Finding your booking photo on Mugshots.com can feel upsetting. The good news is that removal is sometimes possible, though it depends on your situation. This guide walks through how the site works, who qualifies for removal, and what to do if the site does not respond.
What Mugshots.com Is
Mugshots.com is a website that collects arrest photos and booking records from public sources. It posts these records so anyone can search them by name. The site was still online as of 2026. Its owners faced criminal charges in California in 2018 for extortion and money laundering. Prosecutors said the operation posted mugshots and then pushed people to pay to take them down. The case ran for years and ended with plea deals and, later, dismissed charges for one owner. Even with that history, the records stay public and searchable.
Can Your Mugshot Be Removed?
Sometimes, but not always. Mugshots.com says it will remove a record for free in a few specific cases:
- Your case was expunged, sealed, or ordered destroyed by a court.
- You were the victim of identity theft.
- You are asking on behalf of a family member who has died.
If your record does not fit one of these, the site may refuse to take it down. Many arrest records are public, so full removal is not always an option. In those cases, pushing the page down in Google search results is often the more realistic path. Our core guide to removing a mugshot from Google explains how that works.
How to Request Removal Step by Step
The exact steps can change, so confirm the current process on the site before you send anything. In general, the process looks like this:
- Search your name on Mugshots.com and open your record.
- Find and copy the record number listed on the page.
- Gather your court documents. They should be signed by a judge, sealed by the court, and easy to read.
- Send your request to the contact listed on the site, and include the record number and your documents.
Blurry or unreadable documents are often thrown out with no reply, so check that every file is clear before you send it.
Does Mugshots.com Charge a Fee?
Mugshots.com states that qualifying removals are free. You should not have to pay the site to take down a record that meets its rules. Be careful with any service or page that demands a fee to remove a single listing, since paid takedown schemes are what got the site in legal trouble. If you hire a professional to handle a wider cleanup, costs vary by how many sites are involved. You can see typical pricing in our guide to mugshot removal cost.
How Long Removal Takes
Mugshots.com says the review can take up to about 10 days once you send a complete request. In practice, mugshot sites are often slow and may not reply at all. If you do not hear back, you may need to send your request again or try another route. Timelines for the whole process can run longer when several sites hold the same record. Our guide to how long mugshot removal takes breaks down what to expect.
What to Do If Your Request Fails
Not every request works. If Mugshots.com ignores you or says no, you still have options:
- Ask again with cleaner documents if the first set was rejected.
- Check your state laws, since some states limit or ban charging for mugshot removal.
- Work on your Google results so the page is harder to find.
- Hire a reputation service to handle the takedowns and search cleanup for you.
Even when a record stays public, you can often push it far below other search results.
Is Mugshots.com free to remove a record?
Yes, for records that qualify. The site says it removes eligible listings at no cost. Watch out for anyone who asks you to pay the site directly to take down one photo.
Can I remove my mugshot if my case was not expunged?
Maybe not from the site itself. If your record does not meet the removal rules, the arrest data may stay public. In that case, focus on pushing the page down in search results instead.
Last updated on July 27, 2026