Remove mugshot from news coverage: working with publishers
Guide · Updated October 31, 2026
Local news sites often publish booking photos with arrest reports, and those pages can rank well for a person's name. Asking a publisher to remove mugshot images or update a story is a different process from dealing with mugshot sites.
This guide covers how to approach a newsroom.
Approaching a newsroom
- Find the publication's corrections, standards or editor contact rather than the general inbox.
- Identify the article by headline, date and link.
- State the outcome of the case and attach the court document.
- Make a modest request: an update noting the outcome, removal of the photo, or removal of your name.
- Be polite and brief, and follow up once if you do not hear back.
Some newsrooms have formal processes for reviewing older arrest stories. Others decline on principle. Either way, a calm, documented request is the best chance.
Asking a publisher to update or remove an article
News articles are controlled by their publishers, and most publishers are reluctant to remove accurate reporting. Many will consider an update, correction or follow-up when the facts have changed.
- Find the publication's corrections or standards contact, usually on a contact or ethics page, rather than writing to the reporter's social media.
- Be specific: which statement is inaccurate or outdated, and what document shows the current facts (for example a dismissal order).
- Ask for something proportionate. An update or an added note is often more realistic than full removal.
- Keep the tone factual. Threats tend to end the conversation.
Some newsrooms have published policies on unpublishing or anonymizing older stories about minor matters. If the article changes, the outdated content request in Google can help search results catch up.
When the page has already changed: Google's outdated content tool
Sometimes the source has already been fixed: a site removed a page, deleted a photo or changed an article, but Google still shows the old title or snippet. Google provides a public "Refresh Outdated Content" request for this situation.
It only works when the live page no longer contains what you are asking about, or no longer exists. It is not a way to remove content that is still on the page. If the source has not changed, the request will normally be declined.
Submit the exact URL, and keep a screenshot of the changed or removed page with the date in your log.
Mugshot sites and Google's exploitative removal policy
Google has a policy for content on sites with exploitative removal practices. In general, Google will consider removing a URL from its search results when all of these are true: you are the subject of the content, the site is not a business review site, and the site requires payment to remove the content.
That last condition matters. If a mugshot site removes records for free, this specific policy may not apply, and the better path is the site's own removal process or the legal options in your state. If you do file, include the URLs, screenshots and an explanation of the payment demand.
Removal from Google results does not delete the page from the site itself, and copies on other sites need their own requests.
Building accurate content so searchers see more of the real picture
When something cannot be removed, the remaining option is to make accurate information easier to find. This does not erase anything, and results vary, but it gives searchers more context.
- Claim and complete the profiles you control: your own website, relevant professional directories and major business or social profiles.
- Use consistent names, titles and descriptions across those profiles so search engines can connect them.
- Publish genuinely useful material, such as an accurate bio, a page about your services, or articles in your field.
- Keep it honest. Fake reviews, fake news sites and networks of thin pages can violate search engine spam policies and can make the situation worse.
Search engines decide what ranks. Anyone who promises a specific ranking result or a date is promising something they do not control.
Legal note: this guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and platform policies change and vary by state. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Getting help
Many of these steps you can take yourself. If you would like someone to look at your situation with you and suggest a plan, you can book a paid consultation. This is a paid consultation: price confirmed when scheduling. No payment is taken on this site. We do not guarantee that any review, article, listing or search result will be removed.