Remove a Criminal Record From the Internet in New York

A criminal record can follow a person long after the sentence ends. In the age of search engines and background-check websites, a decades-old arrest or a dismissed charge can appear on the first page of a name search and cost someone a job, an apartment or a relationship. New York has taken significant steps to limit the harm, including the Clean Slate Act, but sealing a record in a courthouse database does not automatically scrub the private websites that copied it. This guide explains how the legal side works, how to deal with the online side, and how to sequence the steps so they reinforce each other. It is general information, not legal advice; speak to an attorney or legal aid organization about your own case.

1. Official records versus online copies

Two different systems hold your record.

Official records. Courts, police agencies, the state criminal history repository and corrections agencies. New York law controls what is sealed and who can see it.
Private copies. Background-check companies, people-search sites, mugshot websites, news archives, social media posts and aggregator pages. These often copied the record when it was public and may not update it.

Sealing affects the first group by law. The second group is governed by contracts, platform rules, and the privacy tools discussed here. A strategy that deals only with the court record leaves the online copies; a strategy that tackles only the websites without sealing the record leaves the root cause. The most effective approach does both. Our overview of background check privacy methods shows how these sites operate.

2. New York’s key sealing pathways

New York has several routes to limit access to a record. This is a summary; eligibility depends on facts, so verify with an attorney or the state court system.

Pathway	In brief	Notes
Clean Slate Act	Automatic sealing of many misdemeanors and felonies after waiting periods following sentence completion, with exclusions for certain serious offenses	Effective November 2024; implemented in phases
Sealing under CPL 160.59	Application to seal up to a limited number of convictions after a long waiting period	Requires a motion and a court decision
Sealing under CPL 160.58	Available for certain drug or alcohol-related convictions after completing treatment	Court-based process
Dismissals and favorable terminations	Generally sealed automatically under CPL 160.50 or 160.55	May need verification that sealing occurred
Certificates of relief	Relief from collateral consequences, not erasure	Helpful for employment

The Clean Slate Act is the most significant development. It provides for sealing of many misdemeanors after a waiting period of years and many felonies after a longer period, with exceptions, and it requires state agencies to implement sealing over time. Check the New York State Unified Court System at nycourts.gov and the Division of Criminal Justice Services at criminaljustice.ny.gov for current information.

3. Step-by-step: from sealing to scrubbing

Step 1: Get your own records

Request your criminal history from the state to confirm what is on file and whether any sealing has occurred. Having your official record lets you check whether private sites show anything that is wrong or sealed.

Step 2: Confirm your sealing status

Check whether your case qualifies for automatic sealing, or whether you need to file a motion. Legal aid organizations in New York provide free help for qualifying residents.

Step 3: Collect proof

When a record is sealed, keep a copy of the court order or notice. You will need it when asking private sites to remove the record.

Step 4: Find where the record appears online

Search your full name with your city and words like “arrest,” “mugshot” and “court.” Check people-search sites, background-check sites and mugshot aggregators. List every URL.

Step 5: Submit removal and correction requests

For each site, use the official opt-out or correction form and attach proof of sealing or dismissal where required. Many sites have specific processes for criminal record removal. For the main people-search sites, see our guide to opting out of the most popular people-search sites and removing info from people-search websites.

Step 6: Deal with mugshot sites

Contact the site and cite the sealing order. New York and many other states have restricted the practice of charging fees to remove mugshots in some situations, so do not assume you must pay. Never send payment before verifying your rights.

Step 7: Ask news sources to update

If a local news site published a story about an arrest that was later dismissed, ask the editor to add an update or consider unpublishing. Policies differ. Success is more likely when the case was dismissed or the story is old.

Step 8: Update search engines

When a page is removed or updated, ask Google and Bing to refresh results. See how to remove your personal information from Google.

Step 9: Re-check

Search again after a month and after three months. Sites reload old data.

Curious what’s already out there? Wiperts’ 100% Free Diagnosis shows which data brokers are listing your name, home address and phone number. Check your exposure free — it takes about a minute.

4. Background checks: what employers and landlords see

Employers and landlords often use consumer reporting agencies, which are regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and New York law. These reports should not include sealed records, but errors happen. If a report shows a sealed record or wrong information:

Ask the employer or landlord for a copy and the name of the reporting agency.
Send a written dispute to the agency with proof.
Follow up until corrected.
If it is not fixed, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov and consult an attorney.

