Have you been arrested for a crime and surprised to find that your mugshot is now widely available for viewing on the internet? In recent years, numerous websites have popped up that gather these images from law enforcement websites and spread them far and wide across the internet. This can mean when someone searches your name, that image will be among the first things they see. By working with an attorney skilled in mugshot removals you can remove your mugshot from the internet.
What is a mugshot?
When an individual is arrested and charged with a crime, a photograph is taken as part of the booking process. These photos are called mugshots and are taken to provide law enforcement with an image they can use to identify the accused. Mugshots also help law enforcement find fugitives and give victims a chance to identify perpetrators.
Those are reasonable uses of the images gathered after an arrest. But when mugshots are shared across the internet, the ramifications can be significant.
Why is it important to have mugshots removed?
What most people don’t realize is that having a mugshot taken does not mean the person in the photo is guilty of a criminal act. In some cases, the charges were dropped, and in others, the accused party successfully fought off a conviction in court.
Those outcomes don’t mean that the mugshots connected to the arrest will be fully removed from the online world. If a prospective employer, landlord, or even someone you’re dating performs even the most cursory of searches, that image could easily come up.
This means not only can a mistake or error in judgment follow you around for years, but even people who are completely innocent can also find themselves having to explain why their mugshot is available for public viewing.
How long will a mugshot remain online?
Without taking action to remove a mugshot, it can remain online indefinitely. That is true even in cases where your charges were dismissed or when you successfully obtain an expungment.
You might go for years without encountering an issue with a mugshot image shared online. Then when you are least prepared, the photo can become a problem, and you can find yourself having to explain the circumstances that led to the arrest during a job interview, on a date, or while on a job interview. Taking action now can prevent future embarrassment or loss, and is well worth the time and investment to have the mugshot removed.
How can a lawyer help get my mugshot removed from the internet?
By working with an attorney skilled in mugshot removals, you can rest assured that the proper steps will be taken to remove your mugshot from the internet as quickly as possible. Attorneys who work in this area of law are familiar with the sites that post and spread these images, and they understand what is required to have the images promptly removed.
Fortunately, a recent Florida law states that private companies who publish mugshots and then charge people to remove them must now take down the photos when a formal request is issued. While many of these companies are finding unique ways to try and work around this law, a skilled attorney will be able to ensure the proper action is taken.
If a company fails to comply with a formal request to remove a mugshot, the new law states that the company can be fined $1,000 per day until the image is removed. They can also be held liable for attorney fees and court expenses. A civil lawsuit can also be filed against the company.
How do I move forward with having a mugshot removed?
Reach out to an attorney right away to begin the process. Your attorney works on your behalf to draft and send the formal request and follows up to make sure the request was honored. If there are any issues in the case, your attorney will take advantage of the law to force compliance.
It’s also important to share the details of any criminal convictions you have on your record. Your attorney can review your circumstances and may be able to help have the conviction expunged from your record. Expungement is not possible in all cases, but it is definitely an avenue worth exploring. Removing your mugshot from the internet is a good outcome, but having all traces of a conviction removed from the public view is even better.
