Privacy Policy

Information We Collect

PlainCrime's approach to visitor privacy reflects our commitment to responsible data use. Analytics are handled by Umami, a cookie-free platform that does not collect any personal data about visitors. All traffic metrics are stored in anonymized, aggregate form.

If you subscribe to the weekly crime-trend digest, we also collect the email address you submit and your topic preferences. See Email digest below.

Email digest

The weekly digest is an optional, double-opt-in mailing list. When you subscribe we store your email address, preferred topics, confirmation status, and confirmation/unsubscribe tokens in a database file that is separate from the FBI crime dataset. We send a confirmation email before any digest; unconfirmed addresses do not receive digests. We do not buy, rent, or share subscriber lists. Every digest includes an unsubscribe link. To request deletion outside the unsubscribe link, email privacy@plaincrime.com.

Outbound delivery uses an operator-approved mail provider when configured. Until that provider is set, new addresses remain pending confirmation and no digests are sent.

Cookies & Tracking Technologies

PlainCrime does not set first-party cookies. However, third-party services used on this site may set cookies:

• Journey by Mediavine uses cookies to serve ads based on your visits to this and other websites.
• Cloudflare may set security cookies (e.g., __cf_bm) to distinguish humans from bots.
• Google Analytics (GA4) uses cookies to measure website traffic and usage patterns. Data is processed by Google in accordance with their privacy policy.

Your browser's light/dark theme preference is stored in localStorage, which never leaves your device.

Advertising

We display advertisements through Journey by Mediavine. Mediavine uses CONSENTMANAGER as its consent management platform. Mediavine and its advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites. This includes:

• Mediavine's use of advertising cookies and beacons for ad serving and frequency capping
• Third-party vendors and ad networks serving ads on this site through Journey

You can opt out of personalized advertising via Mediavine's opt-out page. You can also opt out of third-party vendor cookies at aboutads.info. For details on Mediavine's advertising partners, visit the Mediavine Privacy Policy.

Data Sources

All data displayed on this site comes from publicly available crime data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. No private or proprietary data is used. No personally identifiable information from these datasets is stored or displayed.

Editorial Independence & How Content Is Produced

Official FBI UCR data is transformed into readable profiles using the published methodology, and every figure is computed directly from the source and checked against it before publication. PlainCrime maintains the methodology, output checks, and correction channels. See the editorial & corrections policy for details.

We do not accept payment, sponsorship, or promoted placement from law enforcement agencies, cities, states, or any covered entity. Our only revenue source is contextual display advertising served by Journey by Mediavine; advertisers do not influence which jurisdictions we cover or how we present data, and they do not receive preferential placement.

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

• Cloudflare, CDN, security, and hosting (Cloudflare Privacy Policy)
• Journey by Mediavine, advertising (Mediavine Privacy Policy)
• Google Analytics, traffic measurement (Google Privacy Policy)
• Umami, privacy-focused, cookie-free analytics (Umami Privacy)

Your Rights

Under GDPR, CCPA, and similar privacy regulations, you have the right to:

• Know what data is collected about you
• Request deletion of your data
• Opt out of personalized advertising (see Advertising section above)
• Use browser privacy features or ad blockers to limit tracking

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you may be presented with a consent dialog for personalized advertising in compliance with GDPR. California residents may opt out of the sale of personal information under CCPA.

Children's Privacy

PlainCrime does not knowingly collect information from children under 13.

Changes

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date.

Contact

Questions about this privacy policy can be directed to privacy@plaincrime.com.