If you’ve been arrested in the past and had a mugshot taken, you may be concerned about these photos surfacing later in your life. Whether it’s due to embarrassment from a youthful indiscretion that you’ve since moved on from or because the mugshots are from a more serious criminal record, there are plenty of reasons that you may be worried that someone may be able to find your mugshot.
For example, you may be interviewing for a job or going on a date with someone you’ve met online and could be nervous about having to explain your arrest record. First impressions matter to a lot of people and the best way to find out if documents from your criminal record are publicly available is to look up and view mugshots yourself. Here’s what you should know about whether or not your mugshot is public record.
How does mugshot lookup work?
Many different documents are public record due to the Freedom of Information Act and other local and federal statutes. For example, it’s possible to find most people’s phone numbers, unclaimed property, and other information using an online web site like GoLookUp. Mugshot lookup is no different since a user can search for someone by their first name and last name on GoLookUp’s database.
Because GoLookUp aggregates hundreds of different public records, you can search for a wide range of information using the website, including millions of records containing information about criminal records, arrest records, and bail records. This information is in addition to mugshots that may be available. If you have a criminal past, beyond your mugshot users may also be able to find out when your arrest date was, what courthouse you were charged at, and what felonies made you into an arrestee in the first place. All of this information is made publicly available by the law enforcement agency that arrested you.
What should you do if your mugshots are online?
The best thing to do if you find mugshots of yourself online is to be prepared to explain your situation to anyone who brings it up. If you’re interviewing for a job, make sure that you don’t lie about your arrest record when you list your previous work history, contact information, and other personal details on a job application. Lying on a job application is a major red flag and could cost you a job that you could’ve been hired for if you were upfront about yourself in the first place. If you’re going on a blind date, you should also be prepared to talk about your past. In many cases, someone will perform at least a cursory search of your social media profile and other personal information prior to going on a date with you. If you’re able to truthfully approach your past in a conversation with your date, you may be able to still build a strong foundation for your relationship based on honesty.
If this realization seems unfair to you, keep in mind that these sorts of details are provided as a measure of public safety. For example, if someone is moving into a neighborhood and is listed on the National Sex Offender Registry, they may be required to talk to their new neighbors about their past. While no one individual should be defined by their past choices, law enforcement makes these sorts of things publicly available as a way to protect others. If you’ve been an inmate, it’s important to know your rights as you work to reacclimate yourself to society. Part of this involves performing a search for yourself so that you know what others can learn about you. Using a platform like GoLookUp lets you do this with ease, ensuring that you’re always able to get ahead of any unsavoury details of your past.
