Privacy Policy

Introduction

Inmate Text App is a free information directory. We help families and friends find communication options at correctional facilities across the United States. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and what choices you have.

You do not need to create an account or provide any personal information to browse facilities, providers, guides, or any other content on this site. This policy applies to all visitors, whether they use the site as a guest or as a registered user.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit this website, certain information is recorded automatically by our hosting infrastructure and analytics tools. This includes:

• Your IP address and approximate location (country or city-level, not precise)
• The type of browser and device you are using
• Pages you visit, how long you spend on them, and which links you click
• The website that referred you to us
• The date and time of your visit

This information is collected through server logs and analytics tools such as Google Analytics. It helps us understand how people use the site so we can improve it. It does not identify you personally unless you choose to provide personal information directly.

Information You Choose to Provide

You can use this website entirely without sharing personal information. If you choose to provide information, it may happen in the following ways.

Email Subscriptions and Newsletter

If you subscribe to updates through our email signup form, we collect your email address. We use this to send you occasional updates about facility changes, new guides, and platform improvements. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link included in every email we send. We do not share subscriber lists with third parties for marketing purposes.

Contact Forms

If you send us a message through a contact form or by direct email, we receive the information included in your message, such as your name and email address. We use this only to respond to your question and do not add you to any mailing list without your explicit consent.

Account Creation

When account features become available, we will collect an email address and password to create your account. Additional profile information may be collected if you choose to provide it. We will update this policy with full details before those features go live.

Cookies

This website uses a small number of cookies. Cookies are small text files stored in your browser that help the site remember your preferences.

We use cookies for:

• Remembering your light or dark mode preference
• Analytics, to understand which pages are visited most often
• Session management if you create an account

We do not use cookies to track you across other websites. We do not use advertising cookies and we do not sell cookie data to any third party. If you prefer not to allow cookies, you can disable them in your browser settings. Some features, such as your theme preference, may not work without them.

Analytics

We use analytics tools to understand how visitors use this site. This helps us identify which guides are most helpful, which facility pages get the most traffic, and where we can improve the platform.

Analytics data is aggregated and does not identify individual visitors personally. If we use Google Analytics, it is configured to respect privacy settings and does not share data with third parties for advertising purposes.

Log Data

Our hosting provider automatically records standard server logs. These logs include IP addresses, browser information, pages visited, and timestamps. Log data is kept for a limited time for security and troubleshooting purposes and is not used for marketing or sold to any third party.

Third-Party Services

This website links to external services including JPay, CorrLinks, ConnectNetwork, GettingOut, Securus, and other inmate communication providers. When you follow a link to one of these services, you leave Inmate Text App. We do not control those websites and are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review the privacy policy of any external site before providing personal information to them.

We use trusted third-party services to help operate this website, including:

• Vercel (web hosting)
• Supabase (authentication and database, when account features are active)
• Mailchimp (email delivery for newsletter subscribers)
• Google Analytics (website usage analytics)

Each of these providers has its own privacy policy and security practices. We select providers that meet reasonable data protection standards.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Operate and improve the website
• Understand how visitors use the platform
• Send email updates to subscribers who have consented
• Respond to questions or messages you send us
• Diagnose technical problems and maintain security

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. We do not use your data to display targeted advertisements.

Data Retention

We keep personal information only as long as necessary for its purpose:

• Analytics data: up to 26 months (or as configured in our analytics tool)
• Email subscriber data: until you unsubscribe
• Contact form messages: only as long as needed to respond
• Server logs: up to 30 days
• Account data: until you delete your account

Your Rights and Opt-Out Options

You have the right to:

• Know what personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your personal data
• Unsubscribe from emails at any time (via the link in any email we send)
• Opt out of analytics using your browser settings or a browser extension

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the email address listed at the bottom of this page and we will respond within a reasonable time.

Data Protection

We take reasonable technical and organizational steps to protect the information we hold. These include using HTTPS encryption for all traffic, using trusted hosting providers, and limiting access to personal data to those who need it.

No system connected to the internet is completely secure. While we work to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If we become aware of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you as required by applicable law.

Children's Privacy

This website is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

External Links

This website contains links to external websites including correctional facility directories, provider websites, and government resources. These links are provided for your convenience.

We do not control the content or privacy practices of those websites. Clicking an external link takes you away from Inmate Text App. The destination site's own privacy policy applies once you leave our site.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the platform grows or as laws and best practices change. When we make significant changes, we will update the date at the top of this page. For major changes that affect how we use personal data, we will notify email subscribers.

We encourage you to review this policy from time to time. Continued use of this website after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to make a data request, or need to report a concern, you can reach us at:

support@inmatemessaging.com

We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within five business days.