Can I Have My Mugshot Removed from the Internet?

By Jonathan Blecher on April 13, 2021

While plenty of people probably enjoy seeing celebrity mugshots on tabloid covers, the fact is that it can be incredibly embarrassing for the person in question. Mugshots are public information, so even if you are just a regular person trying to leave the past behind you, chances are that you do not want your mugshot out there on the internet. Otherwise, it may be easily found by anyone who may try to search for you online, such as prospective employers.

Removing Your Mugshot

Due to the fact that arrest records are considered public information, websites generally do not need any consent or permission to share them. That said, there are ways for you to remove a detrimental mugshot that may hinder your future. First, you can try to contact the webmaster directly. If the page has contact information, such as an email or phone number, reach out to inquire if the image can be taken down. You can also try to contact Google to remove it from their search engine, though this is less likely to be successful.

A more effective path toward removing a mugshot from the internet would be to seal or expunge your record. Expungement typically requires that a specified amount of time has passed since the arrest or conviction before the process can move forward. Moreover, this request must be filed with the court. If your request is successful, you can send the order of your expungement to the website that is displaying your mugshot.

If you do not wish to go through the expungement process or you do not qualify, you can hire an attorney to draft a letter, requesting to take the mugshot down. Even if the owner of the website has every right to post your mugshot, the prospect of potentially being involved in a lawsuit may prompt the removal of your mugshot from the website.

Reach Out to Our Experienced Criminal Defense Team to Discuss Your Case Today!

If you would like to remove your mugshot from a website, the legal team at Jonathan Blecher, P.A. can provide the legal guidance you need to accomplish this task. With more than three decades of experience, you can rest assured you will receive the results you need, so you can move forward.

Call our law office today at 305-321-3237 to set up a free case review with our skilled criminal defense attorney.