1. Who We Are

America's Top Mugshot ("we," "us," or "our") operates americastopmugshot.com, a directory of publicly available arrest records combined with community voting and tagging features.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your information when you interact with our website, email communications, and services. It applies to all visitors and registered users, regardless of location.

2. Information We Collect

a) Information You Provide Directly

• Account registration details (name, email, username, password)
• Ratings, votes, and any comments you submit (login required to post; public viewers cannot see who voted)
• Removal request details (name, contact info, supporting documents)
• Communication content (emails, contact form submissions)

b) Information Collected Automatically

• IP address, device identifiers, browser type, operating system
• Pages viewed, links clicked, time spent, referral source
• Approximate location (via IP) to display relevant local content
• Log files, diagnostic data, and error reports

c) Cookies & Similar Technologies

We use:

• Strictly Necessary Cookies – Site operation and security
• Preference Cookies – Remember settings and login state
• Analytics Cookies – Measure usage and improve performance
• Advertising Cookies – Deliver and measure personalized ads via Google AdSense and other partners

You can manage cookie preferences via our on-site Cookie Consent Banner or your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect functionality.

d) Public Record Data We Display

We display mugshots and arrest information obtained from publicly available government sources. This information is not collected from you.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide, operate, and improve our website
• Process ratings, votes, and competitions (weekly, monthly)
• Personalize content and ads based on location and consent
• Ensure site security, prevent abuse, and detect fraud
• Communicate with you about account, updates, or support requests
• Measure site performance and analyze trends
• Comply with legal obligations

Legal bases (for jurisdictions like the EU/UK): consent, contract, legitimate interests, and compliance with legal obligations.

4. User-Generated Content (UGC) & Moderation

• Ratings and votes require login.
• Public viewers see only aggregated results; voter identity is not shown.
• We log activity internally to prevent fraud or manipulation.
• We moderate UGC to comply with our Terms of Service and applicable laws.

5. Advertising & Analytics

We use Google AdSense and similar services to display ads. These partners may use cookies or device identifiers to:

• Deliver personalized or contextual ads
• Measure ad performance
• Detect fraud or abuse

You can:

• Opt out of personalized ads via Google Ads Settings
• Opt out of interest-based ads via the NAI Opt-Out Tool
• Use our cookie banner to withdraw or change consent

We also use Google Analytics 4 to measure site usage. Analytics data is anonymized where possible and is not used to personally identify you without consent.

6. Information Sharing

We do not sell personal information. We may share information with:

• Service Providers – Hosting, analytics, email, payment processing, security
• Advertising Partners – Limited to pseudonymous or aggregated data
• Legal Authorities – When required by law or to protect our rights
• Business Transfers – If our business is sold or merged

7. Data Retention

• Account data: Retained while active, then deleted or anonymized after 24 months unless needed for legal purposes.
• Ratings/votes: Retained to preserve historical competition results.
• Logs & analytics: Retained for 12 months unless security or legal needs require longer.
• Public record content: Retained unless updated or removed upon valid request.

8. Data Security

We use technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect data. No method is 100% secure, but we take reasonable measures to minimize risk.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access, correct, or delete your information
• Request data portability
• Restrict or object to processing
• Withdraw consent (e.g., for personalized ads)
• Opt out of "sale" or "sharing" for targeted advertising (U.S. state privacy laws)

California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah residents can exercise rights by emailing info@americastopmugshot.com or using our on-site request form.

10. Public Record Content & Removal Requests

Presumption of innocence: Arrest does not imply guilt.

We will review removal/update requests if:

• You provide full name, page link(s), and government-issued ID
• You supply legal documentation (e.g., expungement order, dismissal proof)
• Your request meets applicable legal criteria

Send requests to: info@americastopmugshot.com.

11. International Data Transfers

If we transfer personal data internationally, we use safeguards such as standard contractual clauses or rely on adequacy decisions.

12. Children's Privacy

This website is for users 18+. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover such data, we will delete it.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy. The updated version will have a new "Effective Date." Significant changes will be announced on the website.

14. Contact Us

America's Top Mugshot

Email: info@americastopmugshot.com
Website: americastopmugshot.com