Data You Give Us Directly
Search Queries
A name or place entered in a search box is sent directly to the outside provider operating that tool. The provider processes the request and delivers its results. We do not keep a separate log or database of those search terms.
Messages and Contact Submissions
An email sent to us may be retained long enough to review and answer it. We keep such correspondence within our organization unless disclosure is required by a valid legal duty.
Data We Gather Automatically
Loading a page can cause the servers to record standard technical details about the visit:
- Page-view dates and times
- Your device's assigned IP address
- The referring website, when one is reported
- Browser name and version
- Operating system and device category
- Pages viewed and the approximate time spent on them
Cookies and Analytics
Cookies are small files saved on a device. They and analytics services help us see aggregate traffic patterns, such as popular pages and common exit points. A browser can reject or remove cookies, although some features may then work differently.
What We Do With This Data
- Routing a search request to the selected outside provider
- Maintaining stable and responsive site operation
- Diagnosing faults and other technical problems
- Understanding which resources readers use most
- Displaying advertising that may reflect visitor interests
No Criminal-Record Data on File
Lewis County Criminal History does not host, assemble, or sell a personal criminal-record database. It publishes directions to records held by the Lewis County Sheriff, the state courts, the West Virginia State Police Criminal Identification Bureau, and the West Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry. We are not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and visitor data is not turned into consumer reports or third-party criminal profiles.
Third-Party Search Partners
Outside companies operate the search tools displayed on some pages. Information submitted there is governed by that provider's privacy policy. Each provider chooses its own retention and disclosure practices, which we cannot control. Review those terms before entering a query.
Links to Other Websites
Links may lead to courts, sheriff offices, state agencies, legal resources, or commercial search providers. Once you leave our pages, the destination's policy controls its collection and use of information. Read that policy before providing personal data.
Advertising companies may also use their own systems to measure activity across websites and select tailored ads.
Who Might See Your Data
We do not sell personal information. Limited data may be available to:
- Analytics providers measuring use and performance
- Search partners processing a query submitted to their tool
- 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 safeguards are used for information within our control. No online service can guarantee perfect security, however, so we cannot promise that unauthorized access will never occur.
Users Under 18
This resource is intended for adults, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from a person under 18. If such information is identified, a request may be made for its deletion.
Your Data Rights
Rights vary with the governing law and a user's residence. West Virginia's Freedom of Information Act privacy exemption concerns public-body files, while W. Va. Code ยง15-2-24 limits release of state criminal histories. Neither provision turns this private resource into a public records custodian. Subject to applicable law, a person may:
- Request deletion of eligible personal data
- Ask what personal information we retain
- Object to certain forms of processing when the law permits
- Request correction of inaccurate personal information
Updates to This Policy
This policy may be revised as practices or legal duties change. A new version becomes available here with its current effective date.
Effective date: August 11, 2026