In 2019, Illinois passed Public Act 101-0433 to crack down on the commercial use of mugshots. The law took effect January 1, 2020 and made key changes to how police departments release booking photos — especially when it comes to social media.
The goal was simple: stop the public shaming of people arrested for minor offenses, and make it harder for mugshot websites to collect and repost these images for profit.
Want to know more about mugshot laws? Check out our full article on Mugshot laws across the U.S.
What the Illinois Law Says
Under the new law, Illinois police must still release basic arrest information within 72 hours. This includes:
- Name, age, and address
- Charges filed
- Time and location of arrest
- Arresting agency
- Booking photo (if available)
- Bail or bond amount
- Booking, release, or transfer details
However, law enforcement cannot publish mugshots on social media for the following low-level offenses:
- Civil offenses
- Petty offenses
- Business offenses
- Class C or Class B misdemeanors
Looking for a broader or more specific solution? Start with our full guide on how to remove mugshots from Google.
Public Act 101-0433
SB1699 Enrolled LRB101 08806 HEP 53894 b
AN ACT concerning government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by changing Section 2.15 as follows:
(5 ILCS 140/2.15)
Sec. 2.15. Arrest reports and criminal history records.
(a) Arrest reports. The following chronologically maintained arrest and criminal history information maintained by State or local criminal justice agencies shall be furnished as soon as practical, but in no event later than 72 hours after the arrest, notwithstanding the time limits otherwise provided for in Section 3 of this Act:
(i) information that identifies the individual, including the name, age, address, and photograph, when and if available;
(ii) information detailing any charges relating to the arrest;
(iii) the time and location of the arrest;
(iv) the name of the investigating or arresting law enforcement agency;
(v) if the individual is incarcerated, the amount of any bail or bond; and
(vi) if the individual is incarcerated, the time and date that the individual was received into, discharged from, or transferred from the arresting agency’s custody.
(b) Criminal history records. The following documents maintained by a public body pertaining to criminal history record information are public records subject to inspection and copying by the public pursuant to this Act:
(i) court records that are public;
(ii) records that are otherwise available under State or local law; and
(iii) records in which the requesting party is the individual identified, except as provided under Section 7(1)(d)(vi).
(c) Information described in items (iii) through (vi) of subsection (a) may be withheld if it is determined that disclosure would:
(i) interfere with pending or actually and reasonably contemplated law enforcement proceedings conducted by any law enforcement agency;
(ii) endanger the life or physical safety of law enforcement or correctional personnel or any other person; or
(iii) compromise the security of any correctional facility.
(d) The provisions of this Section do not supersede the confidentiality provisions for law enforcement or arrest records of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
(e) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a), a law enforcement agency may not publish booking photographs, commonly known as “mugshots”, on its social networking media website in connection with civil offenses, petty offenses, business offenses, Class C misdemeanors, and Class B misdemeanors unless the booking photograph is posted to the social networking website to assist in the search for a missing person or to assist in the search for a fugitive, person of interest, or individual wanted in relation to a crime other than a petty offense, business offense, Class C misdemeanor, or Class B misdemeanor. As used in this subsection, “social networking website” has the meaning provided in Section 10 of the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-298, eff. 8-6-15; 100-927, eff. 1-1-19.)
Section 10. The State Records Act is amended by changing Section 4a as follows:
(5 ILCS 160/4a)
Sec. 4a. Arrest records and reports.
(a) When an individual is arrested, the following information must be made available to the news media for inspection and copying:
(1) Information that identifies the individual, including the name, age, address, and photograph, when and if available.
(2) Information detailing any charges relating to the arrest.
(3) The time and location of the arrest.
(4) The name of the investigating or arresting law enforcement agency.
(5) If the individual is incarcerated, the amount of any bail or bond.
(6) If the individual is incarcerated, the time and date that the individual was received, discharged, or transferred from the arresting agency’s custody.
