Why Mugshot Removal Matters in New York
Being arrested doesn’t mean being convicted. Yet mugshot websites can keep your arrest photo online forever—damaging your reputation, job prospects, and privacy.
New York law has recently evolved to offer more privacy protection, but many mugshot sites continue to profit from your public records.
“Online mugshots can live forever—unless you act.”
The Social and Professional Consequences:
- Difficulty securing employment or professional licensing
- Denied housing applications or educational opportunities
- Emotional stress and public shaming
- Persistent misinformation spreading across platforms
Is It Legal to Post Mugshots in New York?
Yes—but there are restrictions.
New York law allows for public records to be published, including arrest records. However, as of 2019, New York banned law enforcement agencies from releasing mugshots without justification, under the state’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) amendment.
But private mugshot sites still collect older arrest photos and display them online. Many also charge a fee to remove them, raising legal and ethical concerns.
Key Legal Developments:
- FOIL updates prohibit unnecessary mugshot publication
- Proposed legislation to criminalize paid mugshot removal schemes
- Rising number of defamation lawsuits targeting mugshot website operators
Common New York Mugshot Websites
- mugshots.zone
- arrestfacts.com
- bustednewyork.com
- mugshotsonline.com
- jailbase.com
These websites often index arrest records by name, city, county, or date, making them searchable via Google.
How They Work:
- Crawl and scrape public booking data
- Automatically publish name, charges, and booking photo
- Monetize through traffic, ads, or removal fees
Why They’re Problematic:
- Do not reflect case outcomes (dismissal, sealing, acquittal)
- Operate outside New York jurisdiction
- Often evade regulation by changing domain names or using international servers
Where Do Mugshots Appear in Google Results?
- Image search (Google Images)
- Knowledge Panel (if indexed)
- Search engine results (page 1–3)
- Aggregator sites ranking for “[Name] arrest” or “[County] mugshot”
Why This Matters:
- 90% of searchers never go beyond page 1
- Image-based results are often the first impression
- Employers, clients, and journalists often rely on Google as a credibility filter
How to Remove Your Mugshot from New York Websites
Step 1: Identify Where the Mugshot Is Posted
Use search operators:
"[First Name Last Name]" mugshot site:mugshots.zone
"[Your name] arrest" site:arrestfacts.comStep 2: Contact the Website Owner
Most sites have a “Contact Us” or “Opt-Out” form.
- Be polite but firm.
- Reference New York’s laws or expungement (if applicable).
- Request complete removal, not just de-indexing.
- Document all correspondence for legal backup.
Step 3: File a Google Removal Request (If PII Is Involved)
Use this if your:
- Full name + image + criminal charges appear together
- Page violates Google’s Personal Information policy
Tip: Use both removal and de-indexing forms if content remains cached.
Step 4: Hire a Mugshot Removal Lawyer (If Necessary)
Legal experts can:
- Send cease and desist letters
- Negotiate removals
- File defamation claims
- Coordinate with OptimizeUp for combined legal + SEO strategy
Suppressing a Mugshot When Removal Isn’t Possible
What Is Suppression?
It’s the process of pushing negative content off the first page of Google by outranking it with positive, high-authority content.
Best Suppression Tactics:
- Personal website (with your full name and bio)
- Author profiles (Medium, Substack, LinkedIn)
- YouTube videos (introductions, testimonials)
- Interviews or podcast guest spots
- Press releases about career updates or achievements
- High-authority backlinks and citations from trusted domains
SEO Checklist:
- Use schema markup (Person)
- Optimize meta descriptions and headlines
- Build internal links between your own profiles and blogs
- Post consistently to maintain domain freshness
Tools to Track and Suppress Mugshots
| Tool | Use Case | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Google Alerts | Monitor name mentions | Free keyword alerts |
| Brand24 | Reputation monitoring | Real-time sentiment detection |
| SEMrush | Suppression strategy | Keyword and rank tracking |
| Ahrefs | Competitor content | Backlink analysis and visibility |
| OptimizeUp | Expert intervention | Suppression, de-indexing, media campaigns |
| Moz Pro | Keyword visibility | SERP feature analysis, site audits |
| BuzzSumo | Content research | Find trending industry content to publish |
Legal Remedies for Mugshot Removal in New York
Legal Options Include:
- Expungement: If your case was sealed or dismissed, some websites are required to remove content
- Defamation claims: If false or misleading content is presented
- Invasion of privacy: Particularly for mugshots of juveniles or expunged cases
- Right to be forgotten (where applicable)
- GDPR and global takedown requests: For dual citizens or international suppression
Note: Not all mugshot sites fall under New York jurisdiction, making legal action complex. Professional help is often required.
