with legal experts for court-ordered removals
• Ongoing reputation monitoring and recovery
• SEO and content publishing strategies to replace outdated content

Contact us for a confidential consultation or learn more about our services to begin reclaiming your image.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Contents:

• Is Mugshot Removal Legal? What You Should Know
• The Truth About Online Mugshot Removal Services
• How Mugshots Impact Your Online Reputation and What You Can Do