Getting arrested is bad enough. But seeing your mugshot online every time someone Googles your name? That’s a different kind of punishment.
In most states, mugshots are public records. But not every state treats them the same. Some states have passed laws to stop websites from charging for removal. Others still let them profit off your photo, even if you were never convicted.
This guide breaks down current mugshot laws across the U.S. so you know what you’re up against and what you can do about it.
Looking to remove a mugshot from the internet? Start with our full guide on how to remove mugshots from Google.
Mugshot Law Directory
Jump to your state's mugshot law:
- California Mugshot Law
- Texas Mugshot Law
- New York Mugshot Law
- Florida Mugshot Law
- Georgia Mugshot Law
- Illinois Mugshot Law
- Colorado Mugshot Law
- Oregon Mugshot Law
- Arizona Mugshot Law
- Utah Mugshot Law
- Kentucky Mugshot Law
- New Jersey Mugshot Law
- Other States Mugshot Law
- Federal and International Mugshot Law
States With Mugshot Removal Laws
California Mugshot Law
California passed SB 1027 in 2014 to crack down on pay-for-removal mugshot sites. These sites were charging people hundreds or even thousands of dollars to take down booking photos, even when charges were dropped or expunged.
Under this law:
- It is illegal for any person or business to accept payment to remove, correct, or modify a booking photo.
- This applies to anyone publishing mugshots, whether on a website or in print.
- Each payment request is treated as a separate violation and can be challenged in court.
If someone breaks the law:
- Victims can file a civil lawsuit and seek the greater of $1,000 per violation or actual damages.
- The court may also award attorney’s fees and other legal costs.
Importantly, public agencies like police departments are allowed to charge fees to correct or modify official records. But private websites can no longer profit from mugshot removal.
The law was introduced after widespread abuse, including cases where people were publicly shamed online for arrests that never led to convictions. Sites were exploiting public records laws, harming reputations and careers in the process.
Texas Mugshot Law
In 2023, Texas passed a law (SB 509) that severely restricts the release and use of mugshots. The new rules target both law enforcement agencies and private sites that profit from mugshot publishing.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Mugshots are now confidential unless:
- The person is convicted of a crime tied to the arrest
- The person is a fugitive or public threat, and police believe releasing the mugshot helps public safety
- A judge orders the release for law enforcement reasons
- Mugshots cannot be released if:
- The case was expunged
- The person was fully exonerated
- Private websites that publish mugshots:
- Cannot post or sell mugshots if the record was sealed or expunged
- Can face penalties for violating this rule, regardless of when the mugshot was originally published
In Texas, mugshots are no longer public by default. If your case was dismissed, sealed, or you were found not guilty, the law now protects your right to privacy. Most mugshot websites should no longer have access to your image if you qualify under this law.
New York Mugshot Law
In 2019, New York proposed a “mugshot ban” through Budget Bill A.2005-A / S1505-A. The law aimed to stop websites from using FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) requests to access arrest photos and booking information for public shaming or profit.
Key Highlights:
- Mugshots and booking data would no longer be released under FOIL unless law enforcement claims a “specific law enforcement purpose.”
- The bill did not stop police or government agencies from releasing arrest photos on their own terms, including for press releases or fugitive alerts.
- The term “booking information” was left undefined, which raised concerns it could hide useful public data like name, age, race, charges, or arrest date.
The Problem It Tried to Solve:
Websites had been collecting mugshots through FOIL requests and charging people large fees to remove them. This bill attempted to curb that business model.
Why It Faced Pushback:
- Privacy protection was incomplete. Mugshots could still be released by police for almost any reason.
- Oversight concerns. Critics argued that hiding booking information could reduce transparency and limit journalism or civil rights investigations.
- Courts were already handling it. New York judges had started rejecting mugshot FOIL requests that only served to exploit or shame people online.
While the bill targeted real issues with mugshot exploitation, it left too many gaps and overreached in restricting public access to government data. As of now, courts in New York continue to decide mugshot access on a case-by-case basis, weighing privacy against public interest.
As a result, New York never formally banned the release of mugshots, but courts in the state have since continued to deny FOIL requests for mugshots that appear to serve only commercial or shaming purposes.
Florida Mugshot Law
In 2021, Florida passed one of the country’s strongest laws targeting pay-to-remove mugshot websites. It’s designed to protect people from sites that profit off public arrest records by charging for removals.
Here’s what the law says and how it works.
You can request removal for free
Under Florida Statute §901.43, any person or website that publishes mugshots and accepts money to remove them is breaking the law.
If your mugshot appears online, you have the right to request removal at no cost. The request must be sent by registered mail and include:
- Proof of your identity
- Details about the photo and arrest
Once they receive it, the site has 10 calendar days to remove the mugshot.
