Privacy Policy – Arrest-Records.org
Your privacy matters to us. This page explains exactly what information we collect, how we use it, what we never do with your data, and how you can control your privacy while using our site.
Effective Date: April 10, 2026 | Last Updated: April 10, 2026
Privacy Policy at a Glance
We know privacy policies can be long and hard to read. Here is the short version of what you need to know:
✅ We do not maintain our own database of arrest records, mugshots, or personal criminal history data.
✅ We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.
✅ We do not require you to create an account, log in, or provide personal information to read our content.
✅ We do use standard analytics and advertising technologies (like cookies) that are common across websites.
✅ You can control cookies, opt out of tracking, and contact us about any privacy concern at any time.
Who We Are
Arrest-Records.org (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is a privately operated educational and informational website. We are not a government agency, law enforcement entity, court system, or legal service provider. We do not collect, store, or distribute arrest records, mugshots, booking photos, or criminal history information.
Our website provides free educational guides that help users navigate official government databases and public records systems. We link to verified official resources such as the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator, PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), county sheriff’s office websites, and state department of corrections portals. The data you access through those official government sites is governed by their own privacy policies — not ours.
What Information We Collect
We collect only the minimum information necessary to operate this website, improve user experience, and comply with legal requirements. Here is a transparent breakdown:
Information You Provide Voluntarily
| Data Type | When Collected | How We Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Email Address | When you contact us via our contact form or email us directly at contact@arrest-records.org | To respond to your inquiry, address corrections, or answer questions. We do not add you to any mailing list unless you explicitly opt in. |
| Name | Only if you voluntarily include it in a contact form submission or email | To address you by name when responding. We do not require your name to use the site. |
| Message Content | When you submit a contact form or send us an email | To understand and respond to your request (broken link reports, corrections, general inquiries). |
Information Collected Automatically
Like most websites on the internet, our servers and third-party analytics tools automatically collect certain technical information when you visit our site:
| Data Type | What It Includes | Why It Is Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Device & Browser Information | Browser type and version, operating system, device type (desktop, mobile, tablet), screen resolution | To ensure our site displays correctly on your device and to identify technical issues |
| IP Address | Your internet protocol (IP) address | For security purposes (preventing abuse, spam, and malicious activity), server log maintenance, and approximate geographic analytics |
| Pages Visited | Which pages you view, how long you stay, and how you navigate between pages | To understand which content is most useful and improve our guides |
| Referring Source | The website or search engine that brought you to our site | To understand how visitors find us and optimize our content for relevant search queries |
| Date & Time of Visit | Timestamp of when you accessed our site | Standard server log data used for security monitoring and traffic analysis |
Information We Do NOT Collect
We want to be absolutely clear about what we do not do:
🚫 No Arrest Record Database
We do not maintain, store, or host any database of arrest records, criminal histories, mugshots, or booking photos. We link to official government databases — we do not replicate them.
🚫 No Search Query Logging
When you use our guides to search for someone on an official government site (like bop.gov or a county sheriff portal), that search happens on the government’s website — not ours. We do not see, record, or store what names you search for.
🚫 No Social Security Numbers
We never ask for, collect, or store Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account information, or any other government-issued identification numbers.
🚫 No Payment Information
We do not process payments on this website. We do not have payment forms, credit card fields, or any mechanism to collect financial data from visitors.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Arrest-Records.org uses cookies and similar tracking technologies. Here is a straightforward explanation of what cookies we use and why:
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device (computer, phone, or tablet) when you visit. They help websites remember your preferences, understand how you use the site, and deliver relevant content. Cookies are standard technology used by virtually every website on the internet.
Types of Cookies We Use
| Cookie Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Cookies | Required for the website to function properly — including page loading, security features, and basic site navigation. These cannot be disabled without breaking site functionality. | Session (deleted when you close your browser) |
| Analytics Cookies | Help us understand how visitors use our site — which pages are most popular, how long visitors stay, and where users encounter problems. We use this data to improve our content and user experience. Example: Google Analytics. | Up to 2 years |
| Advertising Cookies | Used by our advertising partners to deliver relevant ads and measure ad performance. These cookies may track your browsing activity across other websites to show you ads based on your interests. | Varies by provider (typically 30 days to 2 years) |
| Affiliate Tracking Cookies | When you click on an affiliate link on our site, a cookie may be placed to track whether a referral resulted in a completed action (such as a sign-up). This is how we earn revenue to support this free resource. | Typically 30–90 days |
How to Control Cookies — Step-by-Step
You have full control over cookies on your device. Here is how to manage them in the most popular browsers:
- Google Chrome: Go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and Other Site Data. You can block all cookies, block third-party cookies, or clear existing cookies. You can also visit Google’s official cookie guide for detailed instructions.
- Mozilla Firefox: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data. Firefox offers Enhanced Tracking Protection that blocks many tracking cookies by default. See Mozilla’s official cookie guide.
- Apple Safari: Go to Safari → Preferences → Privacy. Safari blocks cross-site tracking cookies by default. See Apple’s official cookie guide.
- Microsoft Edge: Go to Settings → Cookies and Site Permissions → Manage and Delete Cookies and Site Data. See Microsoft’s official cookie guide.
- Google Ads Opt-Out: You can opt out of personalized advertising from Google by visiting Google Ad Settings and turning off ad personalization.
- Industry-Wide Opt-Out: Visit Digital Advertising Alliance Opt-Out or Network Advertising Initiative Opt-Out to opt out of interest-based advertising from multiple participating companies at once.
How We Use the Information We Collect
We use the limited information we collect for the following specific purposes:
📧 Responding to Inquiries
If you contact us by email or through a contact form, we use your email address and message content solely to respond to your inquiry. We do not add your email to marketing lists without your explicit consent.
