Arrest Record Removal: Erase Your Arrest From the Internet
From court sites to data brokers — a full picture of where your record lives, and how to clear it.
Where Arrest Records Appear Online
An arrest record rarely stays in one place. It typically starts as a public record on a county court or sheriff's website, then spreads through several other channels:
- Government websites. County court records, sheriff booking logs, and state case-lookup systems — the original public record.
- Mugshot sites. Commercial publishers that scrape booking data and photos and republish them, often ranking higher than the original government source.
- Data brokers and background check sites. Aggregators that compile arrest data into searchable profiles, frequently surfaced during employment or tenant background checks.
- News coverage. Local news sites sometimes publish arrest blotters or standalone articles that can outlast the relevance of the original story.
How to Remove Arrest Records From Google
Removing an arrest record from Google search results is a separate step from removing it at the source — a page can technically still exist while no longer showing up in search. Our full Google removal guide walks through Google's free removal tools and how professional de-indexing works when those tools aren't enough.
Expunging or Sealing Your Arrest Record
Expungement and sealing are both legal processes that change how your record is treated by courts and government agencies — but they work differently. Expungement generally destroys or removes the record from official files; sealing keeps the record on file but restricts who can access it, usually excluding it from standard background checks.
Neither one, on its own, removes anything from the internet. Expungement applies to official government records, not private, for-profit mugshot sites or data brokers — a site that scraped your booking photo before your case was expunged has no legal obligation to remove it just because your official record changed later. That's the gap a documented, persistent internet removal process is built to close.
Expungement rules, eligibility, and waiting periods vary by state. See expungement and mugshot law by state to find your state's specific process.
Removing Arrest Records From Background Check Sites
Background check and data-broker sites operate under different rules than mugshot publishers, and often have formal opt-out processes — though records have a way of reappearing after a new data pull. Our background check removal guide covers the site-by-site opt-out process and your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Removing News Articles About Your Arrest
News articles are the hardest category to remove, since legitimate journalism has strong legal protection — but unpublishing requests, status-update requests, and de-indexing can still help. See how news article removal works explains realistic options and how we approach it.
Our Arrest Record Removal Service
We handle every layer at once instead of one at a time: locating every copy of your record, 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, and every case we take on is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can arrest records be removed from the internet?
Yes, in most cases. It usually takes a combination of direct takedown requests to publishers and search-engine de-indexing, since the record often exists on more than one site at once.
Does expungement remove my arrest from Google?
Not automatically. Expungement changes your official government record, but private mugshot sites and data brokers that already published your information aren't required to remove it just because your case was later expunged.
How do I remove my arrest record from background check sites?
Most background check and data-broker sites have an opt-out request process, though it varies site to site and records can reappear after future data updates. Our background check removal service handles this across multiple sites at once.
Can a dismissed case still show up online?
Yes. A dismissal, acquittal, or dropped charge doesn't automatically remove a previously published mugshot or arrest listing — the site published the record when the arrest happened and generally isn't obligated to update it based on the case outcome.
How much does arrest record removal cost?
It depends on how many sites are publishing your record. Your first case review, including an exact quote, is always free.
How long does arrest record removal take?
Many takedowns complete within 72 hours of filing, with search-engine de-indexing following within about 5–7 days. Cases spread across more sites, or involving unresponsive publishers, can take longer.
Get Your Arrest Record Off the Internet
Start with a free analysis — we'll map out everywhere your record appears and what it takes to clear it.