If your mugshot appears on the Georgia Gazette, you may be able to get it removed for free. Georgia law requires the site to remove a booking photo in specific qualifying situations, such as when charges were dismissed, dropped, or never prosecuted. If your case does not qualify under the law, the Gazette also runs a separate “Second Chance” review, and there are other options for getting the photo out of Google. The key is knowing which path applies to you.
Finding your arrest photo online is stressful, especially when employers, landlords, and anyone who searches your name can see it. This guide explains who qualifies for free removal, the exact process Georgia law requires, what to do if you do not qualify, and how to make sure the photo disappears from Google search results.
Mugshot removal and record restriction involve Georgia law and your specific case details. For advice about your situation, including expungement or record restriction, consult a Georgia attorney.
Table of Contents
What Is the Georgia Gazette?
The Georgia Gazette is a Georgia-based website that republishes booking photos and arrest information from law enforcement agencies across the state. It launched around 2020, filling a gap left when Google de-indexed many older mugshot sites like Mugshots.com and BustedMugshots, which had faced lawsuits and criticism for charging people to remove their photos.
The Gazette took a different approach by staying compliant with Georgia law and offering a defined removal process. That keeps it out of the legal trouble that sank its predecessors, but the practical effect for you is the same: your arrest photo is online and visible to anyone who searches your name. The upside is that because it follows the law, there is a clear, free path to removal if your case qualifies.
The Georgia Law Behind Removal
Georgia has laws that restrict how booking photos can be published and require their removal in certain cases. The Georgia Gazette states that it complies with GA Code § 35-1-19 and O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5. Together, these laws require mugshot publishers to remove a booking photo, free of charge, when an individual meets specific qualifying criteria tied to how their case was resolved.
The important point is that legitimate removal under these laws is free. No compliant Georgia mugshot site can lawfully charge you to remove a photo that qualifies for free removal under the statute. If any site demands payment to remove a qualifying photo, that is a red flag.
Who Qualifies for Free Removal
Under Georgia law, you qualify for free removal of your booking photo from the Georgia Gazette if your case falls into one of several categories. According to the criteria the Gazette publishes, these generally include situations where:
- Access to your case or charges was restricted under Georgia’s record restriction law.
- Before any charge, your case was never referred for prosecution and was closed by the arresting agency.
- Before any charge, the statute of limitations expired.
- Before any charge, your case was referred to the prosecutor but later dismissed.
- Before any charge, the grand jury returned two no bills.
- You were acquitted, or the charges were otherwise dismissed or dropped.
In short, if your arrest did not lead to a conviction, or your record has been restricted or expunged, you likely qualify for free removal. The exact, current list of qualifying categories is published on the Gazette’s official removal request page, so check it against your own case before you file.
How to Request Removal, Step by Step
Georgia law sets out a specific process for requesting removal, and following it exactly matters. Here is how it works:
- Confirm you qualify. Check your case against the qualifying categories on the Gazette’s official removal page. Having documentation of your case resolution (such as a dismissal or restriction order) is not always required but can speed things up.
- Gather your details. You will typically need your name, date of birth, date of arrest, and the arresting law enforcement agency.
- Send the request by certified mail. Georgia law requires the removal request to be sent in writing by certified mail with return receipt requested, or by statutory overnight delivery, to the Gazette’s listed mailing address. Get the current address from their official removal page, since they have changed P.O. boxes.
- Do not include sensitive data you do not need to. Avoid sending your Social Security number or driver’s license images. Send only what is needed to identify your record.
- Wait for processing. The Gazette generally aims to complete qualifying removal requests within about 30 days of receiving them. Keep your certified mail receipt as proof you sent the request.
The Gazette offers an online form for convenience, but Georgia law specifies certified mail with return receipt, or statutory overnight delivery, as the official method. Sending it the way the statute requires protects you and creates a paper trail showing exactly when you made the request.
If You Do Not Qualify: The Second Chance Policy
What if your case resulted in a conviction, or otherwise does not meet the legal criteria for free removal? The Georgia Gazette runs a separate, voluntary “Second Chance” policy for these situations. It lets people request removal of their arrest information even when the law does not require it.
Requests under this policy are reviewed by a committee on a case-by-case basis, weighing factors like the nature and severity of the charge. Removal is more likely for non-violent misdemeanor charges and less likely for serious or violent offenses, especially those that ended in conviction. This is a discretionary policy, not a legal right, so approval is not guaranteed, and the Gazette may not explain a denial. Still, if you do not qualify under the law, it is worth pursuing.
