Georgia Mugshot Removal & Expungement Guide
How mugshot removal, expungement, and record sealing actually work under Georgia law.
Georgia has a real, actively enforced mugshot-removal statute: O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5. Commercial mugshot and booking-photo websites must remove your photo, at no charge, within 30 days of a written removal request — sent by certified mail/return receipt or statutory overnight delivery — that includes your name, date of birth, arrest date, and arresting agency. Charging a fee or ignoring a valid request violates Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act, enforceable by the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
Georgia abolished the term "expungement" in 2013 in favor of "record restriction" (O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37), which limits public access to arrest records that didn't result in conviction.
- Misdemeanor convictions: 4-year clean period, no new convictions
- General felony convictions: 4-year clean period
- Violent or sex-related felonies: 7-year clean period
- Arrests after 7/1/2013 with no conviction: Restricted automatically once the case is closed
Identify every site publishing your mugshot
A single arrest is often republished across several commercial mugshot sites at once.
Send a written removal request by certified mail or overnight delivery
Include your name, date of birth, arrest date, and arresting agency, per O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5.
Confirm removal within the 30-day window
Non-compliant sites can be reported to the Georgia AG's Consumer Protection Division as a Fair Business Practices Act violation.
Pursue record restriction for the underlying arrest where eligible
This limits public access to the record itself, separate from removing an already-published photo.
We handle removal cases in Georgia 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 Georgia law require mugshot sites to remove my photo?
Yes. Under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5, a site must remove your photo within 30 days of a written request sent by certified mail or overnight delivery, at no cost.
Can a Georgia mugshot site charge me a removal fee?
No. Charging a fee violates the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act and can be reported to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
What is Georgia "record restriction"?
Georgia's replacement for expungement (O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37) — it limits public access to qualifying arrest and conviction records after a clean period of 4 to 7 years depending on the offense.
How long does mugshot removal take in Georgia?
By law, up to 30 days once a proper written request is sent. We also pursue search-engine de-indexing in parallel so the result stops showing in search sooner.
Get Your Georgia Mugshot Removed
Start with a free analysis — we'll confirm exactly what removal takes under your state's laws.