Terms of Use
Effective October 27, 2026
The short version: our tools are for fiction research. The experts are AI characters, their answers can be wrong, and nothing here is legal, medical, tactical, or other professional advice. You must be 18 or older. Don't use the tools to plan or carry out real-world harm. Subscriptions renew monthly until you cancel, and you can cancel anytime.
By using The Writers Precinct, The Precinct, The ER, The Armory, or The Gavel, you agree to these terms.
What we are
The Writers Precinct is a set of research tools for fiction writers. Each tool answers questions through an AI character: Detective Dale Hawthorne (The Precinct), Dr. David Newman (The ER), Jonathan Baxter (The Armory), and Victoria Mills (The Gavel). These characters are fictional. They are not real people, and they are not licensed professionals.
For fiction research only
Answers are written to help you create believable scenes. They are not legal, medical, psychological, firearms, tactical, or law enforcement advice, and they do not create any professional relationship. Answers are generated by AI and can be incomplete, outdated, or wrong. If something matters outside your story, check it with a qualified professional or an official source.
Who can use the tools
You must be at least 18 years old to use The Writers Precinct.
Rules for using the tools
You agree not to:
- use the tools to plan, commit, or hide a real crime, or to hurt yourself or anyone else
- try to get real-world instructions for weapons, explosives, poisons, drugs, hacking, or evading law enforcement
- harass, threaten, or impersonate anyone
- get around the free question limit, access codes, safety rules, or rate limits, or access our systems in ways other than through our website
- copy, resell, or redistribute the tools, the characters, or their answers as a competing research service
We may limit, suspend, or end access for anyone who breaks these rules. If that happens because of misuse, we are not required to give a refund.
If you are struggling
If a question is about you and not a character, please reach out for help. In the US, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Outside the US, contact your local crisis line or emergency services.
Free questions, subscriptions, and cancelling
Each tool includes a small number of free questions. After that, a subscription or access code is required.
Subscriptions are billed monthly through our payment processor, Stripe, and renew automatically until you cancel. You can cancel anytime from the Manage / Cancel Subscription link on our website. When you cancel, you keep access until the end of the period you already paid for. Payments already made are not refunded, except where the law requires it or at our discretion.
Prices may change. If we change the price of a subscription you already have, we will tell you in advance, and you can cancel before the new price applies.
Access codes are personal. Please don't share or post them. Complimentary and promotional codes may expire.
Discount codes and giveaways
Discount codes are subject to the terms shown where they are offered, including expiration dates and limits. For giveaways, no purchase is necessary, entries are limited to one per person, winners are chosen at random and notified by email, and prizes have no cash value.
Your writing and the answers
You own your questions and your manuscripts. You give us permission to process your questions to provide the service, and to review questions anonymously to improve the tools. You may use the answers you receive in your own writing, published or not.
Our content
The website, the tools, the characters, the toolkits, and their design belong to Jeff Bonilla / The Writers Precinct. You may not copy or reuse them except as these terms allow.
No guarantees
The tools are provided as is and as available. We don't promise they will always be available, error free, or right for your purpose.
Limits on our responsibility
To the fullest extent the law allows, we are not responsible for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, or for decisions anyone makes based on an answer. Our total responsibility for any claim is limited to the amount you paid us in the three months before the claim.
Changes and governing law
We may update these terms. If we make an important change, we will update the date at the top of this page. These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Nevada.
Contact
Questions about these terms? Email us at jeff@asktheprecinct.com.