What we collect, why, and what is yours to control.
Plain language. No data selling.
This policy explains what information this website collects, how it is used, which services help run it, and the choices you have. ASC is a small, one-person training and consulting practice. We collect only what we need to respond to you and run the site, we do not sell your information, and you can opt out of our emails at any time.
No data sales·Opt out anytime·Minimal collection·You can ask what we hold
If you only read one section, read this one.
Only what you give us
The details you enter into a form (name, email, agency, role, and your message), the order details our book store needs if you buy a book, and website-usage data from the analytics tools listed below.
To respond and improve
To answer your inquiry, send a resource you requested, send occasional updates if you opt in, and understand which pages are useful.
Opt out, anytime
Unsubscribe from any email in one click, ask us what we hold, ask us to correct or delete it, or opt out of analytics in your browser.
Three kinds of information
1. Information you give us directly
When you fill out a form on this site, a contact request, a training inquiry, a resource download, or a notification or alert signup, we collect what you choose to enter, which typically includes:
- Your name
- Your email address
- Your agency, organization, or employer (when provided)
- Your role (for example, detective, supervisor, HR investigator)
- A phone number, only if you choose to include one
- The content of your message or request
You decide what to share. Fields marked optional can be left blank.
2. Information collected automatically
Like most websites, this site automatically records standard technical and usage data: a truncated or de-identified IP address, browser and device type, the pages you visit, how you arrived (for example, a search engine or a link), and general region. We use Google Analytics and Vercel Web Analytics to measure traffic, and Microsoft Clarity to understand how visitors use each page through heatmaps and session replays of clicks, scrolling, and mouse movement. We have set Clarity to mask the text you type into form fields. When you submit a form, Cloudflare Turnstile checks browser signals to tell people from spam bots. This data is used to understand and improve the site and to protect it from abuse. We do not use it to identify you personally.
3. If you buy a book
The Affiant’s Standard is sold two ways. When you order through the book store on this site, the order is processed by Shopify, which collects your name, email, shipping address, and payment. Your name, shipping address, and order details are sent to Lulu, which prints and ships your copy. When you buy on Amazon, the book is printed, sold, and shipped through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing under Amazon’s own privacy notice; we receive sales reports, not your name, address, or payment details.
What we do not collect on this site
We do not see or store payment-card numbers or banking details. Book payments are handled by Shopify’s checkout, and tuition and engagement payments are handled separately through invoicing and direct arrangement. This site does not run user accounts or logins, and we do not collect sensitive personal information beyond what you volunteer in a message. The Practitioner’s Compass video library at ascjoe.com has accounts and its own privacy policy.
What your information is for
We use the information above to:
- Respond to you. Answer questions, scope a training or consulting request, and follow up. Inquiries reach Joe directly.
- Deliver what you asked for. Send a resource, checklist, or document you requested through a download or signup form.
- Fill book orders. Process, print, ship, and support the books you order from our store.
- Send occasional updates, only if you opted in, such as new resources, case-law alerts, or manual updates. Every one of these emails has a one-click unsubscribe.
- Improve the site. Understand, in aggregate, which pages and resources are useful so we can make the site better.
- Meet legal and security obligations and protect the site against abuse.
We do not use your information for automated decision-making, profiling, or third-party advertising.
Cookies, kept simple
What cookies this site uses
This site uses Google Analytics 4 to measure traffic. Google Analytics sets cookies to recognize returning visitors in aggregate and to count page views and sessions.
We also partner with Microsoft Clarity to see how visitors use the site through behavioral metrics, heatmaps, and session replay, so we can find what is confusing and fix it. Clarity uses first-party and third-party cookies and similar technologies to collect this usage data. For how Microsoft collects and uses data, see the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
Vercel Web Analytics counts page views and measures page speed without cookies. Cloudflare Turnstile runs only on forms, to stop spam.
We do not run advertising or retargeting campaigns, and we do not sell analytics data to anyone.
One functional cookie, bf_access, is set only if you unlock the Brandyn Foster attendee resources page. It simply remembers that you have access so the page does not prompt you again, and it is not used for tracking, analytics, or advertising.
How to opt out
You can opt out of analytics at any time:
- Use your browser's settings to block or delete cookies.
- Install Google's official Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
- Block cookies from clarity.ms in your browser to opt out of Microsoft Clarity.
