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20 Mugshots From The Smokin’ Seventies

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Two black-and-white photos side by side: on the left, a young woman with long hair looks directly at the camera; on the right, a man holding a police department sign smiles for a mugshot.

These twenty snapshots from the Seventies do more than record arrests; they capture the restless heartbeat of an era. You’ll see the dreamers and drifters who defined a generation that refused to play it safe. Step back into a decade when style met scandal, rebellion had rhythm, and even a night in the county jail came with a touch of swagger. Let’s take a look at 20 mugshots from the seventies.

1. David Bowie was arrested for having an illegal substance

Black-and-white mugshot photo showing a man in a suit with slicked-back hair, facing left in the side view and forward in the front view, holding a sign reading "Police Department Rochester, N.Y. 3-25-76.
tone_is_everything/via reddit.com

2. John Wayne Gacy looking weirdly happy to be taking a mugshot

Black and white mugshot of a man with short hair and a mustache, photographed from the side and front, holding a sign reading "Police Dept. Des Plaines, Ill." against a brick wall background.
fatality-_-/via reddit.com

3. Ted Bundy, while he was rocking the weirdo stache

Black and white mugshot of a man with a mustache, wearing a dark shirt. The sign reads "Police Department Pensacola, Florida" with identification numbers and the date 2-15-78.
miss_musket/via reddit.com

4. Patty Hearst was booked for having SLA involvement

Black and white mugshot photo of a young woman with wavy dark hair, shown in both profile and front view. She wears a light-colored top and holds a placard that reads "San Mateo Sheriff" with other details.
dannydutch1/via reddit.com

5. David Berkowitz, also known as the “Son of Sam”

Black and white mugshot featuring a man with short, curly hair, shown in both profile and frontal views, wearing a collared shirt and holding a placard with numbers and "N.Y.C. POLICE" on it.
via wikimedia commons

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6. Sid Vicious was arrested for having a connection in Nancy Spungen’s death

Black-and-white mugshot photo of a young person with short, spiked dark hair, wearing a leather jacket, shown in side and front views holding an NYCPD sign with numbers.
suseryy/via reddit.com

7. Victoria Mortensen looks oddly okay for being arrested

A black-and-white mugshot shows a young woman with long hair and glasses, photographed from the side and front. The placard reads: “Minneapolis Minn PD 57106, 4 9 70, HT 5 FT 4, WT 108, DOB 11 10 48, Victoria M Mortensen.”
oldsoul789/via reddit.com

8. Mary Ann Growette

Black and white mugshot of a woman with curly hair wearing a striped shirt. The left image is a side profile; the right image is a front view. A placard displays her name, birthdate, height, weight, and arrest details.
oldsoul789/via reddit.com

9. Marilyn Meade blinked during her mugshot

A black-and-white mugshot photo of a young woman with short hair wearing a knit sweater. She faces left in the side view and sits with eyes closed and a faint smile in the front view. A placard with personal details is visible.
oldsoul789/via reddit.com

10. Carol Minderhout

Black and white mugshot of a young woman with straight hair pulled back, photographed in profile and facing forward. A placard displays her name, height, weight, birthdate, and arrest details.
oldsoul789/via reddit.com

11. Edmund Kemper, a serial killer who took the lives of his own grandparents

Black and white mugshot of a man with short hair, mustache, and glasses. He is shown from the front and side, holding a board that reads “Santa Cruz Co Sheriff Coroner Kemper 4 28 73 29026.”
via wikimedia commons

12. Jim Morrison was arrested for indecent exposure at a concert

Black and white mugshot of a bearded man with long wavy hair, shown in both side and front profile views. The sign in front reads "SEP 20 1970" and indicates Dade County Public Safety Department.
senorpelle/via reddit.com

13. Timothy Leary, arrested for possession of illegal substances

Black and white photo split in two: on the left, a smiling man is escorted by police officers; on the right, a mugshot of an older man holding a sign reading "California Prison B26358 T F Leary 3-18-70.
ccnova/via reddit.com

14. Bill Gates, arrested for driving without a license

A young man with blond hair and glasses is shown in a split-screen mugshot, one side profile and one facing forward, smiling and holding a placard labeled "ALBUQUERQUE N MEX APD 105 519 12 13 77.
mister_time_traveler/via reddit.com

15. Pablo Escobar was arrested for trafficking illegal substances

A man with dark curly hair smiles in a black-and-white mugshot photo, holding a sign that reads, "CARCEL OTTO JUDICIAL MEDELLIN 128482.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

16. Larry King, arrested for grand larceny in 1971

Black and white mugshot of a man with glasses and sideburns, wearing a patterned shirt. He is shown in both side and front views. The date "Dec 20 1971" and "Dade County, Fla" are on the placard in front of him.
michaelconfoy/via reddit.com

17. Jane Fonda, arrested for assaulting a police officer

Black and white mugshot of a woman with short dark hair. She holds up a clenched fist, wearing a bracelet. The plaque reads “139813, Cleveland, 32 5 0, 126, Nov 3, 1970.” Front and side view are shown.
alamowithatee/via reddit.com

18. Suzanne Somers was arrested for writing fraudulent checks in San Francisco

Black-and-white mugshot of a young woman with long, light hair. The left image shows her side profile; the right image is a front view. A sign reads "San Francisco 250197 3 11 70.
sidandfancy/via reddit.com

19. Jerry Lee Lewis was arrested for waving a gun at people while driving under the influence

Black and white mugshot showing a man in a sleeveless shirt, photographed from the side and front. He holds a sign reading "Police Dept. Memphis, Tenn." with a number and date.
l0st_in_the_stars/via reddit.com

20. Steve McQueen, arrested for DWI

Black and white mugshot of a man in a polka-dot shirt holding up two fingers in a peace sign, facing both forward and to the side, with a placard reading “Steve T McQueen” and identification details.
quick_presentation11/via reddit.com

Want to see more vintage mugshots?

Check out 20 Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, or take a look at 20 Mugshots of Famous Musicians (1960s–1990s). Finally, if you want to see mugshots from the Edwardian Era, check out 20 Mugshots from the Edwardian Era.

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Meet the Writer


Patrick Nichols

Patrick is a writer based in upstate New York, where he grew up and still calls home. Over the past year, he’s been diving deep into storytelling, especially tales rooted in history, the Wild West, lost treasures, and ancient artifacts. He’s also drawn to unsolved mysteries and whatever the internet can’t stop talking about.

Whether it’s a centuries-old legend or a bizarre internet rabbit hole, Patrick is always chasing the threads of a compelling story. When he’s not chasing stories, Pat’s probably hiking mountain trails with his dog, exploring new corners of the U.S., or doom-scrolling between hangouts with friends and family. He finds inspiration in nature, forgotten places, and random conversations—anything that sparks curiosity. Whether it’s city streets or backcountry paths, Patrick’s always on the lookout for the next great story.



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