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How Do I Remove My Mugshot from the Internet in New York City?
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How to Remove Your Mugshot from the Internet in New York City
Getting arrested can be a scary and stressful experience. And seeing your mugshot published online for everyone to see can make it even worse. Like, having a mugshot out there can make it really hard to move on with your life. It can impact your ability to get a job or find housing. And it can just make you feel super embarrassed and self-conscious. So if your mugshot is posted online somewhere, you probably want to get that thing taken down ASAP. But doing that can be confusing and frustrating if you don’t know where to start. Here’s a quick guide on how to get your mugshot removed from websites in New York City.
Step 1: Search for Your Mugshot Online
The first thing you’ll want to do is search for your name online and see if your mugshot pops up anywhere. You can try Googling your full name in quotation marks like “John Smith” to bring up more specific search results related to you. Or you can search mugshot sites specifically, like:
If you do find your mugshot posted publicly on any sites, take note of which ones have it. You’ll need this info for the next steps.
Step 2: Contact the Website Hosting Your Photo
Once you locate your mugshot online, you’ll want to reach out to the website directly and ask them to take it down. Most legit publishing sites should have a process for removing mugshots upon request, usually for a fee. But scammy sites may try to charge you a lot or ignore removal requests. When you contact them, be sure to:
- Verify the mugshot is actually you and provide any documentation they need as proof
- Ask specifically for the photo to be removed under New York’s mugshot laws (more details below)
- Get confirmation the removal will be permanent
If the website gives you the run around or asks for a super high fee, you may need to escalate to legal demands instead (covered next).
Step 3: Send a DMCA Takedown Notice
If a website refuses to take down your mugshot when you ask, the next step is to send them an official DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notice. A DMCA notice formally asks them to remove the copyrighted photo of you under federal law or risk facing legal action. These notices have specific requirements though, so your best bet is to have a lawyer draft one for you. It typically costs around $250.The notice will include things like:
- Your contact info
- Identification of the infringing content
- Statement that you did not consent to the use
- Demand for removal
Once the site gets the DMCA notice, they have 14 business days to take your mugshot down before further legal action can be taken. So this is usually the next route if simply asking for removal doesn’t work.
Step 4: File a Lawsuit Against Non-Compliant Sites
If a shady website completely ignores your requests and DMCA notice, taking them to court over it becomes the next option. You’d need work with a lawyer to file a civil lawsuit against them for:
- Copyright infringement
- Misappropriation of likeness
- Causing emotional distress
And under New York’s mugshot laws, you can also argue that posting your mugshot with no valid reason constitutes an unfair trade practice. Lawsuits get expensive though, with the average cost for a small claims case being around $5,000 to $10,000. And there’s no guarantee you’d win. So generally, lawsuits are more practical if multiple people team up against a really bad site publishing mugshots illegally. Or if you have the money and patience for lengthy court battles. For most individuals just looking to get their mugshot removed though, requesting takedowns and sending DMCA notices tend to be more affordable and effective options.
Other Tips for Removing Your Mugshot
Here are a few other things that may help in getting your mugshot scrubbed from the internet:
- Monitor Your Name Online: Set up search engine alerts and check mugshot sites regularly so you find out immediately if it ever pops back up. Then you can request fast removal before it spreads.
- Submit Removal Requests to Search Engines: If your mugshot appears prominently on Google, you can ask them to remove it from search results under personal information removal policies.
- Publish Positive Info About Yourself Online: Creating social media profiles, an online portfolio, or personal website can help push down mugshot search results so people see more positive content about you instead.
- Consult a Lawyer: An internet law attorney can help craft effective takedown notices, sue non-compliant sites if needed, and provide tailored advice for your situation. Though lawyer fees add up quickly.
Getting a mugshot removed from the internet takes persistence and patience, but it is possible in many cases. Following the steps above to have it taken down directly or using legal demands can help reclaim your online reputation.
Resources
Articles:
- How to Remove a Mugshot from the Internet (Avvo)
- Getting Mugshots Off the Internet(Nolo)
- How Hard Is It to Get a Mugshot Taken Down? (FindLaw)
Videos:
- How Do I Remove My Mugshot? (YouTube)
- How to Remove Your Mugshot (YouTube)