People-search sites are different. They state that they are not consumer reporting agencies, which means their data cannot lawfully be used for hiring or housing decisions, though some employers and individuals do look at them anyway.

5. Protecting your reputation going forward

A record does not define you, but online context matters. Think about reputation as a long project.

Build a positive footprint. Professional profiles, publications and community involvement create results that rank above old items. See protecting your online reputation.
Be proactive with explanations. If a record may surface, prepare a brief, honest statement.
Limit what else is public. Remove your address and phone number from people-search sites so a bad actor cannot connect old news to your home. Read the online reputation time bomb.
Watch for identity theft. Misused identities can create false criminal records. Learn what to do in what to do if your identity is stolen in New York and report it through IdentityTheft.gov.

6. Three scenarios and what to do

Scenario 1: A dismissed charge from years ago shows on a background-check site. Dismissals are generally sealed in New York. Gather the dismissal paperwork, submit a removal request to the site and, if the site sells reports used for employment, remember the FCRA gives you the right to dispute inaccurate information with a consumer reporting agency.

Scenario 2: An old misdemeanor conviction. You may qualify for automatic sealing under the Clean Slate Act after the waiting period. Verify with the court or a legal aid organization, then remove the private copies once the record is sealed. Search again in 60 days because brokers batch their updates.

Scenario 3: A mugshot on an aggregator, with a fee demand. Do not pay before you check whether the record is sealed and whether your state limits such fees. Send a written request citing the court order, and report abusive demands to the attorney general. Meanwhile, consider the reputational angle in the online reputation time bomb.

7. What to expect: a realistic timeline

Stage	Typical timing
Confirm your sealing status	Days to weeks
Court motion for non-automatic sealing	Weeks to months
Private site removal after proof	Days to a few weeks
Search result update	Days to weeks
Re-check for relisting	30 and 90 days

8. Limits and honest expectations

Accurate news stories and public court documents may remain.
Private sites are not required to follow New York sealing rules, though many comply when presented with proof.
Some scams target people with records, promising deletion for a fee. Verify who you are dealing with.
Timelines vary; sealing can take months, and website removals take days to weeks.

9. Where Wiperts fits

Wiperts is not a legal service and cannot seal a court record. What it can do is remove the personal information that surrounds an old record online. It scans more than 100 data brokers and people-search sites for your name, addresses and phone numbers, submits removal requests, requests removal of personal results from Google and Bing, blurs your home on maps and monitors 24/7 so relistings are removed again. That limits how easily someone can connect a name to a home address.

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10. Key takeaways

Sealing governs official records; private websites need separate requests.
New York’s Clean Slate Act and other statutes provide sealing routes.
Keep proof of sealing and use it with every site.
Re-check; copies reappear.
Remove personal details that tie old news to your home.

Pick the Wiperts plan that fits your household

Plan	Covers	One-time deep scrub	Then
Individual	1 person	$89	$14/month
Couples (most popular)	2 people	$149	$24/month
Family	Up to 4 people	$199	$39/month

Every plan includes removal of your name, date of birth, salary, home address and phone number from 100+ data brokers and people-search sites, Google and Bing search-result removal, home blurring on maps, and 24/7 monitoring that re-removes your data if it reappears. See plans and start your removal

11. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the New York Clean Slate Act?

The Clean Slate Act is a New York law that provides for automatic sealing of many criminal convictions after a waiting period once a person has completed their sentence and has no new convictions, with exceptions for certain serious offenses. It took effect in November 2024, with the sealing process phased in over several years.

Does sealing remove my record from the internet?

Sealing limits access to official records and generally restricts what many employers and landlords can see, but private websites that already copied your record may keep it. You must contact those sites separately.

How do I remove my mugshot from a website?

Contact the site’s removal or privacy contact, explain the record was sealed or dismissed, and attach proof such as a court order or certificate. Some states have laws restricting mugshot sites charging fees to remove photos. Never pay a site that demands a fee without checking your rights.

Can I get a record removed if I was never convicted?

If charges were dismissed or ended in your favor, they are generally sealed automatically under New York law, with limited exceptions. You may still need to ask private sites to remove or update listings.

Will Google remove articles about my arrest?

Google generally does not remove accurate news reporting. It may remove some results that contain sensitive personal information or are outdated after the source changes. Contact the publisher first.

Do I need a lawyer to seal a record?

Not always. Automatic sealing needs no application, but other sealing routes involve motions and eligibility rules, so legal aid organizations or an attorney can help. This article is general information, not legal advice.

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