They can’t republish it
After your mugshot is removed, the website is not allowed to republish it again. If they do, or if they ignore your request entirely, you can take legal action.
- If they don’t take it down: you can sue and the court may fine them $1,000 per day
- If they repost it: the penalty jumps to $5,000 per day
- The court can also make them cover your attorney’s fees and court costs
It’s considered a deceptive trade practice
The law also classifies these violations as unfair or deceptive trade practices under Florida law, which gives you even more legal leverage if a site fails to comply.
Who it applies to
The law applies specifically to websites or people whose business model involves publishing mugshots for profit. That includes:
- Sites that charge for removal
- Sites that exist mainly to post mugshots and drive traffic
However, it does not apply to news outlets or public safety sites that do not solicit or accept payment to remove arrest records. Because of the availability of mugshots and public information, mugshots are still widely available online, they just can’t solicit payment anymore.
If your mugshot appears on a Florida-based mugshot site and they ask for payment to remove it, they’re violating state law. You can send a formal removal request and hold them legally accountable if they refuse.
Georgia Mugshot Law
Under Georgia’s Fair Business Practices Act, O.C.G.A. § 10‑1‑393.5 (2024), mugshot websites are legally required to remove booking photos free of charge if your case meets any of the qualifying criteria listed under the law.
You may qualify if:
- Your case was never referred to a prosecutor, or your charges were never indicted
- The statute of limitations expired
- The case was dismissed, no-billed, or nolle prossed
- You were acquitted
- Or you completed probation for a minor drug offense and met program conditions
Removal request process
- Send a written request via certified mail or overnight delivery to the publisher’s registered agent or principal address.
- Include: your full name, date of birth, arrest date, arresting agency, and the exact URL of the page with your mugshot.
- Disposition documents (e.g. record dismissal) help but aren’t strictly required.
Timeline and enforcement
- The site must remove the mugshot within 30 days of receiving your proper request.
- If they charge a fee or fail to remove, the site is in violation of Georgia law, this triggers both civil and criminal penalties under the Fair Business Practices Act
- You can report violations to the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division
Why special legislation?
This law emerged in response to exploitative business models, “mugshot rackets” that charged hundreds or thousands of dollars for removal. Georgia stepped in to protect those who cleared or resolved their cases, ensuring mugshot sites can’t profit from reputational harm
Illinois Mugshot Law
Illinois passed Public Act 101-0433 in 2019 to curb the commercial misuse of mugshots. The law became effective on January 1, 2020 and made several key changes to how arrest information is released.
Law enforcement agencies are still required to release certain arrest details to the public and press within 72 hours. This includes:
- Name, age, address, and photo (if available)
- Charges filed
- Time and location of arrest
- Arresting agency name
- Bail or bond amount (if applicable)
- Jail booking, transfer, or release time
However, the law prevents police departments from posting mugshots on social media in connection with minor offenses, such as:
- Civil offenses
- Petty offenses
- Business offenses
- Class C and Class B misdemeanors
An exception is made if the image helps locate a missing person, fugitive, or someone wanted for a more serious crime.
The law was designed to prevent mugshot exploitation and reduce public shaming. It also ensures arrest records remain accessible for accountability, but limits how mugshots can be distributed online. This helps protect individuals from having their image published in low-level cases with no real public safety benefit.
Colorado Mugshot Law
In 2014, Colorado passed House Bill 14-1047 to target pay-to-remove mugshot websites. The law makes it illegal to profit from mugshot removal requests and gives individuals legal leverage to get their images taken down.
Key points of the law:
- Websites that post mugshots must remove them for free if:
- The person was never charged
- Charges were dismissed
- The individual was acquitted
- If a site refuses to remove the photo, individuals can:
- File a civil lawsuit to recover damages
- Receive fines of up to $1,000 per violation
- The law also makes it a misdemeanor to request mugshots from law enforcement with the intent to publish them on a site that charges for removal.
- To access mugshots from official sources, the requester must sign a sworn statement affirming that they won’t use them for commercial removal schemes.
Colorado’s law was one of the earliest in the country to go after mugshot paywalls directly. It continues to serve as a model for other states cracking down on this business model.
Oregon Mugshot Law
Oregon passed one of the most consumer-protective mugshot laws in the country in 2021. The legislation cracks down on both law enforcement distribution and the business practices of mugshot websites.
Law Enforcement Restrictions (ORS 133.870)
Law enforcement agencies cannot publicly release mugshots unless:
- There’s a valid law enforcement purpose, like finding a fugitive or identifying suspects.
