Georgia Mugshots Law changed in July 2023 when Senate Bill 307 amended state public records statutes. The amendment forces every law enforcement agency to erase mugshots from public sites when a case is dismissed, reduced, or the person is acquitted, and it bars profit-driven third-party sites from keeping removed images. Within two weeks of enactment, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department deleted more than 12,000 photos from its online jail roster, illustrating rapid compliance. The law also creates a legal pathway for individuals to request takedown notices, reinforcing privacy protections while still allowing legitimate arrest-record portals, such as Georgia Arrests and Inmate Search, to display newly posted mugshots that appear within 24 hours of booking.
What Is Senate Bill 307 and Why Does It Matter?
Senate Bill 307 is a landmark privacy law that redefines how Georgia handles mugshot disclosures. Before July 2023, anyone arrested in Georgia could have their booking photo published online indefinitely—even if charges were dropped or they were found not guilty. This often led to reputational harm, job loss, and emotional distress. SB 307 ends that practice by requiring automatic removal of mugshots when certain legal conditions are met. The law applies to all law enforcement agencies across the state, including city police, county sheriffs, and state-level departments.
The bill also targets so-called “mugshot mills”—websites that scrape booking photos and charge fees for removal. These sites previously operated with little oversight, profiting from people’s legal troubles. Under the new law, these third-party operators must delete any mugshot that has been officially removed by the arresting agency. Failure to comply can result in civil penalties. This change marks a major shift toward protecting individual rights without compromising public safety transparency.
When Must Georgia Agencies Remove Mugshots?
Georgia law now mandates mugshot removal under three specific circumstances: when a criminal case is dismissed, when charges are reduced to a non-criminal offense, or when the individual is acquitted at trial. Agencies must act promptly—within 30 days of receiving official notice of the outcome. For example, if someone is arrested for theft but the case is dropped due to lack of evidence, their mugshot must come down once the prosecutor files the dismissal. Similarly, if a felony charge is reduced to a traffic citation, the image is no longer considered a public record and must be removed.
The law also covers cases where charges are expunged or sealed through court order. In such instances, agencies must verify the status through the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) before taking action. This ensures accuracy and prevents accidental re-publication. Importantly, the removal requirement only applies to images posted after July 1, 2023. Older mugshots remain subject to prior rules unless a formal request is made under the new takedown process.
How to Request a Mugshot Takedown in Georgia
Individuals who believe their mugshot should be removed can submit a written request to the arresting agency. The request must include proof of the case outcome—such as a dismissal letter, court order, or acquittal document. Most sheriff’s offices and police departments now have online forms for this purpose. For instance, Fulton County provides a digital portal where users upload documents and track their request status. If the agency denies the request, the individual may appeal to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office within 60 days.
Third-party websites that continue to display removed mugshots can also be reported. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) maintains a complaint system for violations of SB 307. Complaints trigger an investigation, and repeated offenders may face fines up to $1,000 per violation. Legal aid organizations, including the Georgia Legal Services Program, offer free assistance to low-income residents navigating the takedown process. This support ensures equitable access to privacy protections regardless of income level.
Public Access vs. Privacy: Balancing Transparency and Rights
The Georgia Mugshots Law strikes a balance between public access and personal privacy. While mugshots are still released within 24 hours of booking—allowing communities to stay informed about local arrests—they cannot remain online forever. This approach recognizes that an arrest does not equal guilt. According to the Georgia Innocence Project, over 300 wrongful convictions have been overturned in the state since 1989. Keeping mugshots online after exoneration perpetuates stigma and hinders reintegration.
At the same time, the law preserves access to current booking information through official channels. Citizens can still view recent arrests via county jail rosters, the Georgia Department of Corrections database, and verified portals like Recently Booked. These resources update multiple times daily and include essential details such as charges, bond amounts, and court dates. The key difference is that outdated or irrelevant images are no longer permanently accessible, reducing the risk of long-term harm.
Impact on Law Enforcement Agencies Across Georgia
Since SB 307 took effect, Georgia law enforcement agencies have undergone significant operational changes. The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office removed over 12,000 mugshots within two weeks, setting a statewide precedent. Other counties, including Gwinnett and Rockdale, implemented automated systems to flag cases eligible for removal. These systems cross-reference booking records with court dispositions daily, ensuring timely compliance.
Agencies also updated their websites to clarify mugshot policies. Many now include disclaimers stating that “all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty” and explaining the removal process. Training sessions were conducted for records clerks and public information officers to ensure consistent application of the law. Despite initial challenges, most departments report improved community trust and fewer complaints related to mugshot misuse.
Role of Third-Party Mugshot Websites
Before 2023, third-party sites like Mugshots.com and ArrestPhotos.net routinely published Georgia booking photos and charged removal fees ranging from $50 to $300. These sites often used aggressive SEO tactics to rank highly in search results, making it difficult for individuals to escape digital scrutiny. SB 307 directly addresses this issue by prohibiting such sites from distributing images that have been officially removed by law enforcement.
