Privacy Policy
How we collect, use, and protect the information you share with UNCUFF the Innocent.
On this page
1. Introduction
UNCUFF the Innocent (“UNCUFF,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to overturning wrongful convictions and winning freedom for innocent people. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect through our website, how we use and share it, and the choices you have. By using our website or submitting information to us, you agree to the practices described here.
2. Information we collect
Information you provide to us
We collect the information you choose to give us, including when you:
- Contact us — your name, email address, subject, and message.
- Apply to volunteer — your name, email address, phone number, areas of interest, and any background you share. If you advance in our volunteer process, we may later collect additional information needed for vetting, which can include references and, where permitted, information used to conduct a background check.
- Subscribe to our newsletter — your email address, subscription status, signup source, and related delivery and engagement information processed through beehiiv.
- Request aid or submit a case — information about you, an incarcerated or accused person, and the underlying case, which you or others provide to us.
- Make a donation — when you donate, Givebutter and its payment-processing partners collect and process your payment card, bank, or digital-wallet information. UNCUFF does not receive or store complete payment-card or bank-account credentials. We do receive and retain donor contact information, contribution amounts and dates, transaction and receipt information, recurring-gift status, and any message or preferences you provide.
Information collected automatically
When you visit our website, our hosting provider and embedded service providers may collect limited technical information, such as your IP address, browser and device type, pages viewed, referral source, and the date and time of your visit. We do not currently use Meta Pixel, Google Ads, or similar advertising pixels. Our newsletter provider, beehiiv, may use cookies, analytics, and attribution technologies in connection with its embedded subscription forms.
3. How we use information
We use the information we collect to:
- Respond to your messages and inquiries;
- Review and process volunteer applications and requests for aid;
- Process donations and send receipts and acknowledgments;
- Operate, maintain, and improve our website and programs;
- Send updates or communications you have asked to receive; and
- Comply with the law and protect the rights, safety, and property of UNCUFF, the people we serve, and others.
4. How we share information
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as needed to operate, and only with:
- Service providers who act on our behalf — for example, our form-processing provider (Formspree), beehiiv, which hosts our newsletter subscription list, subscription forms, and newsletter analytics, our payment processor for donations (Givebutter), our website host, our email provider, and, where applicable, a background-check provider used in volunteer vetting. Contact and volunteer form submissions are transmitted to and may be stored by Formspree before being delivered to or accessed by UNCUFF.
- Case and organizational professionals — authorized directors, volunteers, attorneys, investigators, forensic experts, consultants, and other professionals who need the information to evaluate or perform UNCUFF’s work and who are subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations.
- Document-review and research providers — technology services used to organize, search, summarize, or analyze case materials.
- Legal and safety purposes — when we believe disclosure is required by law or legal process, or is necessary to protect rights, safety, or property.
- With your direction — when you ask us to share information as part of advancing a case or your volunteer application.
5. Sensitive information
Because of the nature of our work, submissions may contain sensitive information about criminal cases, incarcerated or accused people, witnesses, complainants, or family members. We restrict access to people who need the information for legitimate organizational purposes and may share it with authorized directors, volunteers, attorneys, investigators, experts, consultants, and service providers involved in evaluating or advancing our work.
Communications with UNCUFF are not automatically protected by attorney-client privilege or attorney work-product protection. Do not send Social Security numbers, complete financial-account numbers, passwords, sealed materials, materials subject to a protective order, or information you are not legally authorized to provide.
6. Data retention
We keep personal information for as long as needed to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, to maintain our organizational and financial records, and to comply with legal obligations. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete or de-identify it.
7. Your choices and rights
You may ask us to access, correct, or delete personal information you have provided, and you may opt out of non-essential communications at any time by contacting us. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under applicable privacy laws. We will respond to reasonable requests consistent with applicable law. Note that we may need to retain certain information for recordkeeping, legal, or safety reasons.
8. Children’s privacy
Our website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly solicit personal information directly from children under 13. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Our case-related work may involve information about minors contained in court records or submitted by adults. If a child has directly submitted personal information through the website, a parent or guardian may contact us to request appropriate action.
9. Data security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please use the contact information below before sending unusually sensitive material so that we can discuss an appropriate method of transmission.
10. Third-party links and services
Our website may link to or rely on third-party services (such as our payment processor or form provider). Their handling of your information is governed by their own privacy policies, not this one. We encourage you to review the privacy practices of any third-party service you use.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date above. Your continued use of the website after changes take effect means you accept the revised policy.
12. Contact us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, contact us at:
UNCUFF the Innocent
6701 Corporate Dr. #4143, Johnston, IA 50131
uncuff@uncufftheinnocent.org