Florida Mugshot Removal & Expungement Guide
How mugshot removal, expungement, and record sealing actually work under Florida law.
Florida is one of the small number of states with a law aimed directly at commercial mugshot websites: Fla. Stat. § 901.43. Any business that publishes arrest booking photos cannot charge a fee to remove one, and once a subject sends a written removal request — by registered mail, with proof of identity and information identifying the photo — the site must remove it within 10 calendar days, free of charge, and may not republish it.
Unlike some other states' laws, Florida's statute doesn't require the underlying case to have been dismissed, expunged, or resolved in your favor — it applies to anyone who was arrested, regardless of outcome. Sites that don't comply can be sued for an injunction, and courts can impose civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day plus attorney's fees.
Separately from removing a mugshot from a website, you may be able to clear the underlying arrest record itself. Florida distinguishes between two processes, both requiring a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) before you can petition a court:
Expunction (Fla. Stat. § 943.0585) applies when charges were never filed, were dismissed or nolle prossed, or you were acquitted — in other words, no adjudication occurred. Most agencies physically destroy the record, though FDLE retains a confidential copy.
Sealing (Fla. Stat. § 943.059) applies when adjudication was withheld, such as after a plea with no formal conviction entered. The record becomes confidential and exempt from public records requests, but remains accessible to courts, criminal justice agencies, and certain licensing bodies.
- Expunction or sealing eligibility: Based on case disposition, not a fixed waiting period — apply once your FDLE Certificate of Eligibility is issued
- FDLE Certificate of Eligibility: Valid for 12 months once issued
- Expunging a previously sealed record: Record must have been sealed at least 10 years first
Identify every site publishing your mugshot
A single arrest is often republished across several commercial mugshot sites, not just one.
Send a written removal request by registered mail
Under Fla. Stat. § 901.43, include proof of your identity and information identifying the specific photo and posting.
Confirm removal within the 10-day window
Sites that don't comply can face an injunction and civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day, though enforcing that yourself generally means involving an attorney.
Pursue expunction or sealing for the underlying record
If you qualify, an FDLE Certificate of Eligibility and court petition can restrict access to the official record separately from the mugshot website removal.
We handle removal cases in Florida 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 Florida law require mugshot sites to remove my photo?
Yes. Under Fla. Stat. § 901.43, a site publishing arrest booking photos must remove yours within 10 days of a written, registered-mail request, at no cost, regardless of your case's outcome.
What's the difference between expunction and sealing in Florida?
Expunction (§ 943.0585) applies when charges were never filed, dismissed, or you were acquitted. Sealing (§ 943.059) applies when adjudication was withheld, such as certain plea deals. Both require an FDLE Certificate of Eligibility first.
Does expunging my Florida record force a mugshot site to remove my photo?
Not automatically — Florida's removal law (§ 901.43) and its expunction/sealing process (§§ 943.0585/943.059) are separate. You may need to pursue both: the removal request for the published photo, and the court process for your official record.
How long does mugshot removal take in Florida?
By law, a compliant site must remove your photo within 10 days of a proper written request. When we handle it, we also pursue search-engine de-indexing in parallel so the result stops showing in search even sooner.
What if a Florida mugshot site ignores my removal request?
You can pursue an injunction and civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day under § 901.43, though that typically requires legal representation. We handle non-compliant sites as part of our standard removal process.
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