Websites found violating the law may be sued for damages. In one notable case, a Georgia resident won $15,000 in damages after a site refused to remove his photo despite a court-ordered expungement. The ruling reinforced the enforceability of SB 307 and deterred similar practices. However, some sites continue to operate by hosting content outside U.S. jurisdiction, highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance and legal action.
Official Resources for Georgia Arrest and Inmate Information
Georgia offers several reliable platforms for accessing current arrest and inmate data. The Georgia Department of Corrections operates an online offender lookup that shows each inmate’s ID number, facility, security level, offense type, sentence length, projected release date, and parole eligibility. Parallel citizen-friendly portals on Georgia.gov and county sheriff sites—Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale—offer real-time housing assignments, bond details, and visitation hours.
Recently Booked adds roughly 20,000 new bookings each month, letting users filter by county, offense code, or date range. Together, these resources deliver hourly-updated arrest records, booking photographs, and court information for more than 250,000 cases statewide, supporting transparent public access while respecting the updated mugshot removal requirements.
Georgia Arrests and Inmate Search
The Georgia Arrests and Inmate Search portal aggregates more than 250,000 public arrest records from 2020 to the present, covering every county in the state. Each entry includes the full name of the arrestee, booking photograph, date of arrest, charge description, case number, and the court where the case is pending. The database is refreshed every hour from the Georgia Department of Public Safety and county sheriff’s offices, ensuring that newly posted mugshots appear within 24 hours of booking. Users can filter results by misdemeanor or felony classification, and the site complies with O.C.G.A. § 16‑10‑24(a) regarding obstruction of law-enforcement officers.
Find an Offender | Georgia Department of Corrections
The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) offers an online offender lookup tool that returns detailed incarceration data for every sentenced individual in the state system. Information displayed comprises the offender’s identification number, facility location, security level, offense type, sentence length, projected release date, and parole eligibility status. The service also provides a direct line for inquiries at (404) 656‑4661 and a secure messaging portal for families. By using this tool, users acknowledge that GDC is not liable for any misuse of the data accessed.
gdc.georgia.gov/offender-info/find-offender 
Georgia Legislature Changes Mugshot Laws
Effective July 2023, Senate Bill 307 amended Georgia’s public records statutes to require that all law-enforcement agencies delete mugshots from public websites when a case is dismissed, the charge is reduced, or the individual is acquitted. In response, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department removed over 12,000 images from its online jail roster within two weeks of the law’s enactment. The legislation also mandates that third-party mugshot sites cease profit-driven distribution of removed images, providing a legal avenue for individuals to request takedown notices.
peachstatelawyer.com/georgia-legislature-changes-mugshot-laws/ 
Recent Bookings, Arrests, Mugshots in Georgia – Recently Booked
The Recently Booked platform publishes an average of 20,000 new Georgia bookings each month. Users can narrow results by county, date range, and specific offense codes such as Georgia Code § 16‑5‑40 (burglary) or § 16‑10‑30 (drug possession). Each entry lists the arrestee’s full name, age, booking photograph, arresting agency, and bail amount when applicable. The site’s data feed pulls directly from county clerk databases, guaranteeing updates at least three times per day.
|| Georgia Department of Corrections || – Find an Offender
GDC operates 25 correctional facilities across Georgia, employing roughly 15,000 staff members, including corrections officers, medical personnel, and vocational trainers. The system supervises approximately 58,000 incarcerated adults and manages parole and probation for an additional 140,000 individuals. The online offender search reflects real-time housing assignments, program participation (e.g., GED, substance-abuse treatment), and any disciplinary actions recorded in the inmate’s file.
services.gdc.ga.gov/GDC/OffenderQuery/jsp/OffQryForm.jsp
Find an Offender | Georgia.gov
The official Georgia.gov offender portal provides the same GDC data in a citizen-friendly format. The office is located at 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 543, Atlanta, GA 30334, and can be reached at (404) 656‑4661. The site also offers an interactive warrant search, a schedule for in-person inmate visits (08:00 a.m.–05:00 p.m.), and links to the department’s social-media channels for public announcements.
INMATE SEARCH – FULTON COUNTY
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office maintains an online inmate database that lists current detainees at the Fulton County Jail, which has a certified capacity of 2,500 beds. Each record includes the inmate’s booking number, arrest date, charges (e.g., O.C.G.A. § 16‑5‑140 for theft), bond amount, and scheduled court appearance. The portal also provides information on visitation hours, approved visitor list procedures, and the inmate’s participation in work-release or educational programs.