Record Restriction and Expungement
The most durable way to deal with an arrest record, both online and off, is often to restrict or expunge the underlying record itself. In Georgia, “record restriction” (sometimes called expungement) limits public access to your criminal history record in qualifying cases. Once your record is restricted, it strengthens your claim for removal from sites like the Georgia Gazette under the law.
Record restriction in Georgia generally runs through the courts and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and only certain offenses qualify. The process involves meeting eligibility criteria and can take several weeks or longer. Because it depends heavily on your specific case, this is the step where talking to a Georgia attorney is most valuable. If restriction is an option for you, it addresses the root of the problem rather than just one website.
See Where Your Mugshot Appears Online
The Georgia Gazette is often not the only place a mugshot shows up. NewReputation’s free scan shows everywhere your arrest photo and name appear in search.
- Find every site and search result showing your mugshot
- See what appears when employers search your name
- Free scan, no obligation
Getting the Mugshot Out of Google
Removing the photo from the Georgia Gazette is the main step, but it is not always the whole job. Two things are worth knowing.
First, once the Gazette removes the page, it may still appear in Google for a short time until Google recrawls it. You can speed this up with Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool once the page is actually gone. Our guide on the Remove Outdated Content tool walks through that process.
Second, mugshot data often spreads. While the Georgia Gazette does not syndicate its data, other mugshot and background-check sites may have copied your photo, so it can appear in more than one place. It is worth checking where else it shows up, and our guide on finding mugshots online covers how to track down every copy. Removing it everywhere takes a site-by-site effort. Our broader guide on removing a mugshot from the internet covers the full approach, our guide on removing mugshots from Google covers the search side, and where removal is not possible, suppression through strong positive content can push the result down so people do not see it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove my mugshot from the Georgia Gazette?
If your case qualifies under Georgia law, such as charges dismissed, dropped, or never prosecuted, you can request free removal. Georgia law requires sending a written request by certified mail with return receipt, or by statutory overnight delivery, to the Gazette’s listed address with your name, date of birth, date of arrest, and arresting agency. Check the qualifying categories and current mailing address on their official removal page, and keep your certified mail receipt. The Gazette generally aims to process qualifying requests within about 30 days.
Does it cost money to remove a mugshot from the Georgia Gazette?
No. Removal of a qualifying photo under Georgia law is free, and no compliant Georgia mugshot site can lawfully charge you to remove a photo that qualifies for free removal. If a site demands payment to remove a qualifying mugshot, treat that as a warning sign. Professional reputation services may charge for handling the process and removing copies from other sites, but the Gazette’s own legal removal is free.
What if my case ended in a conviction?
If your case does not qualify for free removal under Georgia law, the Georgia Gazette runs a separate, voluntary Second Chance policy. A committee reviews these requests case by case, weighing the nature and severity of the charge. Removal is more likely for non-violent misdemeanors and less likely for serious or violent convictions. It is discretionary, not guaranteed, but worth pursuing. Pursuing record restriction through the courts, where eligible, can also help.
How long does Georgia Gazette mugshot removal take?
For qualifying requests sent the way Georgia law requires, the Gazette generally aims to complete removal within about 30 days of receiving the request. After the page comes down, it may linger in Google search results for a short time until Google recrawls the page, which you can speed up with Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool. Record restriction through the courts, if you pursue it, takes longer, often several weeks or more.
Will removing my mugshot from the Georgia Gazette remove it from Google?
Removing it from the Gazette removes the source, but the result can stay in Google briefly until Google recrawls the page. You can request a refresh through Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool once the page is gone. Keep in mind the photo may also exist on other mugshot or background-check sites that copied it, so a complete cleanup often means removing it from multiple sources, not just one.
Want Your Mugshot Gone for Good?
NewReputation removes mugshots across the Georgia Gazette and other sites, clears them from Google, and suppresses anything that cannot be removed, so your name comes back clean.
- Removal handled across every site showing your mugshot
- Google cleanup and suppression of stubborn results
- Ongoing monitoring so it does not come back
Delphia is the staff writer for the NewReputation Help Center, Sales & Service blog. She has a background in content creation and writes clear, informative articles on reputation management, online visibility, trust building, and how they relate to each other. As an efficient writer who produces high-quality content, Delphia assists with a variety of editorial projects. When she is not working, you can find her traveling, taking pictures, or reading a good book.