.Com TLD mugshots.com

mugshots.com

October 29, 2025

What is Mugshots.com

Mugshots.com is a privately-operated website that aggregates and republishes “mugshots” — booking photos and arrest records — from public sources (like law-enforcement or court data). The site indexes recent arrests from many jurisdictions and makes that information searchable. (DeleteMe)

Unlike traditional media or government sites that may release a mugshot temporarily or under limited conditions, Mugshots.com keeps a large database (once reportedly listing tens of millions of entries). (Stateline)

Business model & controversy

  • For-profit removal fees. One of the central controversies: Mugshots.com (or sites like it) often charge people a fee to remove their photos — even if charges were dropped or the person was never convicted. (DeleteMe)

  • Legal and ethical criticism. Critics argue this turns public records into a “pay-to-remove” extortion racket: individuals who want to clear their name are forced to pay. (Courthouse News)

  • Some courts have allowed lawsuits. For example, a U.S. federal judge approved a class-action against Mugshots.com on the grounds that using people’s images to advertise removal services may violate publicity or privacy rights. (Ars Technica)

  • Despite public and legal pushback, the broader “mugshot-publishing industry” remains active. Many sites pull data en masse, sometimes from small agencies that post arrest photos online. (Wikipedia)

Impact on people

Mugshots.com’s practice can have real-world consequences:

  • A person whose charges were dropped — or who was never convicted — may still have their mugshot online, sometimes permanently. That can impact their ability to find a job, housing, or build personal relationships. (DeleteMe)

  • Even with a legal record cleared (expunged or sealed), retrieving true removal is often complicated. According to the site’s own policy, they only remove records if they have official court documentation of expungement, sealing, identity-theft, or death. (mugshots.com)

  • And removing one listing doesn’t guarantee the image isn’t copied elsewhere or reposted by other sites. Once public online, control is often lost. (NCSL)

Legal and regulatory responses

Starting mid-2010s, many U.S. states began to restrict how mugshots can be used:

  • Some states prohibit websites from charging fees for removal of mugshots after acquittal or dismissal. (NCSL)

  • Others require that mugshot sites honor takedown requests under certain conditions (e.g. case dismissed, record sealed, etc.). (consumer.georgia.gov)

  • In one high-profile case in 2018, the state of California charged the four individuals behind Mugshots.com with extortion, money laundering, and identity-theft related to the site’s pay-for-removal practices. (California DOJ)

  • Still, enforcement remains spotty. Many sites remain active. Some people end up with mugshots online long after legal issues are resolved — or were never serious to begin with. (Stateline)

Broader debate — privacy vs public interest

Supporters of mugshot sites argue for transparency: arrest records and mugshots are often public records, and publishing them helps public safety, accountability, and community awareness. (Nolo)

But critics argue:

  • Publishing mugshots en masse — especially when many people aren’t convicted — undermines the presumption of innocence. (The Guardian)

  • Charging fees to remove mugshots effectively monetizes personal misfortune, turning public records into a revenue stream at people’s expense. (UMKC School of Law)

  • Once online, removing photos entirely is nearly impossible — duplicates proliferate. That can permanently damage a person’s reputation, even if they were innocent or charges were dropped. (NCSL)

Some legal scholars and civil-rights advocates argue that mugshot publishing should be more tightly regulated — if not prohibited — especially when it serves commercial purposes rather than journalism or public-interest reporting. (Open Scholarship)

Key takeaways

  • Mugshots.com is a commercial website that republishes arrest booking photos and arrest data — often forever.

  • Its business model has hinged on charging individuals to remove their mugshots, a practice widely criticized as exploitative.

  • Legal pushback has mounted: some courts have allowed lawsuits, and some U.S. states passed laws limiting mugshot-publishing practices.

  • For many individuals — even those never convicted — being on Mugshots.com can lead to long-term harm: difficulties in employment, housing, social stigma.

  • The debate over mugshot publishing pits transparency and public record access against privacy rights, due process, and protection from online stigma.

FAQ

Q: Is it illegal for Mugshots.com to publish someone’s mugshot?
Not always. In many U.S. jurisdictions, booking photos are considered public records, and republishing them isn’t inherently illegal. (Nolo) The legal problem tends to arise when the site charges fees to remove photos or refuses to take them down when cases are dismissed or records sealed. (Courthouse News)

Q: If my case was dismissed (or I’m innocent), can I have the photo removed?
Sometimes yes — depending on the state and the site’s policy. Mugshots.com, for example, says it will remove records if the person provides official court documentation of expungement, sealing, identity-theft claims, or death. (mugshots.com) But even then, removal may not guarantee the photo isn’t copied elsewhere. (NCSL)

Q: What harm can come from being listed on Mugshots.com even if I wasn’t convicted?
A mugshot by itself can follow you for years online. It can surface when someone Googles your name. Employers, landlords, potential partners may judge you based on the arrest photo — regardless of outcome. Many people report difficulty securing jobs, housing, or social acceptance because of such listings. (DeleteMe)

Q: Have there been successful lawsuits against Mugshots.com?
Yes. A federal judge allowed a class-action lawsuit alleging the site violated individuals’ publicity rights by using their booking photos to promote paid removal services. (Ars Technica) Also, in 2018, the state of California charged the site’s operators with extortion, identity theft, and money laundering for their removal-fee practices. (California DOJ)

Q: Does removing a mugshot from Mugshots.com erase it from the internet entirely?
Not necessarily. Even if the site takes down your listing, the mugshot may have been copied or redistributed. Other sites might still host the image. Once something online spreads, it’s hard to completely erase. (NCSL)