- The photo is requested by:
- The person in the photo
- Another agency
- A victim
- A party in the criminal case
- The court (for pretrial identification)
- A state mental hospital
- The person is convicted of a crime related to the arrest
Removal Requirements for Mugshot Websites (ORS 133.875)
Oregon specifically targets “publish-for-pay” websites with strict takedown requirements.
If someone was acquitted, not prosecuted, or their conviction was vacated or expunged:
- The site must remove the mugshot within 7 days of a written request
- No fee can be charged
- Failure to comply results in $1,000/day in statutory damages, plus attorney fees
- Attempting to charge a fee can be prosecuted as theft by deception
For all other cases:
- Mugshots must be removed within 30 days of a takedown request
- Sites can charge up to $50 for removal
- Failure results in $500/day in damages, plus attorney fees
This law gives people in Oregon real leverage to get their mugshots taken down, especially if they were never convicted. It also cuts off the pay-to-remove business model by criminalizing deceptive removal fees and giving courts power to award significant damages.
Arizona Mugshot Law
Arizona passed House Bill 2191 in 2019 to crack down on mugshot websites that charge people to remove their arrest photos. This law directly targets pay-to-remove schemes and offers legal protection for anyone whose mugshot is published for profit.
What the law covers:
- Defines “mugshot website operators” as any person or group that publishes criminal justice records online for a commercial purpose.
- Prohibits using arrest records or booking photos to solicit payment for removal.
- Makes it illegal to charge a fee or request compensation in exchange for taking down mugshots.
Penalties for violating the law:
- $100 per day for the first 30 days a mugshot remains online
- $200 per day for days 31 to 60
- $500 per day after that
Individuals harmed by a violation can also sue for additional damages and legal costs.
Exemptions:
- Legitimate news organizations are not subject to the law, including newspapers, TV, radio, and online news sites that report public interest stories.
- Activities by licensed attorneys, private investigators, or process servers tied to legal proceedings are also exempt.
This law gives Arizona residents a powerful tool to fight back against exploitative mugshot sites. If your photo appears online and the operator demands money to remove it, you can take legal action and seek damages without having to pay a removal fee.
Utah Mugshot Law
Utah updated more a strict mugshot laws in 2023 under Utah Code Ann. § 17-22-30 (Effective May 1, 2024) aimed at curbing mugshot misuse and protecting individuals from reputational harm before conviction.
Key Provisions:
- Ban on release: County sheriffs cannot release booking photos to the public if they will be used on pay-to-remove sites.
- Statement required: Anyone requesting a mugshot must sign a statement affirming it won’t be published on a site that charges for removal.
- False statements carry criminal penalties under Utah Code § 76-8-504 (false or inconsistent material statements).
- Victims may view, but not copy or distribute, the mugshot under strict conditions and only with prosecutor approval.
Removal Requirements:
- Standard cases: Pay-to-remove sites must take down booking photos within 30 days of a valid request. They may not charge more than $50.
- If not removed: Sites face penalties of $50 per day plus attorney’s fees and court costs.
- Cleared charges: If the person was acquitted, not prosecuted, or had the charges vacated, pardoned, or expunged, the photo must be removed within 7 days.
- Fee ban: No fee is allowed in these cleared-charge cases. Any attempt to charge is considered theft by extortion under § 76-6-406.
- If not removed in 7 days: Sites face penalties of $100 per day plus full legal costs.
This law prevents premature reputational damage by restricting mugshot access until after conviction. It also creates strong enforcement mechanisms for people who were wrongly arrested and severely impacted by the online spread of his booking photo.
Kentucky Mugshot Law
Under KRS § 61.8746, Kentucky restricts how booking photos can be used by websites that charge for removal.
Key provisions include:
- Pay-for-removal ban: Websites may not charge a fee to remove or withhold booking photos.
- Request-based removal: If a person is acquitted, has charges dismissed, or the case is not pursued, they can request removal.
- 30-day deadline: The website must delete the photo within 30 days of receiving a valid request.
- Civil penalties: If the site fails to comply, the individual can sue and recover:
- Actual damages or $100 per day, whichever is greater.
- Reasonable attorney’s fees.
- Court costs.
Enforcement:
The law gives individuals legal standing to pursue action against noncompliant websites. It also empowers courts to issue injunctions.
This law targets “commercial websites” that post mugshots with the intent to solicit removal fees. News media outlets are exempt.
New Jersey Mugshot Law
Law enforcement agencies in New Jersey rarely release mugshots to the public. Unless there’s an urgent need, like identifying a fugitive or requesting help from the public, booking photos are usually withheld.
