Privacy Policy
Your Information and Your Rights
This Privacy Policy explains how SWYS collects, uses, and protects your personal information. We are committed to creating a safe and respectful online space for all our visitors, particularly those who have been affected by the criminal justice system and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We understand the unique sensitivities and potential risks associated with sharing personal information and are dedicated to being transparent and responsible in our data practices.
We encourage you to read this policy carefully to understand your rights and how we handle your information.
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
We recognize that the information you share with us is personal and may be sensitive. Our privacy practices are guided by the following principles:
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Respect and Dignity: We treat all individuals and their data with the utmost respect and dignity.
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Transparency: We are open and honest about what information we collect, why we collect it, and how it is used.
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Data Minimization: We only collect information that is necessary to provide you with our services and resources.
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Security: We take the security of your information seriously and use appropriate measures to protect it from unauthorized access.
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Empowerment: We aim to provide you with clear information and choices about your data.
Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information:
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Information You Provide Directly: This includes information you voluntarily share with us, such as your name, email address, and any information you choose to provide in contact forms, forums, or when signing up for newsletters. You are not required to provide any personal information to browse the general content of our website.
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Information About Your Experiences (Optional and With Consent): For specific programs or resources, we may ask for more detailed information about your experiences with the criminal justice system or homelessness. This information will only be collected with your explicit and informed consent, and you will be clearly informed of how it will be used. You will always have the option to refuse to provide this information without affecting your access to our general services.
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Information Collected Automatically: Like most websites, we may collect some information automatically when you visit our site. This can include your IP address, browser type, the pages you visit, and the time and date of your visit. This information is used to improve our website and services and is not used to personally identify you.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
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To Provide and Improve Our Services: To deliver the resources, information, and support you request and to improve the functionality and content of our website.
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To Communicate with You: To respond to your inquiries, send you newsletters or other information you have requested, and provide you with updates.
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For Research and Advocacy (Anonymized Data Only): We may use anonymized and aggregated data (information that does not identify you personally) for research and advocacy purposes to better understand the needs of the communities we serve and to advocate for systemic change. We will never use your personal, identifiable information for these purposes without your explicit consent.
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To Ensure Safety and Security: To protect our website and our users from fraud, abuse, and other security risks.
Sharing Your Information
Your trust is paramount. We will not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We will only share your information in the following limited circumstances:
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With Your Explicit Consent: We will share your personal information with third parties only when we have your clear and informed consent to do so.
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With Service Providers: We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and providing our services (e.g., website hosting, email delivery). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which it was shared.
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For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:
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Comply with a legal obligation or a valid legal process (such as a subpoena or court order).
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Protect and defend our rights or property.
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Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the website.
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Protect the personal safety of users of the website or the public.
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We are particularly mindful of regulations and guidelines concerning sensitive information, including the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy and the data standards for Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS). While we may not be directly subject to these regulations, we look to their principles of security and confidentiality as a guide for our own practices.
Your Rights and Choices
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
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Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
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Right to Correction: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
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Right to Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain legal limitations.
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Right to Opt-Out: You can opt-out of receiving future communications from us at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in our emails or by contacting us directly.
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Right to Anonymity: You are welcome to browse our website and access our resources without providing any personal information.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [Your Contact Email Address].
Data Security
We have implemented technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These measures include [mention any specific security measures you have in place, e.g., encryption, access controls, staff training]. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
Data Retention
We will retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy or as required by law.
Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to other websites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
Children's Privacy
Our website is not intended for individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to remove that information from our servers.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at: