If you have mugshots online, you’ve likely considered the potential issues of having a public mugshot. If you’ve had some issues with the law, you may try to find mugshots online for free so that you can ask that they be removed. Whether you try to go it alone or use a background check removal service, it’s smart to have your mugshots taken down.

Here, we’ll take a look at five of the most common problems that people have due to public mugshots.

1. Employment Problems

When you want to get a new job, it’s important to create a good first impression. Before a potential new employer calls you in for an interview, they’ll search for you online. If the first thing they see is a mugshot, you’re not likely to get a call.

Regardless of the circumstances of your arrest, many employers aren’t interested in employees with a criminal record. If you know that your potential employer is going to find your mugshot, it’s smart to give them a heads up before they search for you online. A better idea: work with a reputation management company to get your mugshot removed.

2. Social Issues

Whether you’re meeting new friends or trying to get a date, having an online mugshot can hurt your social life. In the age of online dating, many people search for their potential romantic partners online before meeting in person. If your mugshot pops up, your date is likely to cancel. No matter how nonjudgmental your date or friends attempt to be, it will be hard for them to erase your mugshot from their memories.

3. Struggles With Getting A Loan

When you apply for a mortgage or a car loan, your lender will likely take a look at your online presence. If you have a criminal history, you may be less likely to get a loan. No matter how great your credit, your lender may feel uncomfortable lending to someone with a criminal past.

4. Personal Information Exposure

Take a look at the arrest record that goes with your mugshot. It likely includes aliases, addresses, phone numbers, and more information. When your mugshot is public, your arrest record is usually public too. This can mean that personal information is available to anyone who searches your name. Just like you wouldn’t post your credit card information online, you don’t want your personal information available to the public either.

5. Family Issues

You want your children and other members of your family to have a great impression of you. This can be tough when it’s easy for them to find your mugshot online. You don’t want your kids to stumble upon your run-ins with the law before you’re old enough to explain the situation to them yourself. When your mugshot is available online, it’s easy for anyone who knows your full name to come across your past issues with the law.