Under New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA), mugshots are treated as criminal investigatory records, which are exempt from disclosure. This means that even though basic arrest information may be released, the actual booking photo is almost always off-limits.
Both the New Jersey Government Records Council and state courts have upheld this interpretation. As a result, mugshots from New Jersey arrests are much less likely to appear on commercial websites compared to states with broader public records laws.
In 2016, the state passed S1840, a law that makes it illegal for websites to charge a fee to remove criminal records, including mugshots. The law allows individuals to sue violators for:
- At least $1,000 per solicitation
- $10,000 per disclosure
- Attorney’s fees and punitive damages
This law helps deter mugshot extortion schemes and further limits the spread of New Jersey arrest photos online.
Other States
Most other states still treat mugshots as public info with no removal protections. That includes:
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Ohio
- Nevada
- Indiana
- Tennessee
- Louisiana
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Washington
- Minnesota
In these states, mugshot sites can post and profit off your image unless you take action yourself.
Federal and International Mugshot Laws
There’s no national law that protects people from having their mugshots posted online.
- The Privacy Act of 1974 only applies to federal agencies
- No federal restrictions on private mugshot websites
Outside the U.S., other countries have stronger protections:
- Canada: The Privacy Act and PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) ensure mugshots are only released for public safety purposes.
- UK: Mugshots are rarely made public unless necessary for locating a suspect. Individuals can request data removal under GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
- Australia: Rules vary by state. The Privacy Act 1988 provides some protection, but mugshots are public in certain jurisdictions.
- New Zealand: The Privacy Act 2020 restricts mugshot release unless it’s for a compelling law enforcement reason. Citizens can request data removal.
What You Can Do If Your Mugshot Is Online
Even if your state doesn’t have strong protections, you still have options:
- Search for it: Use incognito mode and search your name + “mugshot”
- Request removal: Email the site with proof of dismissal or expungement
- Fix your records: Seal or expunge the arrest if you can
- Suppress it: Create positive content to push it off page one
- Hire help: A reputation management company can handle the process for you
Summary of Mugshot Laws
| State | Mugshot Law Summary |
|---|---|
| California | SB 1027 prohibits accepting payment for mugshot removal. Each violation can result in $1,000 in damages. Public agencies may charge for official corrections, but private sites cannot profit from removals. |
| Texas | SB 509 makes mugshots confidential unless there’s a conviction or public safety need. Sites cannot publish expunged or sealed records. Violators can face penalties regardless of publication date. |
| New York | Proposed a FOIL reform in 2019 limiting mugshot releases to law enforcement needs. Courts now often deny FOIL requests for commercial use. No full mugshot ban was enacted. |
| Florida | Statute §901.43 allows free removal requests via mail. Sites must comply within 10 days. Violations result in fines up to $5,000/day. Classified as deceptive trade practice. |
| Georgia | O.C.G.A. § 10‑1‑393.5 requires removal within 30 days if charges are cleared. Sites face civil and criminal penalties. Requests must include personal and case info. |
| Illinois | Public Act 101-0433 limits law enforcement from posting mugshots for low-level offenses. Media access is maintained for major crimes and public alerts. |
| Colorado | HB 14-1047 bans charging for removal and requires takedown if no conviction. Violators face $1,000 per infraction. Intent to publish mugshots for profit is criminalized. |
| Oregon | ORS 133.870/133.875 bans public release without a valid purpose. Sites must remove mugshots in 7 or 30 days depending on case status. Up to $1,000/day in penalties. |
| Arizona | HB 2191 prohibits charging for mugshot removal. Fines escalate from $100/day to $500/day. Exempts media and legal professionals. |
| Utah | Utah Code § 17-22-30 bans release to pay-to-remove sites. Sites must remove mugshots in 7–30 days depending on case outcome. Penalties include daily fines and criminal liability. |
| Kentucky | KRS § 61.8746 prohibits pay-for-removal models. Sites must remove photos within 30 days of request if charges are dropped or dismissed. Penalties include $100/day and court costs. |
| New Jersey | Mugshots are exempt from OPRA. Courts and the GRC uphold privacy rights. Law S1840 bans charging fees for removal. Violations carry $1,000–$10,000 fines plus legal costs. |
Your mugshot usually doesn’t just show up on one site. It can get scraped, reposted, and indexed by Google forever. Even if you were never convicted, one arrest photo can hurt your job prospects, relationships, and peace of mind.
Over 85% of employers check Google before hiring someone. If your mugshot is on the first page, it could be the reason you didn’t get that callback.
Some states are stepping up. Others aren’t. Until stronger protections exist nationwide, knowing your rights and acting fast is the best way to protect yourself.
Looking to remove your mugshot from a specific mugshot site? Check out our guides below:
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