Real Case Study: Mugshot Suppression in Manhattan
Client: Finance professional with a dropped misdemeanor from 2017
Problem: Mugshot ranking on page 1 of Google
Action Plan:
- Outreach to hosting provider (no reply)
- OptimizeUp suppression campaign
- 12 new SEO properties
- 3 featured interviews
- YouTube testimonial
Outcome:
- Mugshot pushed to page 4 within 4 months
- 8 new first-page results
- LinkedIn profile CTR up 45%
Expanded Strategies for Long-Term Reputation Defense
Maintain Active Publishing Schedule:
- Monthly blog updates on personal website
- Quarterly press releases
- Media guesting: podcasts, panels, livestreams
Strengthen Google Knowledge Panel:
- Claim panel via Google Search
- Add structured data and linked profiles
- Submit feedback to update mugshot image if featured
Build Author Authority:
- Publish on LinkedIn and Medium weekly
- Repurpose blogs into videos and slide decks
- Get quoted in industry publications via HARO or Qwoted
Monitor Reputation Monthly:
- Track shifts in branded keywords
- Use heatmaps to evaluate Google Image ranking movements
- Create a scorecard to track visibility of harmful vs helpful content
OptimizeUp: Mugshot Removal Services for New York
We help:
- Remove arrest photos from mugshot sites
- Suppress mugshots in Google
- Monitor your online reputation
- Legally challenge defamatory content
- Support executives, attorneys, and job seekers in sensitive industries
Why Clients Choose OptimizeUp:
- Fast turnaround and experienced legal partnerships
- U.S.-based ORM experts with state-specific strategy
- Proven track record of suppression and content engineering
👉 Get a free mugshot analysis now.
Frequently Asked Questions
In many cases, yes—but some states consider it extortion-like behavior. New York has limited law enforcement from distributing mugshots but hasn’t banned the websites themselves.
Not automatically. You must request removal separately from each website.
Yes, if the image file is removed from the hosting site or de-indexed using Google’s outdated content tool.
Most mugshots can be buried within 3–6 months using aggressive SEO and media outreach.
It becomes a jurisdictional issue. Suppression is often the best alternative.
Only if the record is sealed, expunged, or removed from public databases. Background check removal services may also be needed.
Use incognito mode or rank trackers in SEMrush or Ahrefs to monitor the exact URL performance for your name.
No service can guarantee permanent deletion, especially on third-party platforms. However, companies like OptimizeUp achieve measurable suppression and visibility improvement in over 90% of cases.
Is it legal for mugshot websites to charge removal fees?
In many cases, yes—but some states consider it extortion-like behavior. New York has limited law enforcement from distributing mugshots but hasn’t banned the websites themselves.
Will expunging or sealing my record delete the mugshot?
Not automatically. You must request removal separately from each website.
Can mugshots be removed from Google Images?
Yes, if the image file is removed from the hosting site or de-indexed using Google’s outdated content tool.
How long does suppression take?
Most mugshots can be buried within 3–6 months using aggressive SEO and media outreach.
What if the mugshot is hosted outside the U.S.?
It becomes a jurisdictional issue. Suppression is often the best alternative.
Can I hide a mugshot from background checks?
Only if the record is sealed, expunged, or removed from public databases. Background check removal services may also be needed.
How can I track my mugshot’s search ranking?
Use incognito mode or rank trackers in SEMrush or Ahrefs to monitor the exact URL performance for your name.
Does hiring a mugshot removal service guarantee results?
No service can guarantee permanent deletion, especially on third-party platforms. However, companies like OptimizeUp achieve measurable suppression and visibility improvement in over 90% of cases.
