Privacy, Security, and Comment Policy

Information Routinely Collected and Stored

Our privacy policy outlines the types of information we learn when you visit us online through our website or third-party social media and how such information will be used.

Website

When you visit our website, the Commission does not request, collect, or record personally identifiable information (PII). If you visit our website to view or download information, we collect and store the following information:

  • The name of the domain from which you accessed the Internet;
  • The IP address from which you accessed the Commission's website;
  • The date and time you access our site;
  • The type of browser and operating system used to access the Commission's site;
  • The pages you visit;
  • If you linked to the Commission's website from another website, the address of the originating site.

This information is used solely for the purpose of evaluating and maintaining our site. From this information, we learn what users like and need; what kind of technology they are using; how often they visit; and other valuable information that helps us to offer the best site possible.

 

Social Media and Other Third-Party Sites

In addition to the website, the Commission maintains official social media accounts on third-party websites to broadcast Commission work to a wider audience. When you visit official Commission social media pages, the Commission does not request, collect, or record personally identifiable information (PII). Information collected by the Commission will be used solely for the purpose of evaluating and maintaining those accounts. Please be aware that privacy policies of third-party websites may not be the same as the privacy policy governing the Commission's website.

 

Information You Provide

If you choose to provide us with personal information, perhaps to be placed on our mailing list or to request additional information, it will be used only for the purpose(s) you state. We collect such information only to respond to your requests. We do not share that information with others, and we do not collect information for commercial marketing.

 

Security Notice

For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this Government computer system employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage.

Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that if such monitoring reveals evidence of possible abuse or criminal activity, such evidence may be provided to appropriate law enforcement officials.

Unauthorized attempts to upload or change information on this server are strictly prohibited and may be punishable by law, including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 1996.

 

Comment Policy

Comments Submitted Through Social Media Are Not Official Public Comments.

Comments submitted to the Commission through social media platforms, such as Twitter, are not official for purposes of the Commission’s formal rulemaking process. Official public comments must be submitted directly to the Commission via the Public Comment Submission Portal or regular mail during a formal comment period. The Commission may follow, respond directly to users or repost content. "Follows", "mentions" or "retweets" do not imply bias or endorsement.

Comments Will Be Monitored.

The Commission acknowledges that social media tools are intended to foster a healthy dialogue among users, and it encourages the use of social media for that purpose. The Commission also recognizes that social media users may present various, sometimes divergent, views on issues that impact federal sentencing. Commission staff will monitor all comments posted to Commission accounts through social media outlets. The Commission reserves the right to delete comments. Among the types of comments that will be deleted are comments that:

  • are overtly political, partisan, or made in support of a political party or a candidate in a political campaign;
  • contain requests to contact any federal, state, or local government official, including a member of Congress;
  • include advertisements, endorsements, or promotions of specific commercial services or products;
  • contain language that is vulgar, abusive, or offensive;
  • include sensitive or personally identifiable information;
  • contain threats or defamatory statements; or
  • advocate illegal activity.