Your mugshot is showing up on Google. It’s not on a government site, not in a news article, but hosted on Mugshots.com, one of the internet’s most aggressive mugshot websites.
Even if your charges were dropped, sealed, or expunged, your photo can live on indefinitely, damaging your job prospects, dating life, or reputation. What’s worse? In many cases, Mugshots.com won’t remove it voluntarily.
This guide explains exactly how to remove or suppress your mugshot from Mugshots.com, step by step. Whether you’re eligible for removal under the law or need to bury the page in search results, here’s how to start reclaiming your online identity.
Need help removing multiple mugshots? Check out our full guide on how to remove mugshots from Google.
What Is Mugshots.com?
Mugshots.com is a private website that republishes arrest records and booking photos scraped from police databases and county jail feeds. These are legally public records in many states, but what makes Mugshots.com different is how it profits from them.
For years, the site charged hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars to remove photos. In 2018, this led to criminal charges. Four men connected to the operation were arrested in Florida and California and charged with extortion, identity theft, and money laundering.
Prosecutors said the group had earned more than $2 million through a pay-for-removal scheme. They created a secondary company, “Unpublish LLC,” which charged people to remove images Mugshots.com had published, even in cases where the charges were dismissed.
Even after the arrests, Mugshots.com didn’t disappear. It rebranded under offshore domains, used proxy registrars to hide ownership, and continued publishing new mugshots, often under multiple URLs.
Why Is My Mugshot Still Online?
The main problem is that Mugshots.com uses legal loopholes. Most U.S. mugshots are public records, and First Amendment protections allow third-party sites to rehost that data.
Even if your record has been expunged, that doesn’t automatically require the photo to be taken down. Most states don’t have laws forcing third-party sites to scrub outdated or cleared mugshots.
And unlike government websites or local news outlets, Mugshots.com doesn’t have a direct process for updating records or responding to corrections. It operates in a legal grey zone, often ignoring takedown requests unless forced through legal action.
Step-by-Step: How to Remove or Suppress Your Mugshot
1. Find the Exact URL
Search for your name in Google with terms like “mugshot” or “mugshots.com.” Document the exact page where your image appears. Screenshot it. Save the URL. You’ll need this for reports and removal attempts.
Mugshots.com often creates subdomains or mirrors to confuse removal tools. Double-check for duplicates under different URLs.
2. Check If Your State Has Mugshot Protection Laws
Some U.S. states now make it illegal to charge for mugshot removal. Others require websites to remove photos under certain conditions, such as if the charges were dropped or sealed.
Here are a few key examples:
- California: It’s illegal to charge for removal. Sites must remove mugshots if charges were dropped, dismissed, or if the person was found not guilty.
- Florida: Must remove photos on request, regardless of conviction status.
- Texas: Requires a public removal process and bans pay-for-removal models.
- Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, Utah, Georgia, North Carolina: Offer varying levels of protection, sometimes allowing lawsuits or fines.
| State | Removal Rights |
|---|---|
| California | Illegal to charge fees. Removal required if charges were dropped. |
| Florida | Must remove photos upon request, regardless of outcome. |
| Texas | Bans pay-for-removal. Requires removal on request in many cases. |
| Illinois, Oregon, Colorado, Georgia, New York (partial) | Offer varying protections. Some allow legal damages. |
| North Carolina, Utah, Wyoming | Restrict mugshot publishing or allow removal for free. |
Check your state’s consumer protection laws or consult an attorney to see if you qualify for legal removal.
Check out our full guide on state mugshot laws in the US for more info.
3. Contact Mugshots.com for Record Updates or Removals
Mugshots.com does not accept payment for removal and has distanced itself from pay-to-delete practices since a high-profile legal crackdown in 2018. Instead, it now provides a detailed “Record Maintenance” policy for individuals looking to update or remove arrest records under specific circumstances.
You’ll need to follow their process exactly. Here’s what you need to know:
When Will Mugshots.com Remove or Update a Record?
According to their policy, they will remove your mugshot for free if one of the following applies:
- Your case was expunged, sealed, dismissed with no information filed, or involved identity theft
- The individual in question is deceased
In these cases, you can submit official documentation (signed by a judge and court-sealed) to:
Be sure your documents are legible. They won’t notify you if they’re rejected.
If you’ve had a favorable disposition, such as a not guilty verdict, dismissal, nolle prosequi, or adjudication withheld, Mugshots.com may update your record rather than remove it. The update will be reflected on your arrest page, not deleted.
