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Privacy Policy

This policy describes the visitor information collected by Cattaraugus County Criminal History, the reasons it may be used, and the limited situations in which another service may receive it. By using the website, you accept 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 it. That company processes the query and supplies its results. We do not retain or log those search terms on our systems.

Messages and Contact Submissions

An email or other direct message may be kept long enough to respond and maintain the related correspondence. It remains within our organization unless disclosure is required by law.

Data We Gather Automatically

When a page loads, servers may automatically receive basic technical and usage details:

  • Page-view times and the pages visited
  • Device type and operating system
  • Browser type and version
  • The referring website, when supplied
  • Time spent on visited pages
  • The device's IP address

Cookies and Analytics

Cookies are small files placed on a device. They and analytics services help summarize traffic, popular pages, and how visitors move through the website. Browser controls can block cookies, though parts of the site may then work differently.

What We Do With This Data

  • Routing a search request to the selected partner
  • Finding and correcting technical problems
  • Measuring which pages are useful or need revision
  • Operating and improving website speed and reliability
  • Displaying advertising that may reflect visitor interests

No Criminal-Record Data on File

We do not maintain, compile, or sell a database of personal criminal records. Cattaraugus County content identifies official custodians, including the sheriff, criminal courts, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, and the New York State Sex Offender Registry/Public Subdirectory. Visitor information is not assembled into consumer reports or third-party criminal-history files, and this website is not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Third-Party Search Partners

Outside companies operate the search boxes. Their privacy terms govern anything submitted through those tools. Each provider sets its own retention and disclosure practices, which we do not control. Review the provider's policy before entering a query.

Links to Other Websites

Links may lead to the Cattaraugus County Sheriff, New York courts, state agencies, legal resources, or outside search services. Once a visitor leaves this website, the destination's privacy policy controls. Read it before providing personal information.

Some advertising providers may use their own systems to track activity across websites for targeted advertising. We do not operate that tracking.

Who Might See Your Data

We do not sell personal data. Information may be available to:

  • Analytics providers that measure traffic and performance
  • Search partners that process a submitted query
  • Advertising networks that place ads
  • Government or law-enforcement bodies when valid legal process requires disclosure

How We Protect Your Data

Reasonable security practices are used to protect collected data. No internet service can guarantee perfect security, so we cannot promise that unauthorized access or another breach will never occur.

Users Under 18

The website is intended for adults and does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If such information is identified, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.

Your Data Rights

Applicable law may provide rights concerning personal data. New York's Freedom of Information Law, Public Officers Law Article 6, governs access to government agency records and does not turn this private website into a government records custodian. Executive Law ยง837 authorizes DCJS criminal-history collection functions but does not make state rap sheets public. Subject to applicable law, a visitor may:

  • Request access to personal information held about them
  • Ask for correction of inaccurate personal information
  • Seek deletion where the law permits it
  • Opt out of processing when an applicable right provides that choice

Updates to This Policy

This policy may be revised. A new version takes effect when posted here with an updated date.

Effective date: August 1, 2026