Utah’s updated mugshot law, passed as part of Utah Code Ann. § 17-22-30, took effect on May 1, 2024, and is among the most protective in the country. The law cracks down on the public release of booking photos, targets the pay-to-remove business model, and strengthens the legal tools available to individuals whose mugshots appear online.
Want to know more about mugshot laws? Check out our full article on Mugshot laws across the U.S.
What the Utah Law Says
Under the updated statute, county sheriffs are barred from releasing mugshots to the public unless specific conditions are met. The law also imposes strict rules for how mugshot websites must handle takedown requests with penalties for noncompliance.
Looking for a broader or more specific solution? Start with our full guide on how to remove mugshots from Google.
Utah Code § 17-22-30 (Effective May 1, 2024)
Prohibition on providing copy of booking photograph – Statement required – Victim access – Criminal liability for false statement – Remedy for failure to remove or delete
(1) As used in this section:
(a) “Booking photograph” means a photograph or image of an individual that is generated:
(i) for identification purposes; and
(ii) when the individual is booked into a county jail.
(b) “Publish-for-pay publication” or “publish-for-pay website” means a publication or website that requires the payment of a fee or other consideration in order to remove or delete a booking photograph from the publication or website.
(2)
(a) A sheriff may not provide a copy of a booking photograph in any format to a person requesting a copy of the booking photograph if:
(i) the booking photograph will be placed in a publish-for-pay publication or posted to a publish-for-pay website; or
(ii) the booking photograph is a protected record under Subsection 63G-2-305(80).
(b)
(i) A sheriff shall display a copy of a booking photograph to a person requesting to view the booking photograph if the person making the request:
(A)
(I) is an alleged victim of a crime that resulted in the creation of the booking photograph; and
(II) subject to Utah Rules of Evidence, Rule 617, the prosecuting agency with jurisdiction consents; or
(B) if an alleged victim is deceased or incapacitated, is an immediate family member, guardian, or conservator of an alleged victim of the crime that resulted in the creation of the booking photograph.
(ii) A person entitled to view a booking photograph under Subsection (2)(b)(i) is not permitted to:
(A) retain the booking photograph;
(B) make a copy, take a picture of, or otherwise reproduce the booking photograph; or
(C) disseminate or distribute the booking photograph.
(3)
(a) A person who requests a copy of a booking photograph from a sheriff shall, at the time of making the request, submit a statement signed by the person affirming that the booking photograph will not be placed in a publish-for-pay publication or posted to a publish-for-pay website.
(b) A person who submits a false statement under Subsection (3)(a) is subject to criminal liability as provided in Section 76-8-504.
(4)
(a) Except as provided in Subsection (5), a publish-for-pay publication or a publish-for-pay website shall remove and destroy a booking photograph of an individual who submits a request for removal and destruction within 30 calendar days after the day on which the individual makes the request.
(b) A publish-for-pay publication or publish-for-pay website described in Subsection (4)(a) may not condition removal or destruction of the booking photograph on the payment of a fee in an amount greater than $50.
(c) If the publish-for-pay publication or publish-for-pay website described in Subsection (4)(a) does not remove and destroy the booking photograph in accordance with Subsection (4)(a), the publish-for-pay publication or publish-for-pay website is liable for:
(i) all costs, including reasonable attorney fees, resulting from any legal action the individual brings in relation to the failure of the publish-for-pay publication or publish-for-pay website to remove and destroy the booking photograph; and
(ii) a civil penalty of $50 per day for each day after the 30-day deadline described in Subsection (4)(a) on which the booking photograph is visible or publicly accessible in the publish-for-pay publication or on the publish-for-pay website.
(5)
(a) A publish-for-pay publication or a publish-for-pay website shall remove and destroy a booking photograph of an individual who submits a request for removal and destruction within seven calendar days after the day on which the individual makes the request if:
(i) the booking photograph relates to a criminal charge:
(A) on which the individual was acquitted or not prosecuted; or
(B) that was expunged, vacated, or pardoned; and
(ii) the individual submits, in relation to the request, evidence of a disposition described in Subsection (5)(a)(i).
(b) If the publish-for-pay publication or publish-for-pay website described in Subsection (5)(a) does not remove and destroy the booking photograph in accordance with Subsection (5)(a), the publish-for-pay publication or publish-for-pay website is liable for:
(i) all costs, including reasonable attorney fees, resulting from any legal action that the individual brings in relation to the failure of the publish-for-pay publication or publish-for-pay website to remove and destroy the booking photograph; and
(ii) a civil penalty of $100 per day for each day after the seven-day deadline described in Subsection (5)(a) on which the booking photograph is visible or publicly accessible in the publish-for-pay publication or on the publish-for-pay website.
(c) An act of a publish-for-pay publication or publish-for-pay website described in Subsection (5)(a) that seeks to condition removal or destruction of the booking photograph on the payment of any fee or amount constitutes theft by extortion under Section 76-6-406.
Amended by Chapter 135, 2024 General Session
Amended by Chapter 344, 2024 General Session
Law Enforcement Restrictions
Law enforcement cannot release booking photos if they will be posted on a pay-to-remove website.
Anyone requesting a mugshot must:
- Sign a sworn statement confirming the photo won’t be used on a site that charges for removal.
- Face criminal liability for false or misleading statements under Utah Code § 76-8-504.
Victims can request to view a mugshot (with prosecutor approval) but may not copy, retain, or share the image.
Removal Requirements for Mugshot Sites
Standard Takedown Requests
- Deadline: Must remove booking photos within 30 days
- Fee cap: No more than $50 allowed
- Penalties: $50 per day + full legal costs if ignored
Cleared Charges (Acquittals, Dismissals, Expungements)
- Deadline: Must remove within 7 days
- Fee: No fee allowed
- Penalties: $100 per day + legal fees
- Attempting to charge: Considered theft by extortion under § 76-6-406
Why Utah Passed This Law
Mugshot websites in Utah were profiting off public records by charging individuals hundreds of dollars to remove their photos, even if the person was never convicted.
Utah’s updated law:
- Stops mugshot sales before a trial or conviction
- Makes it illegal to charge removal fees in cleared cases
- Holds violators accountable through civil and criminal penalties
It protects residents from reputational damage and ensures that arrest records don’t become permanent scars when charges don’t stick.
How to Remove Your Mugshot in Utah
1. Find the Mugshot and the Site
- Locate the exact URL and confirm whether the site is commercial in nature.
2. Send a Takedown Request
- Submit a written request for removal. Include legal documentation if your charges were dropped, dismissed, or expunged.
3. Track Deadlines
- Standard case: 30 days
- Cleared charges: 7 days
4. Pursue Legal Action if Ignored
- If a site refuses to remove your image, Utah law allows you to sue and recover daily penalties, attorney’s fees, and court costs.
FAQs About Utah’s Mugshot Law
Can I get my mugshot removed in Utah?
Yes. If your case was dismissed, expunged, or resolved without conviction, sites must remove your photo within 7 days for free.
What happens if a site doesn’t comply?
They can be sued. Utah law imposes daily fines ($50 or $100 depending on the case) plus attorney’s fees.
Do I have to pay to get my mugshot removed?
Only in active cases, and even then, the site can’t charge more than $50. If you were acquitted or the case was dropped, no fee is allowed.
Can law enforcement give my mugshot to the public?
Not unless it meets strict criteria. They must verify you’re not using the image for commercial removal and obtain a signed affidavit.
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