How to Remove a Mugshot From Websites Under Florida Law (§901.43)
Under Florida Statute §901.43, a business that publishes booking photos can’t charge you to remove yours. It must take it down within 10 calendar days of a written request sent by registered mail that includes proof of identity and details identifying the photo. If it doesn’t, you can sue. The court can order removal and impose a $1,000-per-day civil penalty, plus attorney’s fees. The law applies whatever the outcome of your case.
On this page
Who the law covers
§901.43 applies to any person or entity in the business of publishing or disseminating arrest booking photographs through a publicly accessible print or electronic medium. That covers “mugshot” and “arrests” websites. It doesn’t make the original public record secret. The county’s own Jail View is a government record.
Step-by-step removal request
- Find every page. Search your name plus “mugshot”, “arrest”, “Escambia” and “Pensacola”. Save each URL and take screenshots with dates.
- Find the publisher’s registered agent. Look up the business on Sunbiz (Florida Division of Corporations) or its state of registration. The request goes to the registered agent.
- Write the request. Include: - your full name (and the name as shown on the site), - a copy of your government ID (redact what isn’t needed), - the URL(s) and a description of the photo, - the booking date and agency if known, - a clear demand for removal under Fla. Stat. §901.43.
- Send it by registered mail and keep the receipt. The 10-day clock starts when it’s received.
- Follow up. If the photo is still up after 10 days, talk to a lawyer about an injunction and the civil penalty. If the site republishes after a proper request, the statute allows larger penalties.
Never pay a “removal fee.” In Florida, asking for or accepting payment to remove a booking photo is prohibited by §901.43. Paying also tends to invite more demands.
Getting it out of Google too
- Google’s exploitative removal practices policy: Google lets people ask for pages about them to be removed from search results when the site charges for removal, and it uses those removals to demote such sites.
- Outdated content: once a page is changed or deleted, use Google’s Refresh Outdated Content tool so the old snippet or image disappears.
- Results about you: Google offers tools to request removal of certain personal contact information.
Sealing and expungement
Removing a photo from websites doesn’t erase the arrest. If you’re eligible — for example, charges were dropped or adjudication was withheld — you may be able to seal or expunge the record through FDLE and the court. After that, agencies must restrict access. Talk to a Florida attorney about eligibility.
Our policy
This site doesn’t publish mugshots or individual arrest pages. We help people find the official record and understand it. See our editorial policy.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a website have to remove my mugshot in Florida?
Ten calendar days after receiving a proper written request sent by registered mail, under Florida Statute 901.43. The request must include proof of your identity and details identifying the photo. If the website doesn’t comply, you can sue for an injunction, a $1,000-per-day civil penalty and attorney’s fees.
Do my charges have to be dropped to use Florida’s mugshot law?
No. The removal right under Florida Statute 901.43 doesn’t depend on how your case ended. It applies to any person whose booking photo is published by a business engaged in publishing booking photos. The business also can’t charge you anything to take the photo down.
Can I make the county remove my photo from Jail View?
Florida Statute 901.43’s removal rules target private publishers, not government records. Records held by the county and courts are handled through sealing or expungement orders if you’re eligible. A Florida criminal defense attorney can tell you whether you qualify and how long the process takes.
General information, not legal advice.
Sources: Fla. Stat. §901.43 · Florida Senate bill analysis (HB 755, 2021) · Google: improving Search to protect people from harassment · Sunbiz