Send those requests to:
They also accept non-favorable disposition updates (e.g. completion of probation or time served), but again, these are not removals, just updates displayed on the page.
Required Details for Your Request
- Your Mugshots.com ID number
- The exact URL of the arrest page
- Your full name
- Court documentation (must be signed by a judge and sealed)
- Clear and legible scans or photos
All documents should be sent from your own email. There’s no official form, and responses are not guaranteed. You can try contacting them at https://mugshots.com/contact though.
Important Notes
- They do not remove mugshots for people with convictions, even if time has been served.
- Hostile or threatening messages will be published or sent to law enforcement, according to their policy.
- Submissions are processed on a “first come, first serve” basis, and there is no guaranteed timeline.
If you qualify, this route can result in full removal, but only if you follow the documentation steps precisely. If not, suppression or legal pressure may be your only options.
4. File a Complaint With Authorities
If you believe they’re violating mugshot laws, file complaints with:
- Your State Attorney General’s Office
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Your local district attorney’s consumer protection unit
You can also report them to ICANN (which regulates domain names) if the site is misrepresenting itself or using shady domain practices.
5. Submit a Takedown to Google
Even if Mugshots.com won’t remove your photo, Google might.
If the site is charging for removal or qualifies as a “predatory” site under Google’s policy, you can request deindexing of the page using this tool:
Report Content to Google – Exploitative Removal Form
You’ll need to:
-
Confirm the page is about you
-
Show proof that removal is contingent on payment or unethical behavior
-
Provide the specific URL of the mugshot page
If successful, Google will remove the link from search results, although the photo will still exist on the site itself.
If you can't remove your mugshot from mugshots.com
Suppress the Page With SEO
The fastest way to reduce harm from a mugshot is to push it off Google’s first page. Here’s how to start:
- Register a personal domain (e.g. FirstnameLastname.com)
- Create profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Crunchbase, etc.
- Publish content with your name in titles and meta tags (e.g. blog posts, bios)
- Use SEO best practices, internal links, headings, keyword matching
Over time, these pages can outrank the mugshot if they’re seen as more relevant or trustworthy by Google.
Work With a Reputation Management Company
If you don’t have time or technical knowledge to manage this yourself, consider hiring a reputation management company like Guaranteed Removals that specializes in mugshot removal or suppression.
What they can do:
- Monitor and document where your mugshot appears
- Build and rank content to suppress it from search
- Handle complex removals across multiple websites
- Escalate legal complaints if you qualify under state law
Avoid anyone who claims they have a “direct relationship” with mugshot sites. In many cases, these are the same people behind the site, just repackaged under another brand. This was part of the Unpublish LLC case that led to arrests.
Why This Problem Is So Hard to Solve
Even if you get your mugshot removed from Mugshots.com, you’re not in the clear. Many mugshot sites scrape from one another, creating an endless loop:
- BustedNewspaper.com
- Arre.st
- JailBase
- MugshotZone
- LookWhoGotBusted.com
- Rapsheets.org
Some of these are affiliated. Others pop up after old ones get shut down. Even if you pay to remove the image from one site, it can show up days later on another.
That’s why many people choose to suppress everything at once, rather than chase each site individually.
What About Expungement?
Getting your arrest expunged or sealed is a strong step, but it won’t automatically remove your photo from private websites.
However, once you have expungement documents:
- You may be able to force removal under state law
- You can provide them to Google as part of your deindexing request
- They help reputation firms negotiate with sites on your behalf
Talk to a lawyer in your state to find out if you’re eligible for expungement. It’s often the best long-term fix.
Get Started With Our Mugshot Removal Service today
Guaranteed Removals Google Search Removal Service
Guaranteed Removals Mugshot removal service focuses on removing mugshots and criminal records from the internet, Google and other search engine providers. Our services aim to enhance your online reputation and build trust.
There is no obligation or risk. You only pay after we permanently remove the negative content from the source.
Get started and take control of your online presence today.
Mugshots.com is frustrating, invasive, and often unresponsive. But you’re not powerless.
Whether you take legal action, suppress the content, or combine both, the key is to start early and stay persistent.
To recap:
- Document the URL and screenshots
- Check if your state offers legal protections
- Attempt removal via contact and legal requests
- File Google deindexing requests
- Suppress the link through SEO or professionals
A mugshot doesn’t have to define your future. You made it through the arrest, the court process, and the consequences, now it’s time to clean up your name online.
If you want support suppressing the link or exploring legal takedowns, reach out for a private consultation. We’ll help you map out your options clearly, without judgment or pressure.
