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Privacy Policy

This policy describes the data collected during a visit, why it is used, and the limited situations in which another party may receive it. By using Yakima County Criminal History, you accept the practices stated below.

Data You Give Us Directly

Search Queries

A name or location entered in a search tool is sent directly to the outside provider operating that tool. The provider processes the query and supplies its result. We do not keep or log those search terms on our systems.

Messages and Contact Submissions

We retain an email message when needed to respond. It remains within our organization unless disclosure is required by a valid legal obligation.

Data We Gather Automatically

Our servers receive basic technical details when a page loads:

  • Page-view timestamps
  • Device type and operating system
  • IP address assigned to the device
  • Browser type and version
  • Referring site, when one is supplied
  • Pages viewed and time spent on them

Cookies and Analytics

Cookies are small files placed on a device. We and our analytics services use them to understand traffic in aggregate, such as popular pages and common exit points. A browser can block cookies, though doing so may change how some features work.

What We Do With This Data

  • Diagnosing and repairing technical problems
  • Operating the site and maintaining performance
  • Routing a search query to the selected partner
  • Measuring which reference pages are useful
  • 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. The site explains how to reach Yakima County courts, the Yakima County Sheriff's Office, Washington State Patrol, and the Washington Sex Offender Public Registry. We are not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Visitor data is not assembled into consumer reports or third-party criminal record files.

Third-Party Search Partners

Outside companies operate the site's search boxes. Their own privacy policies govern what a user enters, along with their retention and sharing practices. We do not control those policies, so review the applicable partner terms before submitting a query.

Links to Other Websites

Links may lead to Yakima County offices, Washington court portals, state agencies, legal resources, or outside tools. Once a visitor leaves this site, the destination's privacy policy applies. Review it before providing personal information.

Advertising companies may use their own systems to track activity across websites for targeted advertising.

Who Might See Your Data

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

  • Analytics providers measuring traffic and performance
  • Search partners processing a submitted query
  • Advertising networks placing ads on the pages
  • Government or law enforcement bodies acting under a valid legal order

How We Protect Your Data

We use standard safeguards for data in our care. No internet system is completely secure, however, and we cannot guarantee that a breach will never occur.

Users Under 18

The site is intended for adults, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from a person under 18. If we learn that a minor supplied such data, we will delete it.

Your Data Rights

Washington law treats government and criminal-history records under specific rules. The Washington Public Records Act, chapter 42.56 RCW, governs nonexempt executive-agency records, while the Washington Criminal Records Privacy Act, chapter 10.97 RCW, governs criminal-history dissemination and review. Those laws do not turn this private site into a government record custodian. Subject to applicable law, a visitor may:

  • Request deletion of data we hold
  • Ask for a copy of data we have about the visitor
  • Seek correction of inaccurate information
  • Opt out of processing when the law provides that choice

Updates to This Policy

We may revise this policy. A new version becomes available here with an updated effective date, so visitors should review it periodically.

Effective date: August 10, 2026