Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Few things damage a person’s reputation as instantly and as aggressively as an online mugshot. Whether your arrest was dismissed, expunged, restricted, pardoned, or resolved without conviction, the internet doesn’t always reflect the truth. Many mugshot websites exist solely to index arrest photos, rank them highly on Google, and profit from traffic.
Georgia is one of the few states with a specific statute requiring mugshot publishers to remove your arrest photo for free when certain legal conditions are met. The law was designed to protect residents from exploitation, harassment, extortion-style pay-for-removal models, and long-term reputational harm.
This guide will help you:
- Understand your rights under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19
- Determine whether your case qualifies for mandatory removal
- Send legally compliant takedown requests
- Force mugshot publishers to comply
- Remove your information from search engines
- Protect your privacy long-term
You’ll also learn how Remove Online Information can help handle complicated takedowns or remove your data from hundreds of people-search sites.
Georgia’s Mugshot Removal Law: O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19 Explained
Georgia’s General Assembly passed O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19 to regulate mugshot websites that profit from posting booking photos. The law applies to private publishers, not government agencies.
What the Law Requires Mugshot Websites to Do
If your case qualifies under the statute, a mugshot publisher must:
- Remove your arrest photo within 30 days
- Remove your name and identifying information
- Remove the image at no cost
- Stop charging any fee for removal
- Stop reselling your photo to other sites
A publisher that fails to comply may be subject to civil penalties and enforcement actions.
When You Qualify for Free Mugshot Removal in Georgia
You may request free removal under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19 if your case resulted in ANY of the following:
- Charges were dismissed
- You were acquitted
- Your record was restricted (formerly expunged)
- Your conviction was vacated or overturned
- You received a pardon
- Your arrest was resolved under a conditional discharge
- Your case ended without a criminal conviction
If any of these apply, the publisher must remove the mugshot without charging you.
You will need to provide documentation, such as:
- Clerk of Court records
- Case disposition documents
- Record restriction approval
- Court order of dismissal or acquittal
How to Remove Your Georgia Mugshot from Mugshot Websites (Step-by-Step Process)
Below is a complete walkthrough of how to remove your Georgia mugshot from the internet using your legal rights.
Step 1: Locate Every Website Publishing Your Mugshot
Your mugshot may appear on:
- Mugshot archives
- Arrest log websites
- Data-broker platforms
- Scraper sites
- Social media pages
- Search engine image results
To find all copies, search:
"Your Name" + "mugshot"
"Your Name" + "arrest"
"Your Name" + county + "jail"
You may also search directly in:
- Google Images
- Bing Images
- Yahoo Search
- DuckDuckGo
If several sites contain your mugshot, prepare to send removal requests to each one.
Step 2: Gather Documentation Required Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19
Prepare:
- A government-issued ID (may be required for identity verification)
- Your arrest date and case number
- Proof of final disposition (dismissal, acquittal, record restriction, or other qualifying outcome)
Obtain records from:
- The Georgia Clerk of Courts
- Your county courthouse
- GCIC (Georgia Crime Information Center)
- Your defense attorney
Official documentation speeds up removal and prevents delays.
Step 3: Draft a Legally Compliant Takedown Request
Below is a Georgia-specific email template. You may use it word-for-word.
**Georgia Mugshot Removal Email Template
(Compliant with O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19)**
Subject: Mugshot Removal Request Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to request the immediate removal of my arrest photograph and related information from your website, as required under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19.
My identifying details are as follows:
- Full Name:
- Arrest Date:
- County of Arrest:
- Case Number (if known):
- URL where the mugshot appears:
My case qualifies for removal because:
(choose one)
- Charges were dismissed
- I was acquitted
- I received a record restriction (documentation attached)
- My conviction was vacated
- I received a pardon
- Other qualifying outcome under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19
Attached is official documentation verifying my eligibility.
Under Georgia law, you are required to:
- Remove the mugshot within 30 days
- Remove identifying information
- Cease charging any fee for removal
Please confirm removal in writing.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Email Address]
Send this to the publisher’s removal, support, or legal email address.
Step 4: Track Responses and Deadlines
Under Georgia law, websites must respond and remove your mugshot within 30 days.
If they do not comply:
➡ You may file a consumer complaint with the Georgia Attorney General:
https://consumer.georgia.gov/resolve-your-dispute
➡ You may also send a final 5-day demand notice threatening civil penalties.
Step 5: Request Removal from Google, Bing, and Yahoo (Optional but Recommended)
Even after a mugshot website removes the photo, cached versions may linger.
