We believe people deserve to move on. If your booking record appears on searchinmates.org, we will remove it for free. We never charge for removal, and we never will.
How to remove a record here
- Find your record on our site and copy its web address. Then use the Remove a record link in the footer of any page, or go straight to the removal form, and paste the address in.
- Enter the name as it appears on the record and an email address we can reply to.
- Submit, then open the link we email you and press Confirm. When the record link and name match, the page is taken down right away and returns a "gone" status to search engines.
We also add the record to a do-not-publish list, so our systems do not add it again. You can ask on behalf of yourself or a family member.
Search engines
Search engines can take days or weeks to drop a page after it is removed. Google offers a free "Refresh Outdated Content" tool (also called "Remove outdated content") where you can submit a page that no longer exists to speed this up.
The original public record
We copy information from public sheriff and corrections websites. Removing a record from searchinmates.org does not change the original record at the jail, court or other websites.
- Expungement or record sealing is usually a court process that can remove or hide an arrest or conviction from public records. Eligibility depends on the state, the charge and the outcome. Legal aid groups in many states offer free help to people who qualify.
- If a case was dismissed or you were found not guilty, ask the court clerk how to get the court and jail records updated.
Never pay anyone to remove a booking record
Some sites charge large fees to remove booking photos or records. Some states, including Florida and Oregon, have passed laws that ban or limit those fees. searchinmates.org removal is free, and we do not work with paid removal services.
Questions
Is removal really free?
Yes. Removal from searchinmates.org is free, always. We do not charge, ask for payment, or refer you to paid services.
Do I need to prove my identity?
No ID upload is needed. We ask for the record link or ID, the name on the record, and an email address. If something does not match, we review the request by hand.
How fast is it?
When the record link and name match, the page is removed as soon as you confirm the link we email you. Other requests are reviewed by hand, usually within a few days.
Will the record come back later?
No. Removed records are added to a do-not-publish list that our data collection checks before adding anyone.
Sources
The pages below back up the main rules and definitions in this guide. We opened each link on October 14, 2026.
- Refresh Outdated Content tool, Google Search Console Help. Anyone who does not own a page can ask Google to update or drop its search result once the page is gone; it takes a Google account sign-in and can take a few days.
- 50-State Comparison: Expungement, Sealing & Other Record Relief, Collateral Consequences Resource Center. Who can clear or seal a record depends on the state, the offense and how the case ended, and nearly every state lets people seal at least some records of arrests that did not end in a conviction.
- Find a lawyer for affordable legal aid, USAGov. Lists programs that give free legal advice and can help you find a free or low-cost lawyer; some limit their help to people with low incomes.
- Florida Statutes, section 901.43: Dissemination of arrest booking photographs, The Florida Senate. Florida bars businesses that publish arrest booking photos from asking for or taking a fee to remove them, and requires free removal within 10 days of a written request.
- Oregon Revised Statutes, section 646A.806: Website with photographs and information about arrested persons, Public.Law. An Oregon website that charges a fee to remove arrest photos must take them down free within 30 days when the charges ended without a conviction, were reduced to violations, or were later expunged or set aside.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and facility rules differ and change; confirm details with the facility, court or a lawyer.