Georgia Jail Inmate Search | Georgia Arrests and Warrants
Georgia enforces the death penalty under O.C.G.A. § 17‑4‑3, with 41 inmates currently on death row. Since the 1976 reinstatement, the state has carried out 76 executions, the most recent being at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson. Inmates sentenced to death are sentenced by jury verdict and executed by lethal injection. The Georgia Jail Roster Search tool lists all custodial facilities, current inmate counts, and provides a downloadable CSV of active warrants.
JAIL View – gwinnettcountysheriff
The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s online JAIL View system allows public users to search inmates by last name, first name, booking date range, and offense code. The interface also flags charges such as false statements to law-enforcement (O.C.G.A. § 16‑10‑38) and violations of the Georgia RICO Act (O.C.G.A. § 16‑14‑1). Results display the inmate’s booking photograph, bond status, and scheduled court dates.
gwinnettcountysheriff.com/smartwebclient/
Jail and Inmate Information – Gwinnett | Gwinnett County
The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department publishes an inmate information portal that includes a searchable roster, PDF reports on inmate demographics, and links to the county’s Courts, Law, and Justice portal. Users can initiate a new search for current detainees, view the department’s policy manuals, and access a printable inmate information sheet for each booking.
gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/services/courtslawandjustice/jailandinmateinformation
Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office | Conyers, GA
The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) serves a population of approximately 96,000 residents with a workforce of more than 300 sworn and civilian personnel. The agency is divided into a Law-Enforcement Bureau, responsible for patrol, traffic enforcement, and criminal investigations, and a Jail Bureau, which operates a detention facility with a capacity of 800 beds. RCSO provides community outreach programs, a victim-services unit, and maintains an online inmate lookup tool.
Contact Us
Address: 185 Central Ave
Frequently Asked Questions About Georgia Mugshots Law
Many people have questions about how the new Georgia Mugshots Law affects their rights and access to information. Below are answers to the most common inquiries based on official state guidelines and legal interpretations.
Can I still see recent arrest photos in Georgia?
Yes. Mugshots are released within 24 hours of booking and remain publicly available through official channels like county jail rosters and the Georgia Department of Corrections. The law only requires removal when a case is dismissed, reduced, or the person is acquitted. This ensures transparency while protecting individuals from long-term reputational harm. You can use portals like Recently Booked or Georgia Arrests to view current bookings. These sites update multiple times daily and comply with state regulations.
What happens if a third-party site refuses to remove my mugshot?
If a website continues to display your mugshot after it has been officially removed by law enforcement, you can file a complaint with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The site may face civil penalties, including fines up to $1,000 per violation. You may also sue for damages in small claims court. Keep copies of all correspondence and proof of the case outcome. Legal aid groups can help if cost is a barrier. The law is enforceable, and several successful cases have already been recorded.
Does the law apply to mugshots from before July 2023?
No. Senate Bill 307 only applies to mugshots posted on or after July 1, 2023. Older images are not automatically removed unless you file a formal request under the new takedown process. Some agencies may voluntarily remove outdated photos, but it is not required. If your case was resolved favorably before the law took effect, you can still submit a removal request with supporting documents. Each agency handles these requests individually.
How long do agencies have to remove a mugshot?
Law enforcement agencies must remove a mugshot within 30 days of receiving official notice that the case was dismissed, reduced, or the person was acquitted. This notice usually comes from the court or prosecutor’s office. If you believe your mugshot should be removed but hasn’t been, contact the arresting agency directly. Provide documentation such as a dismissal letter or court order. Most counties now have online forms to streamline this process.
Are mugshots considered public records in Georgia?
Yes, but with important limits. Mugshots are public records only while they reflect an active or unresolved case. Once the case ends favorably for the individual, the image loses its public record status and must be removed. This change protects privacy without undermining transparency. The Georgia Open Records Act still allows access to arrest information, but SB 307 adds a critical privacy layer. Always check the case status before assuming a mugshot should remain online.
Can employers search for my mugshot under the new law?
Employers can view current arrest records, but they cannot access mugshots that have been legally removed. Using outdated or improperly retained images for hiring decisions may violate anti-discrimination laws. If an employer uses a third-party site that ignores takedown rules, you may have grounds for legal action. The best defense is ensuring your mugshot is removed promptly after case resolution. Keep records of all removal requests and outcomes.
Where can I get help if my mugshot isn’t removed?
Contact the Georgia Legal Services Program or the Southern Center for Human Rights for free legal assistance. Many county sheriff’s offices also have victim advocates who can guide you through the process. If the issue involves a state agency, the Attorney General’s Office handles appeals. Document everything—emails, letters, phone calls—and act quickly. Time limits apply for appeals and lawsuits. Community organizations often host workshops on digital privacy rights.
Official Contact Information:
Georgia Department of Corrections
7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 543, Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (404) 656-4661
Visiting Hours: 08:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m.