CleanSlate
Mugshot Removal That Actually Works
A booking photo from years ago shouldn't be the first thing employers, clients, or dates see when they search your name. We push it down with accurate, positive content that outranks it.
Why your booking photo still ranks
Mugshot sites are built for one purpose: ranking for people's names. They publish booking photos in bulk, index them aggressively, and sit at the top of search results for years — long after charges were dropped, dismissed, or expunged. A single page on one of these sites can be the first impression you make for a decade.
How CleanSlate is different
We do not ask mugshot sites to take anything down, and we don't send threatening letters. We publish accurate, positive professional content — profiles, articles, and citations across our publishing network — that competes for the same search queries the mugshot sites rank for. Over time, the positive content outranks the booking photo and the coverage that matters most to you slides down the page.
The process
- Free scan. Run a public scan of your name. We search the open web and federal court dockets and show you what's out there — in about five minutes.
- See the report. You get a plain-English report showing the negative coverage, where it ranks, and what we recommend.
- Pick a plan. Choose the level of suppression that fits. Clean Break includes positive content generation, professional profiles, and monthly position tracking.
What a suppression plan includes
- Monthly monitoring — we alert you when new content about you appears
- Positive content generation — articles and profiles written about your real work and life
- Profile creation on professional platforms
- Cross-network boosting across our publishing network
- Monthly position tracking — see the negative coverage move down, in writing
Why mugshot sites keep winning
Mugshot websites win because they aggressively publish and index arrest records on bulk. They are designed to rank high for names, making it hard to outrank them with just a few positive mentions. Often, even if charges are dropped or sealed, these sites remain active.
- They make money by charging people to remove their mugshots, but this rarely works since they can simply repost them after payment.
The month-by-month reality
The first month focuses on creating professional profiles and publishing positive content that will start to appear in search results. Each following month, you'll see your new content gaining traction as it outranks the mugshot.
- Position reports track how well the positive content is ranking compared to the original booking photo.
How to read your position report
Your monthly report shows where the booking photo ranks, alongside which new positive pages are outranking it. You'll see movement month by month as the strategy takes hold and the negative page drops out of top positions.
How CleanSlate plans fit this
Every plan starts with the same free scan and plain-English report. From there, plans scale by how much positive content gets built and how closely your results are tracked. See the plans and compare what each one includes — monitoring, content generation, professional profiles, and monthly position tracking.
Why mugshot sites keep winning
Mugshot websites are highly optimized for search engines and designed to rank at the top of search results when someone's name is typed in, especially if it includes a location. They publish large volumes of data quickly and aggressively index this content, making it challenging for other information to compete on the first page of Google searches.
- These sites are built around monetizing removal requests rather than actually removing mugshots. This means that when you pay them to remove your photo or ask them to take down your booking details, there's a high likelihood they will simply repost it later to continue profiting from the service.
- The content on these websites remains public and indexed by search engines for an extended period, even after charges have been dropped or expunged. They leverage this longevity to stay relevant in search rankings, often making it difficult for new positive information to outrank them quickly.
The month-by-month reality
The process of overcoming the visibility of a mugshot involves strategic and sustained efforts. Initially, within the first month, we focus on creating professional profiles and publishing positive content that reflects your current life and achievements.
- Following this initial phase, over subsequent months, the newly published content begins to gain traction as it accumulates links and engagement from users who are actively searching for information about you. Position tracking reports will show gradual improvements in search rankings.
- The ultimate goal is to see the booking photo no longer appearing on the first page of Google searches, replaced instead by positive pages that have been strategically placed higher in the rankings through consistent efforts over time.
How to read your position report
Your monthly position report details the current state of online content related to you. It shows where the booking photo ranks on search engines, alongside which positive pages have successfully outranked it in recent months.
- The report provides a snapshot of how each month's efforts are impacting your overall search results, helping you understand if there is progress being made towards reducing the visibility of negative content.
- By regularly reviewing these reports, you can measure the effectiveness of the strategies employed and make adjustments as necessary to ensure continued improvement in your online reputation management efforts.
How CleanSlate plans fit this
Every plan starts with the same free scan and plain-English report. From there, plans scale by how much positive content gets built and how closely your results are tracked. See the plans and compare what each one includes — monitoring, content generation, professional profiles, and monthly position tracking.
Frequently asked questions
Will my mugshot disappear completely?
We are upfront about this: suppression is not deletion. The page may still exist, but our goal is that it stops ranking where people actually look — the first page. Most people search page one and stop. Your monthly position report shows the movement.
What does the free scan check?
The scan searches the open web for your name, checks federal court dockets through CourtListener, and surfaces red flags with plain-English explanations. No account or payment is required.
Do you work with my attorney?
Yes. Many clients come to us through their defense attorney after a case resolves. If removal or expungement steps are still pending with the courts, we coordinate so the content strategy reflects the accurate, current record.
Does my booking photo stay up forever?
Booking photos often remain on mugshot sites indefinitely, even if charges are dropped. It's challenging to remove them completely, but they can be outranked over time.
What if my case was dropped or expunged?
If your case was dropped or expunged, public records will still show the arrest unless legally sealed. Legal guidance from an attorney is recommended for such cases.
Do employers see mugshots in background checks?
Employers can find booking photos during background checks if they use online searches. It's important to manage your online presence to prevent these results from impacting job opportunities.
Does my booking photo stay up forever?
Booking photos typically remain visible on mugshot websites for a long time, sometimes indefinitely. These sites are optimized to rank high in search results and monetize removal requests, making it difficult for negative content to naturally fade away without active management.
What if my case was dropped or expunged?
If your charges were dropped or the record has been expunged, that information won't automatically remove your booking photo from mugshot websites. You may need to take additional steps such as contacting the original publication source directly or engaging legal counsel for advice on further actions.
Do employers see mugshots in background checks?
Employers often use third-party services to conduct background checks, and these services frequently include information from public sources like mugshot websites. This means that booking photos could be visible during the screening process unless they are actively managed or removed.
See what the world sees when they Google you
Five minutes, free, no account required.
Run your free scan