Your Mugshot on the Internet: What You Can Do About It

You Google your name and there it is: your booking photo on the first page of search results. Even though your case was dismissed. Even though it happened years ago. How did this happen, and what can you do about it?

Booking photos are public records in Florida. Within hours of an arrest, your mugshot can be uploaded to dozens of commercial websites that profit from embarrassment. These sites rank high in Google searches, appearing before your LinkedIn, your business, or anything positive about you.

How Booking Photos Get Online

When you're arrested in Florida, the booking process includes taking your photograph. Under Florida's broad public records laws (F.S. Chapter 119), these photos are generally considered public information.

This creates a vicious cycle: websites profit from publishing your photo, then profit again by charging you to remove it.

Florida's Mugshot Removal Law (F.S. 901.043)

In 2017, Florida enacted a law requiring commercial websites to remove booking photos under certain circumstances. Here's what you need to know:

The law prohibits websites from charging a fee for removal in these circumstances. Violations can result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day.

What If You Were Convicted?

If you were convicted, Florida law does not require removal. However, you still have options:

• Google removal request: If the case is old and you've rehabilitated, Google may de-index results under "right to be forgotten" principles
• Reputation management: Professional SEO services can push mugshot results down by building positive content
• Direct negotiation: Some sites will remove photos if you explain rehabilitation efforts (though they're not legally required to)
• Future expungement: If eligible later (e.g., withheld adjudication cases), you can pursue sealing/expungement

Practical Steps to Remove Your Mugshot

Sheriff's Office vs. Commercial Websites

It's important to distinguish between two types of websites:

F.S. 901.043 applies to commercial sites, not government agencies. However, if your case qualifies for expungement or sealing, the sheriff's office will remove or seal the photo as part of that process.

The Employment and Reputation Impact

The real harm isn't just embarrassment—it's economic. Studies show that:

• 70% of employers Google job candidates before hiring
• A visible mugshot can disqualify you from consideration, even for dismissed charges
• Clients, neighbors, and family members may see your photo and make assumptions
• Mugshots can affect professional licensing, housing applications, and custody cases

What a Defense Attorney Can Do

A criminal defense lawyer's goal isn't just to defend your case in court—it's to position you for the best long-term outcome, including reputation recovery:

• Fight for dismissal or diversion: These outcomes trigger your legal right to removal under F.S. 901.043
• Negotiate withheld adjudication: Preserves future sealing eligibility
• Expedite case resolution: The faster your case resolves favorably, the sooner you can demand removal
• Advise on expungement eligibility: Plan for future record sealing if eligible
• Document your outcome: Provide certified court records for removal requests

Common Mugshot Removal Myths

Bottom Line

Your booking photo can haunt you for years—unless you take action. If your case was dismissed, you were acquitted, or you completed diversion, Florida law gives you the right to demand removal from commercial mugshot websites for free. If you were convicted, you still have reputation management options.

The best time to think about your online reputation is before your case concludes. Work with a defense attorney who understands that winning in court is only part of the battle—protecting your future is the rest.