An arrest that was dismissed, expunged, or resulted in acquittal should be behind you. In practice, it often isn't. Arrest records are public information at the time they occur, and dozens of websites scrape, archive, and publish them — sometimes permanently. Getting them removed requires navigating a combination of legal processes, formal requests, and persistent follow-up.
Why dismissed charges still appear
When you are arrested, the record becomes part of the public court record immediately. Websites that aggregate court data — both commercial sites and government databases — often pull this information within days. When charges are later dismissed, many of these sites don't update automatically. The arrest record stays while the dismissal doesn't follow it.
Step 1: Get your expungement or dismissal documentation
Before you can request removal from any platform, you need official documentation of the case outcome. This typically means a court order of dismissal, a certificate of expungement, or a case disposition document. You can obtain these from the clerk of courts in the county where the arrest occurred. Some courts require an in-person request, others allow online or mail requests. Expect to pay a small fee.
Step 2: Remove from mugshot sites
This is usually the most visible problem. Sites like Mugshots.com, BustedMugshots, BustedNewspaper, and dozens of others publish arrest photos and charge information. Several of these sites will charge you to remove your listing — don't pay it. Many states now have laws prohibiting mugshot sites from charging for removal. The correct approach is:
- Send a formal written removal request via email and certified mail
- Include your documentation of dismissal or expungement
- Cite your state's specific mugshot removal statute if one exists
- Give them 10 business days to comply
- If they don't comply, file a complaint with your state attorney general
Step 3: Request removal from news articles
If a local news outlet covered your arrest, that article may rank for your name. News organizations are generally not required to remove or update arrest coverage, but many will add an update noting the dismissal or expungement when contacted professionally. Write a formal letter to the editor or managing editor, include documentation, and request either removal or a prominently placed update noting the outcome.
Step 4: Google deindex request
If the underlying page has been removed, you can request that Google remove it from search results as well. If the page still exists but has been updated or contains outdated information, Google has a removal tool for outdated content at search.google.com. This doesn't remove the content — it removes the cached version from Google's results while the page is being updated.
Step 5: Data broker removal
Many data broker sites aggregate court records and publish arrest information. Even if you remove the original source, the broker sites often retain the information independently. Each broker has its own opt-out process, and this needs to be done separately from mugshot site removal.
Timeline expectations
This process typically takes 30–90 days to see meaningful results. Some removals happen within days, others take weeks. Google search results update on their own schedule — typically within a few weeks of the underlying content being removed. Monitoring your results monthly during this period is important to catch any sites that haven't complied.