Data You Give Us Directly
Search Queries
A name or location entered in a search tool is sent directly to the outside provider that operates that tool. The provider processes the request and supplies its results. West Virginia Criminal History does not keep or log those search terms on its own systems.
Messages and Contact Submissions
An email or other direct message may be retained long enough to review and answer it. We keep that correspondence within the organization unless disclosure is required by a valid legal obligation.
Data We Gather Automatically
When a visitor loads a page, the site and its service providers automatically receive basic technical and usage details:
- Pages viewed, visit length, and page-view timestamps
- Device type and operating system
- IP address assigned to the device
- Referring website, when one is available
- Browser type and version
Cookies and Analytics
Cookies are small files placed on a device. They and analytics services help measure traffic in aggregate, including which pages visitors use and where visits end. A browser can block or delete cookies through its settings. Disabling them may change how some site features work.
What We Do With This Data
- Route a submitted query to the selected search partner
- Maintain site availability, speed, and security
- Diagnose errors and other technical problems
- Measure which reference pages are useful or need improvement
- Display advertising that may reflect visitor interests
No Criminal-Record Data on File
West Virginia Criminal History does not maintain, assemble, or sell a database of personal criminal records. It publishes reference material about records held by the West Virginia State Police Criminal Identification Bureau, the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the State Police Sex Offender Registry, the Judiciary, and local offices in all 55 counties. Public access to government records is governed in part by the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, W. Va. Code §29B-1-1 et seq., while CIB dissemination is separately restricted by W. Va. Code §15-2-24(d). Those laws do not turn this private site into a government repository. We are not a consumer reporting agency, and visitor data is not compiled into consumer reports or third-party criminal histories.
Third-Party Search Partners
Outside companies operate the search boxes that appear on some pages. Information submitted through a tool is handled under that provider's privacy policy. The provider, not West Virginia Criminal History, controls its retention, processing, and disclosure practices. Read those terms before sending a query.
Links to Other Websites
Links may lead to West Virginia agency pages, court portals, county offices, legal-aid resources, or commercial search providers. Once a visitor follows an outbound link, the destination's privacy policy controls. Review it before providing personal information.
Advertising providers may use their own technology to measure activity across websites and select ads. Their systems, policies, and controls govern that tracking.
Who Might See Your Data
We do not sell personal data. Limited information may be available to:
- Analytics providers measuring site traffic and performance
- Search partners processing queries submitted to their tools
- Advertising networks serving content on the pages
- Government or law-enforcement bodies when a valid legal order requires disclosure
How We Protect Your Data
Reasonable security practices are used to protect information the site receives. No internet service can guarantee perfect security, however. We cannot promise that unauthorized access, loss, or another breach will never occur.
Users Under 18
The site is intended for adults and does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we learn that a minor supplied such information, we will take steps to delete it.
Your Data Rights
Data rights vary with a visitor's residence and the law that applies to a particular request. Subject to those limits, a visitor may ask us to:
- Provide a copy of personal information held about that visitor
- Correct inaccurate personal information
- Delete personal information when the law permits
- Honor an available opt-out from certain processing
Updates to This Policy
This privacy policy may be revised as site practices or legal requirements change. A revised version will appear here and carry a new effective date. Visitors should review the current version from time to time.
Effective date: August 11, 2026