Remove from Google Search
Use Google’s removal tool:
https://support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/3111061
Remove from Bing
https://www.bing.com/webmaster/tools/contentremoval
Remove from Yahoo (via Bing)
Yahoo pulls search results from Bing; removing from Bing removes it from Yahoo.
Understanding Mugshot Websites: How They Work and Why They Rank So High
Mugshot websites are structured to exploit search behavior. They rank quickly due to:
- High domain age
- Thousands of automatically updated pages
- Backlinks from scraping networks
- Strong indexing from constant new arrest records
Because of this, your mugshot may outrank your social profiles, résumé, LinkedIn, and professional pages.
Georgia’s law helps level the playing field by forcing companies to comply, but cleanup afterward is still important, especially if the image is widely shared.
How to Prevent Your Mugshot from Reappearing
Even after removal, mugshot sites sometimes regenerate listings if:
- Your information is sold by a data broker
- Criminal record aggregators republish your data
- Secondary websites scrape your old listing
To prevent this, take the following steps:
1. Remove your information from people-search websites
Start with high-authority brokers such as Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, PeopleLooker, and others.
2. Restrict your criminal record (if eligible)
In Georgia, record restriction is available under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, depending on the case outcome.
3. Build positive online content
Publishing or optimizing:
- LinkedIn profiles
- Personal websites
- Professional portfolios
- Press releases
Helps bury outdated search results.
4. Use privacy-focused removal services for high-volume data brokers
Platforms like Remove Online Information can monitor and remove your personal data as it reappears.
Georgia-Specific Requirements Mugshot Websites Must Follow
Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, mugshot sites must:
Identify Themselves Publicly
Websites must list:
- Their full legal name
- Physical address
- Contact email
- Telephone number
If a site hides its identity, you may report it.
Prohibit Removal Fees
It is illegal in Georgia for a mugshot website to:
- Charge you for removal
- Charge “expedited removal” fees
- Accept payment in exchange for delisting
Maintain a 30-Day Removal Window
This applies from the date the publisher receives your verified documentation.
When Mugshot Websites Refuse to Comply
If a mugshot publisher ignores or rejects your request, you may:
1. File a complaint with the Georgia Attorney General
2. Send a final legal notice before enforcement action
This warns the website that continued refusal violates state law.
3. Document all communication
Save emails, screenshots, and timestamps.
4. Partner with a professional removal service
Remove Online Information can assist with:
- Escalation
- Multi-site takedowns
- Data suppression
- Search engine removal management
You maintain legal rights, but having support simplifies the process.
How Remove Online Information Helps With Georgia Mugshot Removal
Remove Online Information offers:
Professional Takedown Management
We handle the entire request chain, ensuring compliance with Georgia law and prompt removal.
Search Engine Suppression & Cleanup
Even after deletion, traces may remain in:
- Google Images
- Cached pages
- Thumbnails
- Third-party scrapers
Our team removes those too.
Monitoring & Ongoing Protection
The internet changes fast. New sites may publish your arrest photo without permission. Continuous monitoring ensures your online presence stays clean.
Data Broker Opt-Out Services
Removing your information from hundreds of databases prevents mugshot sites from republishing it in the future.
Support From Privacy Experts
If your reputation has already been harmed, we help restore trust with stronger search visibility strategies.
➡ To get help with Georgia mugshot removal, visit Remove Online Information for customized support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No. O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19 applies only to private mugshot publishers, not government agencies.
Government removal depends on record restriction or agency discretion.
Mugshot sites have 30 days to comply once they receive verified documentation.
Yes. If other online sources have your arrest record, a mugshot site may reproduce it.
In most cases, no. The law provides clear steps you can follow yourself.
However, if a publisher refuses to comply, consulting a privacy attorney or using a removal service can help.
Yes. It is one of the primary qualifying criteria under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19.
You may not qualify under this statute, but you may restrict records under certain conditions depending on the type of charge and disposition.
Taking down your mugshot is only the first step. To protect your identity and reputation long-term:
- Remove your data from broker sites
- Limit public access to personal details
- Strengthen your positive search results
- Monitor your online presence regularly
If you need assistance, Remove Online Information offers full-service solutions tailored to Georgia residents.
MLA Citations
Georgia General Assembly. O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19: Prohibition of Fees for Removal of Booking Photographs. LexisNexis, State of Georgia, 2024.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Record Restriction (Expungement) Information. GBI, https://gbi.georgia.gov.
Georgia Attorney General. Consumer Protection Division. https://consumer.georgia.gov.
United States Department of Justice. Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Policy. U.S. DOJ, https://fbi.gov/services/cjis.