Mugshot Websites

If someone has been arrested, his or her arrest booking photograph (“mugshot”), the person’s name, arrest date and birth date, may be posted on a publicly available commercial website.   

Georgia law, specifically O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5, identifies eight circumstances under which the commercial website must remove an individual’s mugshot from the website at no charge and must do so within thirty (30) days of the date the individual sends a written request to the company. 

Those circumstances are as follows:

  1. Access to his or her case or charges was restricted pursuant to Code Section 3-3-23.1, 15-1-20, 16-13-2, 35-3-37, or 42-8-62.1.
  2. Prior to indictment, accusation, or other charging instrument, his or her case was never referred for further prosecution to the proper prosecuting attorney by the arresting law enforcement agency and the offense against such individual was closed by the arresting law enforcement agency.
  3. Prior to indictment, accusation, or other charging instrument, the statute of limitations expired.
  4. Prior to indictment, accusation, or other charging instrument, his or her case was referred to the prosecuting attorney but was later dismissed.
  5. Prior to indictment, accusation, or other charging instrument, the grand jury returned two no bills.
  6. After indictment or accusation, all charges were dismissed or nolle prossed.
  7. After indictment or accusation, the individual pleaded guilty to or was found guilty of possession of a narcotic drug, marijuana, or stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic drug and was sentenced in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 16-13-2, and the individual successfully completed the terms and conditions of his or her probation; or
  8. The individual was acquitted of all of the charges by a judge or jury.

To request the removal of the mugshot, the individual must send written correspondence, including his or her name, date of birth, date of arrest and the name of the arresting law enforcement agency. The request must be sent via certified mail, return receipt requested or statutory overnight delivery to the registered agent, principal place of business or the primary residence of the person who publishes the web site.

If the individual meets one of the aforementioned eight categories listed under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 and a company fails to remove the individual’s mugshot within 30 days of the sending of the written request, or attempts to charge such individual for the removal of their booking photograph, it is in violation of Georgia’s Fair Business Practices Act. To submit a complaint against a company who is in violation of this law, contact the Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.

It should be noted that the law does permit a mugshot to be used in the publication or dissemination of news, commentary or advertisement by a newspaper, periodical, radio station or network, or television station or network.