Remove mugshot from internet: a map and an order of steps
Guide · Updated October 31, 2026
A booking photo can appear in several kinds of places at once. To remove mugshot from internet search and sites, it helps to map every copy first and then work in a sensible order.
This guide gives that map and order in general terms.
Mapping every copy
- Search your full name with words such as arrest, booking and mugshot, and your name with the county.
- Run a reverse image search on the photo.
- List each page: law enforcement sites, mugshot sites, news, social media and people-search sites.
- Note what each page shows and whether it charges for removal.
Mugshot sites and Google's exploitative removal policy
Google has a policy for content on sites with exploitative removal practices. In general, Google will consider removing a URL from its search results when all of these are true: you are the subject of the content, the site is not a business review site, and the site requires payment to remove the content.
That last condition matters. If a mugshot site removes records for free, this specific policy may not apply, and the better path is the site's own removal process or the legal options in your state. If you do file, include the URLs, screenshots and an explanation of the payment demand.
Removal from Google results does not delete the page from the site itself, and copies on other sites need their own requests.
A sensible order
Start with the source if a sheriff or police site still shows the photo, since other sites may copy from it. Then handle mugshot sites through their own process or state law, ask publishers about news coverage, and finally request search refreshes for pages that have changed.
State laws and the site's own process
A number of states have passed laws that limit websites charging fees to remove booking photos, and some require free removal in certain situations, such as when charges were dismissed or a record was sealed. The details differ by state and change over time.
- Read the site's own removal or correction page and note exactly what it asks for.
- Gather court documents that show the outcome of the case, such as a dismissal, acquittal or sealing order.
- Keep a record of every request and response, including any request for payment.
- Ask a licensed attorney in your state whether a state law applies to your situation before relying on it.
Be careful with services that charge to remove listings from sites they may be connected to. Ask any provider directly how they get results and whether they have any relationship with the sites involved.
When the page has already changed: Google's outdated content tool
Sometimes the source has already been fixed: a site removed a page, deleted a photo or changed an article, but Google still shows the old title or snippet. Google provides a public "Refresh Outdated Content" request for this situation.
It only works when the live page no longer contains what you are asking about, or no longer exists. It is not a way to remove content that is still on the page. If the source has not changed, the request will normally be declined.
Submit the exact URL, and keep a screenshot of the changed or removed page with the date in your log.
Building accurate content so searchers see more of the real picture
When something cannot be removed, the remaining option is to make accurate information easier to find. This does not erase anything, and results vary, but it gives searchers more context.
- Claim and complete the profiles you control: your own website, relevant professional directories and major business or social profiles.
- Use consistent names, titles and descriptions across those profiles so search engines can connect them.
- Publish genuinely useful material, such as an accurate bio, a page about your services, or articles in your field.
- Keep it honest. Fake reviews, fake news sites and networks of thin pages can violate search engine spam policies and can make the situation worse.
Search engines decide what ranks. Anyone who promises a specific ranking result or a date is promising something they do not control.
Legal note: this guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and platform policies change and vary by state. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Getting help
Many of these steps you can take yourself. If you would like someone to look at your situation with you and suggest a plan, you can book a paid consultation. This is a paid consultation: price confirmed when scheduling. No payment is taken on this site. We do not guarantee that any review, article, listing or search result will be removed.