- Use a privacy-focused browser or extension that blocks analytics.
Blocking analytics will not affect your ability to use the site.
The services that help run the site
A few third-party services process limited data on ASC's behalf so the site, its forms, and the book store work. Each handles data under its own privacy terms.
Vercel
Hosts and serves the website, processes form submissions, and provides cookieless page-view and speed measurement. Standard server logs may include IP addresses for security and reliability.
Google Analytics
Provides the aggregate website-traffic measurement described above. Governed by Google's privacy policy.
Microsoft Clarity
Provides heatmaps and session replays of how pages are used, with typed form text masked. Governed by the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
Cloudflare Turnstile
Checks browser signals when a form is submitted, to tell people from automated spam.
Resend
Delivers our notification and subscription emails and stores the contact details of people who opt in to updates.
Shopify
Runs the store and checkout for book orders, including payment, and keeps the order record.
Lulu
Prints and ships book orders placed through our store, using your name, shipping address, and order details.
Amazon KDP
Prints, sells, and ships books bought on Amazon, under Amazon’s own privacy notice. We receive sales reports only.
Our emails, and how to leave
When you might hear from us
If you submit an inquiry or download form, we may reply directly about your request. Those forms include a pre-checked box for occasional ASC updates: leave it checked and your email is added to ASC's mailing list; uncheck it and it is not. If you sign up for one of our update lists, such as the newsletter, case-law alerts, manual updates, or notices of new articles, resources, or books, you are added to that list, because that is the purpose of those forms. We send these infrequently and only when there is something worth sending, and you can leave at any time using the steps below.
Leaving the list is easy
Every marketing email includes a one-click unsubscribe link. You can also email joseph@ascjoe.com and ask to be removed, and we will take you off the list promptly. We do not share or sell our mailing list.
Who else sees your information? Almost no one.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share it only in these limited situations:
- Service providers who help run the site, our email, and the book store, as listed above, and only to the extent each needs to do its job.
- Legal requirements, if we are required to disclose information by law, subpoena, or valid legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of ASC or others.
- A business transfer, in the unlikely event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of the practice, in which case any successor would be bound by this policy.
What you can ask us to do
Wherever you live, you can contact us to exercise the following choices, and we will honor reasonable requests:
- Access. Ask what personal information we hold about you.
- Correction. Ask us to correct information that is wrong or out of date.
- Deletion. Ask us to delete your information, subject to any records we are required to keep.
- Unsubscribe. Opt out of our emails at any time.
- Opt out of analytics. Block cookies or use the opt-out tools described above.
To make any of these requests, email joseph@ascjoe.com. Depending on where you live (for example, California or the EU/UK), you may have additional rights under laws such as the CCPA or GDPR; we extend the same core choices above to everyone and will work with you in good faith on any specific statutory request.
How long we keep it, and how we protect it
Retention
We keep your information only as long as needed for the purpose you provided it, to maintain our business records, or to meet legal obligations. Inquiry and mailing-list data is kept until you ask us to remove it or it is no longer needed. Book order records are kept for tax and accounting purposes.
Security
We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect your information, and we work with reputable providers that maintain their own security practices. No website or method of transmission is ever completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we treat your information with care and collect as little as possible.
This site is for professionals
This website is intended for law-enforcement, legal, education, HR, and other professional audiences. It is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 16 through this site. Note that any student-related work ASC performs in school or Title IX engagements is handled offline under the engaging institution's policies and applicable law, not through this website. If you believe a child has provided information through this site, contact us and we will delete it.
Updates, and how to reach us
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as the site or our practices change. Material changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Continued use of the site after a change means you accept the updated policy.
Contact
Questions about this policy or your information? Contact ASC directly. Joe responds personally.
Email: joseph@ascjoe.com
Phone: (914) 489-2330
Or use the contact form.
Effective Date: October 22, 2026
Advanced Strategic Communications is a New York-based training and consulting practice. This policy applies to the website at advancedstrategiccommunications.com and its book store. The Practitioner’s Compass at ascjoe.com has its own privacy policy. For our cancellation and refund terms, see the Cancellation & Refund Policy and Book Returns & Refunds.
Questions about your privacy or your data?
Reach out directly. We will answer plainly and act on reasonable requests.