Terms of Service & Editorial Disclaimers

---

Terms of Service & Editorial Disclaimers

Last Updated: August 2026

1. Presumption of Innocence: All individuals featured in arrest blotters, booking rosters, court summaries, and investigative briefs are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. An arrest or criminal charge is not a conviction.

2. Public Records Exemption: Information, photographs, and records published on this platform are obtained directly from public records, government repositories, county sheriff dockets, municipal police records, and open court dockets pursuant to state and federal public information laws.

3. Record Removal & Expungement Policy: As an independent public records news agency, Busted in the Bakken does not alter, remove, or delete published historical records upon personal request. If an official court record is officially expunged, dismissed with prejudice, or results in a complete acquittal, official certified court documentation may be submitted to our news desk at legal@bustedinthebakken.com for editorial review and update.

4. Commercial Underwriting & Independence: Paid sponsorships, featured business links, and corporate underwriting banners represent commercial advertising and do not imply editorial alignment, special access, or influence over our news coverage.

 5. Opinions and Advertisers: All reporting, commentary, and opinions published on Busted in the Bakken belong solely to this platform and do not reflect the views, policies, or legal advice of our advertisers or sponsors. Having a business logo, ad, or sponsorship on our site or posts does not mean that business endorses our content, and comments left by readers belong entirely to the individuals who posted them. 

 6. User-Submitted Material & Comments: Users agree not to submit defamatory, threatening, or illegal material. The platform reserves the right to remove any commentary that violates basic community safety standards without prior notice.