📊 Site Improvement
We analyze aggregate, anonymized analytics data (page views, time on page, bounce rates) to understand which guides are most useful and where we need to improve content, fix navigation issues, or add new resources.
🔒 Security & Abuse Prevention
IP addresses and server logs are used to detect and prevent spam, malicious bot activity, denial-of-service attacks, and other security threats to the website.
💰 Advertising & Revenue
Advertising and affiliate cookies help us earn revenue to keep this site free. We display ads through third-party advertising networks, and affiliate links earn us a commission when users sign up for services we recommend. All affiliate content is clearly disclosed.
Who We Share Information With
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. Period. Here are the limited circumstances where data may be shared with third parties:
| Third Party | What Is Shared | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics Providers (e.g., Google Analytics) | Anonymized usage data (pages visited, session duration, device type, approximate location) | To help us understand site traffic patterns and improve content. Google Analytics data is governed by Google’s Privacy Policy. |
| Advertising Networks | Cookie-based browsing data for ad targeting and measurement | To display relevant advertisements and generate revenue that keeps our content free. You can opt out using the links provided in the Cookies section above. |
| Affiliate Partners | Referral tracking data (that you clicked an affiliate link on our site) | To track whether a referral from our site resulted in a completed action, so we receive appropriate commission. Affiliate links are clearly labeled on our site. |
| Hosting Provider | Server logs (IP address, pages requested, timestamps) | Standard web hosting infrastructure. Our hosting provider processes this data under their own privacy terms and data processing agreements. |
| Law Enforcement | Any information we possess, only if legally required | We will comply with valid legal processes such as court orders, subpoenas, or law enforcement requests as required by applicable law. |
Third-Party Websites and Official Government Links
Our articles contain links to official government websites, including county sheriff’s offices, state departments of corrections, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (bop.gov), PACER (pacer.uscourts.gov), the FBI, and USAGov.
Important: Third-Party Privacy Policies
When you click a link on our site and leave Arrest-Records.org, you are subject to the privacy policy of the destination website — not ours. Each government agency and third-party service has its own privacy practices and data collection policies.
We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any website you visit after leaving ours. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or data collection of external websites, even those we link to in our guides.
For example, when you use the BOP Inmate Locator or search on PACER, any information you enter into those search tools is processed by those federal agencies under their own privacy policies — not by Arrest-Records.org.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have specific legal rights regarding your personal data. We respect these rights and are committed to helping you exercise them:
Rights Available to All Users
Right to Know: You can contact us at any time to ask what personal information (if any) we hold about you.
Right to Deletion: You can request that we delete any personal information you have provided to us (such as emails sent through our contact form).
Right to Opt Out: You can opt out of cookies, analytics tracking, and interest-based advertising using the browser controls and opt-out links described in the Cookies section above.
Right to Correction: If you believe any information we hold about you is inaccurate, you can contact us to request a correction.
For California Residents (CCPA / CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to request deletion, and the right to opt out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information as defined under CCPA/CPRA. To exercise your rights, email us at contact@arrest-records.org with the subject line “CCPA Request.”
For European Union / EEA Visitors (GDPR)
If you are located in the European Union or European Economic Area, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and the right to object. Our legal basis for processing automatically collected data is legitimate interest (site security and analytics). For voluntarily provided data (contact form submissions), our legal basis is consent. To exercise your rights, email us at contact@arrest-records.org with the subject line “GDPR Request.”
For Nevada Residents
Nevada residents have the right to opt out of the sale of certain personal information. We do not currently sell personal information as defined under Nevada law. If you wish to submit an opt-out request, contact us at contact@arrest-records.org.
Do Not Track (DNT) Signals
Some web browsers transmit “Do Not Track” (DNT) signals. There is currently no uniform industry standard for recognizing or responding to DNT signals. At this time, our site does not respond to DNT browser signals. However, you can control tracking through the cookie management options described above.
Data Security
We take reasonable and appropriate measures to protect the limited information we collect from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:
🔐 SSL/TLS Encryption
Our website uses HTTPS encryption (SSL/TLS) to protect data transmitted between your browser and our servers. Look for the padlock icon in your browser’s address bar.
🛡️ Access Controls
Access to any user-submitted data (such as contact form emails) is restricted to authorized team members only, on a need-to-know basis.
🗑️ Data Minimization
We collect only the minimum data necessary for each purpose. Contact form submissions are retained only as long as needed to respond to the inquiry and are periodically purged.
🔄 Regular Updates
We keep our website software, plugins, and server infrastructure updated to protect against known security vulnerabilities.
While no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure, we strive to use commercially reasonable means to protect your information. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure, please contact us immediately at contact@arrest-records.org.
Children’s Privacy
Arrest-Records.org is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information to us (for example, through our contact form), please contact us at contact@arrest-records.org and we will delete that information promptly.
In compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), if we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information as quickly as possible.
Data Retention
We retain different types of data for different periods based on their purpose:
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Contact form submissions / emails | Retained until the inquiry is resolved, then periodically purged (typically within 12 months) |
| Server logs (IP addresses, page requests) | Typically retained for 30–90 days, then automatically overwritten |
| Analytics data (Google Analytics) | Retained according to Google Analytics’ default settings (26 months for user-level data). This data is anonymized and aggregated. |
| Cookies | Duration varies by cookie type (see Cookies section above). You can delete cookies at any time through your browser settings. |
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.
For significant changes that materially affect how we handle personal information, we will make reasonable efforts to provide notice — such as a prominent notice on our homepage or, if applicable, email notification.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
Contact Us About Privacy
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:
📧 Email: contact@arrest-records.org
📝 Subject Line: Use “Privacy Inquiry,” “CCPA Request,” or “GDPR Request” as appropriate
We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 30 days.