Oregon passed one of the strongest mugshot laws in the U.S. in 2021. The law sharply limits when law enforcement can release booking photos and creates strict takedown rules for mugshot websites, especially those operating on a pay-to-remove model.
The result? If your charges were dropped, you were never prosecuted, or your record was expunged, you have real legal leverage to get your mugshot removed, and fast.
Want to know more about mugshot laws? Check out our full article on Mugshot laws across the U.S.
When Oregon Police Can Release Your Mugshot
Under ORS 133.870, Oregon police agencies are generally barred from releasing booking photos to the public unless specific conditions are met.
They can release a mugshot only if:
- There’s a valid law enforcement purpose, like:
- Locating a fugitive
- Identifying unknown suspects
- The photo is requested by:
- The person in the mugshot
- A party in the criminal case
- The court (for pretrial identification)
- A victim or victim’s advocate
- Another government agency
- A state hospital
- The person has been convicted of a crime related to the arrest
In other words, if you weren’t convicted, the mugshot generally shouldn’t be released by police in the first place.
Looking for a broader or more specific solution? Start with our full guide on how to remove mugshots from Google.
ORS 133.870 – Release of Booking Photo by Law Enforcement Agency
(1) Notwithstanding ORS 192.311 to 192.478, a law enforcement agency may not release a booking photo except as provided in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) A law enforcement agency may release a booking photo described in subsection (1) of this section:
(a) To the person depicted in the booking photo;
(b) To another law enforcement agency, or to a law enforcement officer employed by another law enforcement agency, for a law enforcement purpose;
(c) To the public, if the law enforcement agency determines that there is a law enforcement purpose for the release, including but not limited to assistance with the apprehension of a fugitive or a suspect in a criminal investigation, or the identification of additional criminal activity;
(d) To a state mental hospital upon the admission to the hospital of the person depicted in the booking photo;
(e) To a party in a criminal proceeding resulting from the arrest during which the booking photo was obtained;
(f) To the victim of the offense for which the person depicted in the booking photo was arrested;
(g) To the court, if the booking photo is part of a pretrial release report or is provided to the court as part of the pretrial release process for the purposes of confirming the identity of a defendant; or
(h) Upon the conviction of the person depicted in the booking photo, if the conviction results from the arrest during which the booking photo was obtained.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) “Booking photo” means a photograph of a person taken by a law enforcement agency for identification purposes when the person is booked into custody.
(b) “Law enforcement agency” has the meaning given that term in ORS 131.915.
(c) “Law enforcement officer” means an officer, deputy, member or employee of a law enforcement agency.
What Mugshot Websites Are Required To Do in Oregon
Oregon targets mugshot sites directly with ORS 133.875, placing strict takedown rules based on your case outcome.
If You Were Not Convicted
If you were acquitted, not prosecuted, or had your conviction expunged or vacated, websites must:
- Remove your mugshot within 7 days of your written request
- Not charge you any fee
- Face $1,000 per day in penalties if they don’t comply
- Risk criminal charges if they try to charge a removal fee (theft by deception)
This is one of the most consumer-friendly removal rules in the country.
If You Were Convicted
Even if you were convicted, Oregon law gives you a path to removal:
- Websites must remove the mugshot within 30 days
- They may charge up to $50 for the removal
- If they don’t comply, they face:
- $500 per day in statutory damages
- Court-ordered legal fees
ORS 133.875 – Removal of Booking Photo from Publication or Website
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section:
(a) A publish-for-pay publication shall remove and destroy a booking photo of a person who submits a request for removal and destruction within 30 calendar days of the date of the request.
(b) A publish-for-pay publication may not condition the removal or destruction of a booking photo on the payment of a fee of more than $50.
(c) If the publish-for-pay publication does not remove and destroy a booking photo as required by this subsection, the publish-for-pay publication is liable for:
(A) All costs, including reasonable attorney fees, resulting from any legal action the person brings in relation to the failure of the publish-for-pay publication to remove and destroy the booking photo; and
(B) Statutory damages of $500 per day for each day after the 30-day deadline described in this subsection that the booking photo is visible or accessible in or on the publish-for-pay publication.
(2)
(a) A publish-for-pay publication shall remove and destroy a booking photo of a person who submits a request for removal and destruction within seven calendar days of the date of the request if:
(A) The booking photo relates to a criminal charge for which the person was acquitted or not prosecuted, or to a criminal charge resulting in a criminal conviction that has been set aside, vacated or pardoned; and
(B) The person submits to the publish-for-pay publication documentation of a disposition described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(b) A publish-for-pay publication may not condition the removal or destruction of a booking photo described in this subsection on the payment of any fee or other consideration.
(c) If the publish-for-pay publication that receives a request described in paragraph (a) of this subsection does not remove and destroy the booking photo as required by this subsection, the publish-for-pay publication is liable for:
(A) All costs, including reasonable attorney fees, resulting from any legal action the person brings in relation to the failure of the publish-for-pay publication to remove and destroy the booking photo; and
(B) Statutory damages of $1,000 per day for each day after the seven-day deadline described in this subsection that the booking photo is visible or accessible in or on the publish-for-pay publication.
(d) An act by a publish-for-pay publication seeking to condition removal or destruction of a booking photo described in this subsection on the payment of any fee may be prosecuted as theft by deception under ORS 164.085.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) “Booking photo” means a photograph of a person taken by a law enforcement agency for identification purposes when the person is booked into custody.
(b) “Publish-for-pay publication” means a publication or website that requires the payment of a fee or other consideration in order to remove or delete a booking photo from the publication or website.
Why The Law Matters for Oregonians
Oregon’s mugshot law does two important things:
- Limits the public release of mugshots for people who were never convicted, protecting them from being punished online for charges that went nowhere.
- Shuts down the pay-to-delete business model, where people were extorted to get their own booking photo removed from shady websites.
The penalties, up to $1,000 per day, give real enforcement power to individuals seeking removal. And by criminalizing deceptive payment schemes, the law goes beyond civil rights into criminal justice territory.
Public Reaction and Legal Impact
Since the law went into effect, many mugshot websites have either exited the Oregon market or updated their practices to comply. Defense attorneys and civil rights advocates widely praised the law, while some publishers pushed back, claiming it restricted access to public records.
Regardless, Oregon now sets a high standard for mugshot privacy, balancing transparency with dignity and fairness.
How to Remove Your Mugshot in Oregon
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 Oregon
Can I get my mugshot removed in Oregon if I wasn’t convicted?
Yes. If you were acquitted, not charged, or your conviction was expunged, the site must remove your mugshot within 7 days, and can’t charge a fee.
Is it illegal for police to post mugshots online in Oregon?
In most cases, yes. Unless you were convicted or there’s a clear law enforcement purpose like finding a fugitive.
What happens if a site refuses to take my mugshot down?
You can sue for statutory damages: $1,000 per day for wrongful cases, or $500 per day for standard removals. You can also recover attorney fees.
Can a site charge me $100 to take my mugshot down?
No. The maximum allowed by law is $50, and only if you were convicted. Any attempt to charge more may be prosecuted as theft by deception.
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