Trying to get your mugshot off BocaNewsNow.com? You’re not alone.
Unlike most mugshot sites, Boca News Now is a Florida-based news outlet that publishes arrest reports and booking photos as part of its crime coverage. But just because it’s a legitimate media site doesn’t make removal easy. Their policy follows Florida’s strict public records laws, which make mugshots public and searchable, even if charges were dropped.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re trying to get your photo taken down.
Looking for a broader solution? Start with our full guide on how to remove mugshots from Google.
Why Boca News Now Mugshots Ranks So High
Boca News Now gained traction back in 2015 but really took off in 2020 as larger mugshot sites were de-indexed by Google. Sites like Mugshots.com and BustedMugshots disappeared from search results after lawsuits and bad press exposed their pay-to-remove schemes.
Boca News Now stepped into the vacuum and has become one of Florida’s top-ranking sources for booking photos. Because they don’t charge for removal and claim to follow editorial guidelines, Google continues to index them.
Can You Remove a Mugshot from Boca News Now?
Yes, but only under very specific conditions. The site will not remove arrest reports or mugshots for active cases, convictions, or as a courtesy. However, if your case meets one of the following conditions, you may qualify for removal:
- You were found not guilty or acquitted
- Your case was dismissed or nolle prosequi
- Your record was expunged (though they note expungement orders don’t apply to media)
Even in these cases, removal is still discretionary. You must email [email protected] and make a clear, respectful request. Include details about the arrest, court outcome, and any supporting documents if available.
You can read more about their removal policy at https://bocanewsnow.com/policies/
Important Things to Know
- They do not accept payment for removals
- They don’t remove mugshots from active cases
- Expungement doesn’t guarantee removal
- They ignore legal threats and may publish your emails
Boca News Now takes a strong stance on editorial independence. They cite Florida Statute 119 to justify publishing public records and clearly state that removal is up to them. That makes them one of the hardest news-style mugshot sites to work with if you’re hoping for a takedown.
What If They Refuse?
If they ignore or deny your request, you still have options. You can try contacting Google and requesting de-indexing based on privacy or outdated content claims. This doesn’t delete the content, but it can help bury it in search results. You can also hire a reputation management service to help suppress the page with positive content about you.
Remove the Mugshot from Google or Bing
If your record was deleted or changed on Boca News Now, but still shows up in search, use these tools:
These won’t delete the mugshot but can hide outdated versions from search results, including other engines that piggy back off of Google and Bing, including DuckDuckGo and AI like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity.
Still Listed on Boca News Now?
Boca News Now fills a niche similar to what The Georgia Gazette does in Georgia. It dominates mugshot-related search results for South Florida because it appears compliant with state laws and doesn’t participate in shady takedown schemes. But that makes it a big headache for anyone trying to move on from an arrest.
If your charges were dropped or cleared, it’s worth reaching out respectfully with proof. If not, your best bet may be suppressing the mugshot from search results using proven SEO and content removal strategies.
