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Privacy Policy

This policy describes the information collected during a visit, why it is used, and the limited circumstances in which another party may receive it. Continued use of Grant County Criminal History signifies acceptance of these practices.

Data You Give Us Directly

Search Queries

A name or place entered in a search tool is sent directly to the outside provider that operates that tool. The provider processes the query and supplies its result. Grant County Criminal History does not keep or log those search terms on its own systems.

Messages and Contact Submissions

An email may be retained long enough to address the message. It is kept within the organization unless disclosure is required by a valid legal duty.

Data We Gather Automatically

Standard technical data is received when a page loads, including:

  • Page-view times and the pages visited
  • Device type and operating system
  • The referring site, when one is available
  • Browser type and version
  • Approximate time spent on each page
  • The device's assigned IP address

Cookies and Analytics

Cookies are small device files used to understand traffic patterns, such as popular pages and common exit points. Analytics providers combine that usage information into reports. A browser can block cookies, although disabling them may change how some functions behave.

What We Do With This Data

  • Routing a submitted query to the selected search partner
  • Diagnosing faults and maintaining reliable page delivery
  • Measuring which content is useful or needs revision
  • Operating and improving site performance
  • Displaying advertising that may reflect visitor interests

No Criminal-Record Data on File

Grant County Criminal History neither hosts nor sells a personal criminal-record database. It publishes general directions to records held by the sheriff, circuit clerk, Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Information Bureau, and Wisconsin Public Sex Offender Registry. It is not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Visitor information is not assembled into a consumer report or a criminal-history file about another person.

Third-Party Search Partners

Outside companies operate the search boxes. Information submitted there is governed by that provider's privacy policy. Each provider controls its retention and disclosure practices, so review those terms before sending a query.

Links to Other Websites

Links may lead to sheriff pages, court portals, state agencies, legal resources, or outside tools. Once a visitor follows an external link, the destination's privacy policy applies. Read it before providing personal information.

Advertising companies may use their own systems to observe activity across websites and choose targeted ads.

Who Might See Your Data

Personal data is not sold. Limited information may be available to:

  • Analytics providers that measure traffic and performance
  • Search partners receiving a user-submitted query
  • Advertising networks serving content on the pages
  • Government or law-enforcement bodies acting under a valid legal order

How We Protect Your Data

Reasonable, standard security measures protect collected data. No internet system can guarantee absolute security, and a breach cannot be ruled out.

Users Under 18

The service is intended for adults and does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. Information identified as belonging to a minor will be removed.

Your Data Rights

Wisconsin law and the law where a visitor lives may provide added data rights. Wisconsin government records are separately governed by the Wisconsin Public Records Law, while criminal-history reporting is addressed by Wis. Stat. § 165.83. Subject to applicable law, a person may:

  • Request correction of inaccurate information
  • Ask what personal data is retained
  • Seek deletion where the law permits it
  • Decline eligible forms of processing

Updates to This Policy

This policy may be revised. A new version will be posted here with an updated effective date, and that posted version will govern later use.

Effective date: August 11, 2026