North Carolina Mugshot Removal & Expungement Guide
How mugshot removal, expungement, and record sealing actually work under North Carolina law.
North Carolina has a real mugshot-relevant statute, N.C.G.S. § 15A-152, which defines "criminal history record information" to include booking photos. Private entities that compile and disseminate this data must delete a record on notice, without charge, within 10 business days (absent a specific licensing-agreement term). Violating it is treated as an unfair or deceptive trade practice, with civil liability for damages, costs, and attorney's fees. Note: a different citation ("15A-150.14") circulates on some low-quality sites — that section doesn't exist; § 15A-152 is the real, current law.
North Carolina calls this "expunction" (General Statutes Chapter 15A, Article 5), with a 2024 reform reviving an automatic process for dismissed and not-guilty cases after a prosecutor-driven pause.
- Dismissed charges or not-guilty finding: Automatic, roughly 180-210 days after final disposition
- Single non-violent felony conviction: 10 years from sentence completion
- Single misdemeanor conviction: 5 years
- Multiple misdemeanor convictions: 7 years
Identify every site publishing your mugshot
A single arrest is often republished across several commercial mugshot sites at once.
Send a written removal request
Under N.C.G.S. § 15A-152, a compiler must delete the record on notice, without charge, within 10 business days.
Confirm removal within the window
Non-compliant sites can be reported as an unfair or deceptive trade practice.
Pursue expunction for the underlying record where eligible
North Carolina's automatic expunction track may apply even without a separate petition for dismissed or not-guilty cases.
We handle removal cases in North Carolina the same way we handle every case: locating every copy of your mugshot online, filing takedown requests within 72 hours, pursuing search-engine de-indexing where publishers won't cooperate, and monitoring afterward for reappearances. Every case starts with a free analysis, backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.
State law affects your legal options, but it doesn't determine which website is publishing your mugshot. See our site-by-site removal directory for site-specific removal steps once you know where your listing is.
This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws summarized here are current as of publication but change frequently — consult a licensed attorney in your state before relying on them for your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does North Carolina law require mugshot sites to remove my photo?
Yes. Under N.C.G.S. § 15A-152, a private entity compiling criminal history data, including booking photos, must delete it on notice, free of charge, within 10 business days.
Is there a North Carolina statute "15A-150.14"?
No — that citation circulates on some marketing sites but doesn't exist in the North Carolina General Statutes. The real, current mugshot-relevant law is N.C.G.S. § 15A-152.
Does North Carolina have automatic expunction?
Yes, for dismissed charges and not-guilty findings on or after December 1, 2021 — a 2024 reform (SB 565) revived this automatic process after a temporary pause.
How long does mugshot removal take in North Carolina?
By law, up to 10 business days once a compiler is properly notified. We also pursue search-engine de-indexing in parallel for faster results.
Get Your North Carolina Mugshot Removed
Start with a free analysis — we'll confirm exactly what removal takes under your state's laws.