When you get arrested, a standard procedure is to take a mugshot which becomes part of the public record. These images, along with the arrest details, are published online and anyone with an internet connection can find them.
Mugshot websites collect this information and a simple online search can find your mugshot and arrest records. This can be a big problem as these images can harm your professional reputation, stop you from getting a job, make it hard to get housing or loans, strain personal relationships and cause a lot of stress. Mugshot sites don’t even filter out people who were charged but not convicted or those who were wrongfully accused.
This article will show you how to remove mugshots from Google for free. A detailed, step-by-step approach and situations where you might need to pay for services. By understanding the process and the challenges you will face you can take control of your online presence.
Why Do People Want To Find Mugshots Online?
People will search for mugshots, criminal records, and similar information when vetting a person for a job or a housing decision. Employers may not want to hire a person with an arrest record or criminal past, and landlords or mortgage lenders may also decide not to approve a person’s housing request based on their arrest record. Having a mugshot online can make it difficult for a person to move forward in their life. This is why it’s crucial to remove your mugshot from online platforms to ensure that your past does not hinder your future opportunities. By taking control of your online presence, you can improve your chances of securing employment, housing, and other important aspects of life.
Understanding Mugshot Removal
Mugshot removal is the process of deleting or suppressing online arrest records, mugshot images, and other personal information from the internet. This can be a challenging and time-consuming task, but it’s essential for individuals who want to protect their online reputation and privacy. When your mugshot appears in search engine results, it can negatively impact your professional and personal life. By understanding the mugshot removal process, you can take proactive steps to safeguard your online presence and ensure that your past does not define your future.
Step-by-Step Free Mugshot Removal
Find all Websites with Your Mugshot:
- Search your name on Google and other search engines. Use different search terms like “[Your name] mugshot”, “[Your name] arrest”, “[Your name] [your location] arrest”.
- Try different variations of your name like including your middle name, middle initial or nicknames.
- Don’t make repeated search entries as this can make your personal info appear more prominent in search results. Search engines can learn based on how many times you search for a certain item and can boost the ranking of that item on popular sites.
- Create a list of all the websites where your mugshot appears. Log each in a spreadsheet so you can keep track.
Contact Website Owners Directly:
Find the contact details for each website owner, usually in the “Terms and Conditions” or “Privacy Policy” section. If not, try using an email sourcing tool like Hunter. Add the details to a spreadsheet.
Write a polite and professional removal request and include a link to your mugshot on their site and any supporting documents.
State the reason you want your mugshot removed: explain clearly why this image should not appear online. Is it outdated? Is it misinformation? Attach any supporting legal documents like a court order or expungement document that proves your innocence or charges were dropped.
Remember website owners are not obligated to remove your mugshot so being nice and professional can help your case.
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Remove Mugshots from Mugshot Websites:
Removing your mugshot from specific websites can be a crucial step in protecting your online reputation. Many mugshot websites allow individuals to submit removal requests, but the process can vary depending on the site. Below is a breakdown of steps you can take to request your mugshot’s removal from some of the most common platforms.
- Mugshots.com: Go to their site, search for your record, note the record number and send a removal request via email, include supporting legal documents.
- Arrests.org: Find your listing and use the remove link provided by adding your Record ID to the end of this URL: https://arrests.org/remove/?id=2021.
- JailBase.com: Search for your record, find your record on the results page and use the “opt out” link under details.
- Boca Post: To remove a mugshot from this website you can visit their site, go to the privacy policy at the bottom of the page, then click on ‘contact us form’ or copy their email address and request to remove your mugshot. Some of these websites may take up to a month to process your removal request. There are also mugshot removal websites that offer services to help you erase your booking photos from the internet for a fee.
Check Local Police Department Websites:
If your mugshot is on a local police department website, you will need to contact them directly via email, phone, or their website’s contact form to ensure your criminal record is accurate and request removal.
Follow up to make sure your records are erased. Different departments have different policies so be persistent.
Removing your Mugshot from Google:
Once you have removed your mugshot image from the original source websites, you can then request it to be removed from Google search results.
Use Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool to request the image to be deleted from search results.
Google will not remove content just because you ask. It must violate their policies. Google doesn’t create or control the content, they just collect and organize it to provide search results.
Google will not remove information they consider valuable to the public like news, education or government websites.
Monitor and Follow Up:
Check search results for any new mentions or updates related to your mugshot photos.
Be patient during this process as it can take time. Mugshot removal can take weeks or even months. Follow up regularly with website owners – a lack of response doesn’t always mean refusal.
Keep an eye on any new appearances of your mugshot on Google or other platforms. Set up Google Alerts for your name to get notified of any new mentions or uploads online. Mugshot removal isn’t a one-time fix. Consistent effort is needed to protect your online reputation.
When Professional Mugshot Removal Service May Be Necessary
While the above steps provide a free way to remove mugshots, there are specific situations when you may need to consider professional mugshot removal services:
- Time and Complexity: Removing mugshots manually can be a time-consuming and complex process that requires a lot of time, effort, and expertise. Professional services are very experienced in the process.
- No Response from Websites: Some website owners may not respond to your removal requests or they may refuse to remove your mugshot even if you have supporting documents.
- Complex Legal Issues: If you have complex legal issues like a sealed case or expungement order, a lawyer who specializes in this area can be super helpful.
- Connections with Mugshot Websites: Professional services have established relationships with mugshot website owners which increases the chances of successful data removal.
- De-indexing from Search Engines: Mugshot removal experts are familiar with search engine policies and can make a strong case to get your data removed from search results. This process is called “de-indexing” and means a link will no longer show up in the search results.
- Content Suppression: If your criminal history includes serious offenses, mugshot removal may be very difficult. In these cases, content suppression may be the best option.
- Online Reputation Management: Professionals can help manage your online presence and make sure no more negative information about you appears online.
If you’re overwhelmed by the process or struggling to get results, professional services can be a practical solution. They have the tools, experience, and connections to handle complex cases, including stubborn website owners, legal barriers, or situations requiring search engine de-indexing. For those with limited time or more serious concerns, professionals can also provide content suppression and ongoing online reputation management, helping you regain control of how you appear online.
Final Thoughts
You can indeed remove mugshots from Google search results for free if you follow the steps above. By contacting website owners, using legal documents, and requesting removal from search engines, you can regain control of your online presence and start repairing your online reputation. But there are many situations when professional services may be necessary or beneficial especially if you have complex legal issues, unresponsive websites, or if you need a comprehensive approach to managing your online reputation. It’s up to you to weigh the cost vs benefits of professional services vs doing it yourself.
Book your free consultation with Igniyte today
Managing Director at Igniyte – The Reputation Experts
Roz is an industry spokesperson on all areas of online reputation management and our resident digital media expert. She regularly writes about reputation management research, online reputation risk and industry best practice.