(b) The information required by this Section must be made available to the news media for inspection and copying as soon as practicable, but in no event shall the time period exceed 72 hours from the arrest. The information described in paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) of subsection (a), however, may be withheld if it is determined that disclosure would:
(1) interfere with pending or actually and reasonably contemplated law enforcement proceedings conducted by any law enforcement or correctional agency;
(2) endanger the life or physical safety of law enforcement or correctional personnel or any other person; or
(3) compromise the security of any correctional facility.
(c) For the purposes of this Section, the term “news media” means personnel of a newspaper or other periodical issued at regular intervals whether in print or electronic format, a news service whether in print or electronic format, a radio station, a television station, a television network, a community antenna television service, or a person or corporation engaged in making news reels or other motion picture news for public showing.
(d) Each law enforcement or correctional agency may charge fees for arrest records, but in no instance may the fee exceed the actual cost of copying and reproduction. The fees may not include the cost of the labor used to reproduce the arrest record.
(e) The provisions of this Section do not supersede the confidentiality provisions for arrest records of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
(f) All information, including photographs, made available under this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 2QQQ of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
(g) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a), a law enforcement agency may not publish booking photographs, commonly known as “mugshots”, on its social networking website in connection with civil offenses, petty offenses, business offenses, Class C misdemeanors, and Class B misdemeanors unless the booking photograph is posted to the social networking website to assist in the search for a missing person or to assist in the search for a fugitive, person of interest, or individual wanted in relation to a crime other than a petty offense, business offense, Class C misdemeanor, or Class B misdemeanor. As used in this subsection, “social networking website” has the meaning provided in Section 10 of the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-555, eff. 1-1-14; 99-363, eff. 1-1-16.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.
When Can Mugshots Still Be Posted in Illinois?
Police can still release booking photos if there’s a clear public interest, such as:
- A missing person case
- A fugitive at large
- A serious crime under investigation
This keeps the public informed when it matters, without unfairly exposing people arrested for minor violations.
Why Illinois Passed This Law
The law was a response to the rise of mugshot websites that scraped arrest data and then charged people hundreds of dollars to take their image down — even if charges were dropped or never filed.
By limiting how police share mugshots online, Illinois helps prevent:
- Unfair public shaming
- Long-term damage to reputation
- Exploitation by pay-to-remove sites
If your mugshot appears online, it’s likely not from a FOIL request. It may have been pulled from a police department’s social media post, press release, or court filing.
What If Your Illinois Mugshot Is Already Online?
Even with this law in place, private mugshot websites may still publish arrest photos. If your case was:
- Dismissed
- Expunged or sealed
- Not prosecuted
- Resolved with a not-guilty verdict
…you may be able to request a takedown, either directly or through legal or reputation management help.
Check out Google’s Results About You tool to monitor if your mugshot is appearing in search results.
How to Remove Your Mugshot in Illinois
1. Contact the Website
- Ask for voluntary removal, especially if the case was dismissed or sealed.
- Include proof of dismissal or expungement if available.
2. Check Google’s Removal Tools
- Use the Outdated Content Tool or Results About You to report search result issues.
3. Seek Legal Help
- If a site is demanding money, consult an attorney. Some practices may rise to the level of extortion.
4. Work with a Reputation Management Expert
- For long-term cleanup, professionals like our team at Guaranteed Removals can help suppress the content from search results.
FAQs About Mugshots in Illinois
Can police still release my mugshot in Illinois?
Yes, but not for minor arrests like petty or business offenses. They can still release them if there’s a public safety reason.
Are mugshots public record in Illinois?
Yes, but access is limited. While basic arrest info must be released, mugshots aren’t automatically posted for minor crimes.
Can mugshot sites still post photos in Illinois?
They can, but they’re less likely to get fresh images since police departments can no longer publish mugshots for low-level offenses on social media.
Can I get my mugshot removed from the internet?
Yes. If your case qualifies, you may be able to request removal from the website or use Google’s removal tools. You can also hire a professional service to handle it for you.
Get Started With Our Mugshot Removal Service today
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