A Different Kind of Data Broker
Mugshot and court record aggregator sites (names vary and change frequently as sites get shut down and relaunch under new domains) scrape publicly available arrest records and booking photos, then publish them in a searchable format. Unlike a Spokeo or Whitepages listing, these sites often surface an arrest, even one that was later dismissed, resulted in an acquittal, or was legally expunged, and that record can rank on the first page of search results for someone’s name indefinitely.
Why This Is Legal (Mostly)
Arrest and booking records are public record in most jurisdictions at the time of arrest, regardless of the eventual outcome. Publishing that public information is generally protected activity, the same legal principle that makes standard data broker aggregation legal. What crosses into questionable territory, and in some states illegal, is a specific business model some of these sites run: publish the mugshot, then charge a “removal fee” to take it down. Several states have passed laws specifically targeting this practice.
States That Have Cracked Down on Pay-to-Remove Mugshot Sites
A number of states, including California, Illinois, Georgia, Texas, Utah, and Colorado, have passed laws restricting or banning the practice of charging a fee to remove a mugshot, particularly for cases that were dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or were expunged. Some of these laws require sites to remove mugshots for free within a set window (often 30 days) upon request once charges are dropped, or impose penalties on sites that charge for removal in these circumstances. If you’re in one of these states and a site is charging you a removal fee for a dismissed or expunged case, that may be a direct violation you can report to your state attorney general.
How to Actually Get a Mugshot Removed
- If your case was expunged or sealed: most mugshot sites have a specific removal request process for expunged records, sometimes requiring you to submit the expungement order itself. Search the specific site’s policy page, most have one even if it’s not prominently linked.
- If you’re in a state with a pay-to-remove ban: do not pay. Cite the specific state law in your removal request and, if the site refuses or still tries to charge you, file a complaint with your state attorney general’s consumer protection division.
- Request Google delist the page. Even if the source site won’t remove the mugshot, you can submit a request through Google’s “Results about you” removal tool for pages showing information you believe violates Google’s policies; Google has specifically expanded its removal policy to cover certain non-consensual and outdated legal record situations in some cases, though results vary and this isn’t guaranteed for every mugshot listing.
- Consult an attorney if the mugshot is from a dismissed, expunged, or sealed case and the site refuses to remove it despite a legitimate request. Some states’ expungement statutes carry their own enforcement mechanisms beyond the mugshot-specific laws above.
- For non-legal, non-arrest data broker exposure (your address, phone, relatives showing up alongside search results for your name), a standard removal service can help clean up the broader profile even if it can’t touch the mugshot site directly. See our comparison of Incogni, DeleteMe, Optery, and Aura.
The Bottom Line
Mugshot sites operate in a genuinely different legal category than standard data brokers, the underlying arrest record is public, but the pay-to-remove business model some of these sites run has drawn real legislative pushback. If your case was dismissed, acquitted, or expunged, check whether your state has a removal law before you ever consider paying a fee, and don’t hesitate to report a site that ignores a legitimate free-removal request.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult an attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
