Last Updated: August 10, 2026
Crimes of the Week is committed to publishing accurate, responsibly sourced, and up-to-date crime reporting.
Criminal cases often develop over time. Information available shortly after an arrest or investigation may later be clarified by court filings, prosecutors, law-enforcement agencies, attorneys, corrections departments, or other reliable sources.
When credible information shows that a published article contains a material factual error or has become materially misleading because of a later development, Crimes of the Week may correct or update the article.
1. What We Correct
We may correct factual errors involving information such as:
- Names
- Ages
- Dates
- Locations
- Criminal charges
- Arrest information
- Bond or bail
- Court status
- Pleas
- Verdicts
- Convictions
- Sentences
- Dismissals
- Appeals
- Custody status
- Victim information
- Agency or court identification
- Images or captions
- Source attribution
- Other material facts
We may also correct language that unintentionally presents an allegation as an established fact.
2. Updates Versus Corrections
Not every change to an article is a correction.
Criminal cases naturally develop after an article is published. An article may therefore be updated because new information has become available even though the original reporting was accurate when published.
Examples include:
- New or amended charges
- Changes in bond
- Indictments
- Guilty pleas
- Plea agreements
- Trial results
- Convictions
- Acquittals
- Dismissals
- Sentencing
- Appeals
- Fugitive captures
- Release from custody
- Other significant procedural developments
An update reflects new information.
A correction addresses information that was inaccurate, materially incomplete, or misleading when published or that requires clarification.
3. How We Review Correction Requests
Readers, subjects of articles, attorneys, law-enforcement agencies, family members, public officials, and other interested parties may submit a correction request.
To help us evaluate a request, please provide:
- The title or URL of the article
- The specific statement or information you believe is incorrect
- The correction you are requesting
- An explanation of why the information is inaccurate
- Supporting documentation or a reliable source, when available
- Your contact information in case additional clarification is needed
Reliable supporting material may include:
- Court records
- Court orders
- Prosecutor statements
- Police or sheriff records
- Government records
- Corrections records
- Official agency statements
- Attorney correspondence
- Other credible documentation relevant to the disputed information
We may independently review additional sources before making a decision.
4. Corrections Based on New Court Developments
An arrest or criminal charge does not establish guilt.
When reliable information shows that charges were later dismissed, reduced, amended, or otherwise materially changed, we may update the article to reflect the later development.
Likewise, when a defendant is acquitted, convicted, sentenced, enters a guilty plea, wins an appeal, or experiences another significant procedural development, we may update earlier coverage when appropriate.
Our goal is to avoid leaving readers with a materially outdated understanding of the current case status.
5. Minor Edits
Minor changes may be made without a formal correction notice.
These may include:
- Typographical corrections
- Grammar corrections
- Formatting changes
- Broken-link repairs
- Minor wording improvements
- Source-link updates
- Image formatting changes
These changes do not normally alter the substance of the article.
6. Material Corrections
When a correction substantially changes an important factual statement, we may add a correction or update note to the article.
The wording and placement of a correction notice will depend on the nature and significance of the error.
A correction notice may explain:
- What information was incorrect
- What the corrected information is
- When the article was corrected
- Why the change was made, when useful to readers
We do not believe every minor edit requires a public correction note, but material factual corrections should be handled transparently when appropriate.
7. Source Disagreements
Sometimes credible sources disagree.
For example, early police reports, prosecutor statements, court records, and news reports may contain different ages, timelines, charges, or descriptions of an incident.
When we identify a meaningful conflict between reliable sources, we may:
- Use the most recent authoritative source
- Attribute competing versions
- Explain that the information is disputed
- Remove an uncertain detail
- Update the article when the discrepancy is resolved
We do not consider repetition of the same claim by multiple secondary websites to be independent verification.
8. Requests Concerning Allegations
Crimes of the Week distinguishes allegations from convictions.
If an article involves pending charges, allegations should be described as allegations and attributed appropriately.
If you believe an article incorrectly states or implies that an unresolved allegation has been proven, you may request review under this Corrections Policy.
9. Dismissed Charges and Acquittals
If reliable records establish that charges discussed in an article were later dismissed or that a defendant was acquitted, we may update the article to reflect that outcome.
We do not necessarily delete accurate historical reporting of an arrest or criminal charge simply because the case later ended differently.
In many circumstances, updating the article with the final or latest verified outcome provides readers with a more accurate historical record than deleting the original reporting entirely.
10. Expungement, Sealing, and Record Changes
Requests involving sealed, expunged, restricted, or otherwise legally altered records will be reviewed according to the facts of the request and applicable law.
Where appropriate, we may request documentation showing the relevant court or legal action.
A court’s restriction of a record does not automatically determine how every previously published news article must be handled, but legally valid requests will be evaluated carefully.
11. Removal Requests
A correction request is different from a request to remove an article.
Crimes of the Week does not automatically remove accurate news coverage simply because a person would prefer that it no longer be available.
Removal requests may be considered in exceptional circumstances involving issues such as:
- Mistaken identity
- Material factual inaccuracies
- Legal obligations
- Safety concerns
- Protected victim information
- Protected juvenile information
- Improper disclosure of sensitive information
- Sealed or restricted records
- Other exceptional circumstances
In many cases, updating or correcting an article may be more appropriate than removing it.
12. Images and Identification
If an article contains an incorrect photograph, booking image, caption, name, or other identifying information, please contact us promptly.
Mistaken identity is treated seriously.
When a credible request indicates that an image or identifying detail may refer to the wrong person, we may temporarily remove or modify the disputed material while reviewing the issue.
13. Broken or Updated Sources
External source links may change, move, or become unavailable after publication.
When practical, we may repair broken links or replace them with current versions of the same official or reliable source.
A broken external link does not necessarily mean the underlying article is inaccurate, but we aim to maintain useful sourcing whenever reasonably possible.
14. Anonymous Correction Requests
We may review information submitted anonymously.
However, providing contact information can make it easier for us to request clarification or supporting material.
The credibility of a correction request depends primarily on the evidence provided, not merely on the identity of the person submitting it.
15. Response and Review Time
Correction requests vary significantly in complexity.
Some issues can be resolved quickly, while others may require reviewing court records, contacting agencies, comparing multiple sources, or waiting for authoritative documentation.
We do not guarantee a specific response time.
Submitting a correction request does not guarantee that a requested change will be made.
16. Editorial Judgment
Crimes of the Week retains editorial discretion when evaluating correction, update, clarification, and removal requests, subject to applicable law.
We consider factors such as:
- Accuracy
- Source reliability
- Public interest
- Newsworthiness
- Current case status
- Available documentation
- Fairness
- Applicable legal requirements
- The historical context of the reporting
Our goal is to maintain an accurate and useful news record.
17. How to Submit a Correction
Correction requests may be submitted through our Contact page or by email.
Please include the article title or URL and clearly identify the information you believe should be reviewed.
Email: [CONTACT EMAIL]
For the fastest evaluation, include documentation or links to reliable sources supporting the requested correction.
18. Related Editorial Policies
Additional information about how Crimes of the Week researches, writes, updates, and sources its reporting is available in our Editorial Standards.
Our broader information-handling practices are described in our Privacy Policy.
19. Changes to This Policy
Crimes of the Week may update this Corrections Policy as our publication, procedures, technology, or legal obligations evolve.
The “Last Updated” date at the top of this page will be revised when material changes are made.
20. Our Commitment
No publication is immune from error.
When credible evidence shows that Crimes of the Week has published materially inaccurate information, our goal is to investigate the issue and correct the record appropriately.
Accuracy is more important than preserving an error.