SafeSpace Privacy Policy

Crime Stoppers of Houston, Inc. operates SafeSpace, a digital safety and prevention resource designed primarily for students ages 13 through 18. Parents, educators, and other trusted adults may also access SafeSpace resources and features intended for them.

We recognize the importance of protecting the privacy of every SafeSpace visitor, especially young people. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect through the SafeSpace website, how we use it, when it may be shared, and the choices available to users and their parents or guardians.

This policy applies only to the SafeSpace website. Other Crime Stoppers of Houston websites, programs, and services may have separate privacy practices.

Visitors may access most SafeSpace educational content, including Reel Stories, safety resources, monthly topics, and SafeSteps, without creating an account.

When someone visits SafeSpace, certain technical and usage information may be collected automatically. This may include:

• Internet Protocol address
• Browser and device type
• Operating system
• Pages viewed and features used
• Referring website
• Date and time of access
• General interaction and performance information
• Cookies or similar identifiers used for security, functionality, and analytics

We use this information to operate the website, understand how SafeSpace is used, improve our educational resources, and protect the security of the site.

Creating a SafeSpace account is optional. An account allows users to save progress, earn points, maintain streaks, unlock avatars, and participate in leaderboards.

When a user creates or completes a SafeSpace account, we may collect:

• School email address
• First and last name
• School
• Grade level or adult role, such as parent or teacher
• A system-generated username
• A selected SafeSpace avatar
• Account and authentication information

SafeSpace does not collect credit card or payment information.

For registered users, we may collect information about participation on SafeSpace, including:

• Quizzes and activities completed
• Points earned
• Streaks, achievements, and unlocked rewards
• Responses to brief website polls
• Leaderboard rankings
• General progress and engagement with SafeSpace features

We use this information to save progress, provide account features, personalize the user experience, recognize participation, and evaluate the effectiveness of SafeSpace programming.

SafeSpace includes individual and school leaderboards. The public leaderboard may display a user's:

• System-generated username
• Selected avatar
• School
• Points and ranking

A user's first name, last name, and email address are not intended to appear on the public leaderboard.

School leaderboards may display a school's name, participating student count, and combined point total. Users who have questions or concerns about leaderboard information may contact us using the information below.

SafeSteps provides interactive guidance to help visitors think through difficult or unsafe situations. SafeSteps does not require visitors to provide their real name. However, messages or selections entered into SafeSteps may be processed and stored by the technology provider used to operate the chat feature.

Visitors should not submit names, contact information, school schedules, addresses, or other identifying information about themselves or another person through SafeSteps.

Crime Stoppers of Houston may use information collected through SafeSpace to:

• Create, authenticate, and maintain user accounts
• Save user progress and participation
• Award points, streaks, avatars, and other achievements
• Operate individual and school leaderboards
• Provide educational content and interactive guidance
• Respond to questions or support requests
• Understand website use and improve SafeSpace
• Maintain the security and integrity of the website
• Prevent misuse, fraud, or unauthorized activity
• Create aggregated or de-identified reports about program participation and impact
• Comply with applicable legal obligations

Aggregated or de-identified information may be shared with schools, funders, community partners, or the public. These reports are not intended to identify individual users.

Crime Stoppers of Houston does not sell or rent SafeSpace users' personal information or use it for unrelated commercial purposes.

Information may be shared in limited circumstances with:

• Service providers that support website hosting, account authentication, data storage, analytics, security, and SafeSteps chat functionality
• Law enforcement, government agencies, or other parties when required by law or necessary to protect the safety, rights, or property of a user, Crime Stoppers of Houston, or another person
• Schools, funders, or program partners in an aggregated or de-identified form
• The public through the limited leaderboard information described in this policy

Service providers may access information only as necessary to perform services on our behalf and are expected to maintain appropriate privacy and security protections.

SafeSpace may use cookies and similar technologies to keep users signed in, remember preferences, support website functions, measure engagement, and understand how visitors use the site.

Visitors may be able to limit cookies through their browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect account access or other SafeSpace features.

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to operate SafeSpace, maintain user accounts, provide requested features, meet legal or reporting obligations, and protect the security of our systems.

When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete it or convert it into aggregated or de-identified information.

Users may review certain account information through their SafeSpace profile.

To request access to, correction of, or deletion of a SafeSpace account or its associated personal information, contact innovation@crime-stoppers.org.

Parents or legal guardians may also contact us regarding information associated with their child. We may take reasonable steps to verify the identity and authority of the person making the request before providing access to or deleting information.

SafeSpace accounts and interactive features that collect personal information are intended for users age 13 and older. Children under 13 should not create a SafeSpace account, use SafeSteps chat, or otherwise submit personal information through the website.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that personal information has been collected from a child under 13, we will take reasonable steps to delete it. A parent or guardian who believes a child under 13 has provided personal information may contact us at innovation@crime-stoppers.org.

Crime Stoppers of Houston uses reasonable physical, electronic, and administrative safeguards designed to protect information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. However, no website, online service, or data transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

SafeSpace provides links to outside organizations, reporting platforms, crisis services, and educational resources. Crime Stoppers of Houston does not control the privacy or security practices of those third-party websites. Visitors should review the privacy policies of any external service they choose to use.

We may update this Privacy Policy as SafeSpace features or information practices change. The updated policy will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. If a change materially affects how we use previously collected personal information, we will provide additional notice when appropriate.

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or SafeSpace's information practices, contact:

For SafeSpace account access, correction, or deletion requests, email innovation@crime-stoppers.org.