If you’ve ever searched your name online and found an old arrest photo, you know how unsettling it can feel. Even when a case is dismissed or a record is expunged, many people worry that their mugshot will stay online forever. That fear is understandable. However, in New Jersey, the law works differently than it does in many other states. So the important question becomes: Can expungement clear digital mugshots, or will they stay online in New Jersey no matter what you do?
The answer is more reassuring than most people expect. Once a record is expunged in New Jersey, the mugshot is not supposed to remain visible online through any official source. New Jersey does not operate like states that maintain public online mugshot galleries or searchable arrest-photo databases. Instead, New Jersey takes a far more protective approach to privacy and rehabilitation.
However, that doesn’t mean mugshots never appear online. It simply means that if they do, they came from somewhere outside the state’s control. Understanding the difference helps you know what expungement can accomplish and what steps you may need to take after your record is cleared.
New Jersey Does Not Publish Mugshots Once Records Are Expunged
New Jersey’s expungement system is designed to give people a genuine second chance. When a record is expunged:
- It is removed from public view
- State agencies must treat the arrest as if it never occurred
- The information cannot be released under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
- The mugshot cannot appear in any official, state-managed database
This means that once your expungement is granted, no one can obtain your mugshot from the New Jersey State Police or any other state agency, because it is no longer legally available to the public. New Jersey courts are clear: expunged information is sealed and cannot be disclosed.
If you search your name and find no state-run mugshot database, that is by design. New Jersey does not publish mugshots online the way many other states do, and it does not keep them accessible after expungement.
Similar Post: How Can Expungement Help Restore Your Rights to Serve on a Jury in New Jersey?
So Why Do Mugshots Sometimes Appear Online?
If mugshots aren’t published by the state, how do they end up online in the first place? There are only a few possibilities:
1. A news outlet published the photo at the time of the arrest
Media organizations sometimes post arrest photos in breaking-news stories. These images often remain online long after the case has ended unless the outlet voluntarily updates or removes the story.
2. A private mugshot website scraped arrest information before the expungement
Some commercial sites collect arrest information from police blotters or public databases outside New Jersey. If the arrest involved multiple jurisdictions, or if the database was public at the time, the mugshot may have been copied.
3. A data broker obtained the information before the record was sealed
People-search websites like Spokeo, MyLife, and Whitepages frequently scrape data from a wide range of sources. Although they cannot publish expunged records as active cases, some older arrest data may remain in their archives until removal is requested.
4. Someone manually posted it on social media or a forum
While less common, this does happen. These images are not tied to state systems and must be removed through platform-specific processes.
In all these situations, the key distinction is that the mugshot did not come from a New Jersey state website. The state does not continue to make expunged mugshots visible, searchable, or obtainable through any official system.
What Expungement Accomplishes for Mugshot Removal
Although New Jersey cannot control private websites, expungement still gives you significant power over your online footprint. Once your record is cleared:
- You have legal proof the arrest is no longer valid
- Websites cannot accurately present the mugshot as part of an open case
- Continuing to publish misleading criminal information may violate state law
- Many websites voluntarily remove images once they receive notice of an expungement order
- Search engines may reduce or de-index outdated results
Expungement doesn’t just seal your record. It creates the legal foundation for you to request removal everywhere else.
Similar Post: Does Each New Jersey County Use the Same Expungement Process?
How to Remove a Mugshot That Predates Expungement
If your mugshot appears online from a private source, here are realistic, effective steps you can take once your record is expunged:
1. Locate every website displaying your image
Search your name using multiple search engines, including image-search tools.
2. Request removal through the site’s process
Most mugshot or data-collection websites have a formal method to request deletion.
3. Provide your expungement order
This is often the turning point. Once a site sees you were cleared, they lose justification for continuing to host your image.
4. Ask Google to remove outdated or misleading results
Google allows removal requests for:
- Expunged criminal records
- Outdated mugshots
- Harmful personal content
- Information that no longer reflects your legal status
Even if a website refuses to delete the photo, Google may stop showing it in search results.
5. Consult an attorney if a site refuses
Websites that knowingly publish expunged information may violate consumer protection rules, misrepresentation laws, or privacy regulations. An attorney can issue a formal takedown request or escalate the issue.
Do You Have the Right to Erase Your Mugshot Completely?
New Jersey gives individuals more protection than most states, but no state guarantees the right to fully eliminate private, pre-expungement content worldwide. However:
- You can remove your mugshot from any official New Jersey source
- You can remove it from many private sites with proper documentation
- You can reduce its visibility through search-engine removal
- You can pursue legal remedies if a site misrepresents your expunged record
A strong post-expungement strategy can dramatically reduce or eliminate your online mugshot presence.
Expungement Protects Your Future Online and Offline
New Jersey’s expungement laws are designed to wipe the slate clean. While the internet complicates things, your rights do not disappear once your record is expunged. In fact, they expand. You are legally entitled to be treated as someone who was never arrested for the expunged offense and that includes how you are represented online.
If a mugshot remains online from a private source, it is not because New Jersey continues to make it visible. It is because the image predated your expungement and now needs targeted removal.
Clear Your Record and Your Name With Gelman Law Expungements
If you want to expunge your record and remove any lingering online images tied to your past, the team at Gelman Law Expungements can help. We guide New Jersey residents through the expungement process and assist with clearing digital footprints wherever possible. You deserve a future not defined by an old arrest or an outdated mugshot.
Contact Gelman Law Expungements today for a free, confidential consultation and start taking back control of your reputation. We represent clients throughout New Jersey, including Deptford, Gloucester City, Camden, and Trenton.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.