Ohio Mugshot Removal: How to Delete Your Booking Photo from the Internet

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Why Ohio Mugshots Appear Online

When someone is arrested in Ohio, their mugshot and arrest records often become public records, which can then be accessed by mugshot publishing websites. These sites scrape data from law enforcement agencies and repost it for the public to view—often prioritizing Google indexing.

Even if charges were dropped, or if the individual was never convicted, mugshots can linger online for years. This perpetuates stigma, affects job opportunities, housing applications, and personal relationships.

The Cycle of Public Shame

Ohio law doesn’t require mugshot websites to remove your photo after charges are dismissed. This lack of regulation opens the door for reputational exploitation. Once these images appear in search results, they become nearly impossible to control without proper action.

Are Mugshots Public Record in Ohio?

Yes. Under Ohio’s public records laws, mugshots are generally considered public information. That means:

• Police departments can release mugshots to the public
• Media organizations may publish them
• Third-party mugshot sites can repost and monetize them

However, public availability does not mean you have no control. If the charges were dropped, dismissed, or sealed, you may have legal grounds for mugshot removal.

Where Your Ohio Mugshot May Appear

Mugshots can be posted across dozens of high-traffic domains, including:

• Mugshots.com
• Busted Newspaper Mugshots
• Arrests.org
• Local news archives
• Sheriff’s department websites
• Google Images and search snippets

Some of these platforms rank highly in search results, especially when someone searches your name.

Even worse, these platforms may syndicate data, spreading your mugshot to smaller blogs or regional aggregation sites that copy and republish the content.

Ohio Expungement and Mugshot Removal

Ohio allows for record sealing and expungement under specific conditions. If your record qualifies, it can strengthen your case for mugshot deletion.

Eligibility for Expungement:

• First-time, non-violent offenses
• Completed probation or sentencing
• No current charges pending
• A waiting period of 1–3 years, depending on the offense

When your record is sealed, courts and law enforcement agencies must remove or withhold the related mugshot from public release.

📘 Learn more from the Ohio Revised Code on record sealing

How to Remove a Mugshot in Ohio: Step-by-Step

1. Start with Google

Search your full name in quotes:

"John A. Doe mugshot Ohio"

Document all URLs showing your mugshot. Screenshot the results.

2. Check Expungement Status

If your charges were dropped or sealed, contact your attorney or county court. Official documentation will help in removal requests.

3. Submit Removal Requests

Many mugshot sites have contact forms or email addresses. Send a polite but firm request for removal, citing:

• Name and date of arrest
• Case outcome (dismissed, sealed, expunged)
• Legal documentation as evidence

Some sites may ask for a fee—be cautious and avoid scammers. Always confirm legitimacy before sending payment.

4. Request Deindexing from Google

If a mugshot page is removed or blocked, use Google’s Outdated Content Tool to request deindexing: 🔗 Google Outdated Content Tool

5. Use Trusted Reputation Services

If you’re unable to secure takedowns yourself, reputation management professionals like Defamation Defenders offer coordinated campaigns.

When Removal Requests Don’t Work

Some sites are uncooperative, ignore emails, or simply repost the image on a different domain. That’s where professional intervention becomes essential.

Defamation Defenders Offers:

• Takedown campaigns to remove mugshots from stubborn domains
• Suppression services to bury unwanted results under positive content
• Legal coordination for cease-and-desist or court-ordered removals
• SEO strategy to clean up your name on Google

📩 Contact Defamation Defenders for a free consultation.

What Ohio Law Says About Mugshot Extortion

Ohio has consumer protection laws that may apply to certain mugshot publication practices. If a site posts your image and demands payment for mugshot removal, it may cross into extortion-like behavior.

Potential Legal Grounds:

• Defamation
• Invasion of privacy
• Misappropriation of likeness
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress

Some counties in Ohio have begun exploring legislation to limit mugshot publishing practices and protect citizens from exploitation.

Legal Pathways to Mugshot Deletion

Filing a Lawsuit (as a last resort)

If a mugshot site refuses to remove your image and you’ve exhausted all options:

• Speak with an attorney specializing in privacy or defamation
• File a lawsuit against the domain owner, if known
• Seek a court order for removal
• Provide court documents to Google and web hosts for deindexing

Lawsuits can be expensive but may be justified in high-impact situations like loss of employment or repeated harassment.

Use of DMCA Takedowns

If the site is using copyrighted material—such as a photo taken by a news organization—you may be able to issue a DMCA takedown request.

Alternatives to Full Removal

If outright deletion isn’t possible, suppression is the next best strategy.

Tactics Include:

• Publishing positive content (blog posts, profiles, press releases)
• Optimizing SEO to promote reputation-friendly content
• Using review management tools to improve public perception

Over time, this pushes mugshot results further down search engine rankings.

Protecting Your Privacy in the Future

To avoid future reputation damage, implement the following steps:

• Set Google Alerts for your name
• Use privacy tools to remove your data from people search sites
• Lock down your social media accounts
• Don’t ignore minor defamation—it may escalate

Real-Life Ohio Mugshot Removal Success Story

Case Study: Anonymous Professional in Columbus, OH

A business consultant’s 2015 mugshot appeared on multiple mugshot directories despite having no conviction. After contacting the site without success, he engaged Defamation Defenders.

Result:

• 5 mugshot listings removed
• Search results cleaned within 3 weeks
• Improved client trust and regained professional standing

This demonstrates that success is possible with the right combination of strategy, patience, and expert help.

Take Action with Defamation Defenders

Mugshots can haunt you for years—but you don’t have to face this alone. At Defamation Defenders, we combine legal strategy, content removal, and online suppression tools to help Ohio residents restore their reputations.

📞 Request a consultation today and take the first step toward a clean slate.