Wyoming Arrest Records: How to Find Arrest Records in Wyoming

With a population of 584,309 residents, the U.S state of Wyoming is one of the least populated states in the Union. 

The state has 23 counties, with Niobrara County being the smallest, and Laramie County the largest by population. 
 

Public records in Wyoming were created in 1909 and include records from all 23 counties of the state. 

Wyoming arrest records are considered public documents in Wyoming according to the provisions of the state’s Sunshine Act. 

City and county law enforcement agencies are responsible for generating arrest records in Wyoming, which are later submitted to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). 

The state has one of the lowest arrest rates in the United States, and Cheyenne, the state’s capital, account for the highest arrests. 

What You Can Do If Your Wyoming Arrest Record is Incorrect:

 
An arrest record is typically considered an accurate representation of the events that led to the subject’s arrest, alongside the circumstances of the arrest. 

These records include details such as the subject’s personal information, physical description, and other relevant details. 

In a situation where the record consists of incorrect details, the affected party can file a complaint at the specific law enforcement agency where the record was obtained. 

Indeed, Section 7-19-109 of the Wyoming Statutes gives a person the right to file an application to a district court for an order to modify, erase or supplement incorrect or incomplete information. 

A notice of the amendment or deletion will be sent to you or any law enforcement agency that received a copy of such arrest record within the last 12 months. 

The arrestee or subject of the document will also receive a copy of the amended record. 

How to Find Arrest Records in Wyoming?

Wyoming allows its residents to apply for a copy of their criminal history records, including arrest records, to use as they deem fit. 

The records include details from the official Wyoming database, alongside information from the Western Identification Network, which includes the following seven states: Montana, Utah, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Nevada, and Idaho. 

Follow the search methods discussed below to find your Wyoming arrest records:

Visiting Local Law Enforcement Agencies

The best place to start your search is at the local law enforcement agency that made the arrest. 

This can be the local police department or sheriff’s office. The procedures differ from county to county; however, you would be required to provide certain information such as your personal information and the subject’s details like booking number. 

Most counties offer arrest record services by mail, fax, or in person. For instance, Laramie County offers records checks between Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, and their services are fingerprint-based at the cost of $5 per card, cash only. 

Finding Arrest Records Online Using the DCI’S Application Tracking/Background Check System 

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is responsible for managing criminal history information in the state. 

The platform offers a fingerprint-based search, as your fingerprints will be taken using the official FBI 8 X8 BLUE fingerprint card. 

Your fingerprint can also be taken at the Division of Criminal Investigation’s office for $5. 

Write a statement outlining your application for arrest records, including a phone number and physical address. 

After that, you will be required to fill out your personal details on the top part of your fingerprint card using blue ink. 

The cost for the application is $15, payable to the Office of the Attorney General by money order or certified check. 

Thereafter, enclose your fingerprint card, payment, and statement in an envelope and mail or send in person to: 

Division of Criminal Investigation,
ATTN: ATS,
208 South College Drive,
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002

The length of processing requests usually lasts between five to six weeks. You can contact the Division of Criminal Investigation at 307-777-7181 for any inquiries. 

Searching Wyoming Court Records

The Wyoming Judicial Branch maintains records of arrestees, such as their Wyoming arrest records. 

Arrests bothering on violations and infractions are handled by Municipal Courts, while felony charges are heard in Wyoming District Courts. The Circuit Courts hear misdemeanors. 

Wyoming does not have an online tool for searching cases from these courts. 

However, persons looking for arrest records online can browse through the Clerk’s Office of the Wyoming Supreme Court website. 

You can also contact the court clerk where the case was entertained directly by email, phone, or mail to obtain the records you are looking for. 

The Wyoming Judicial Branch maintains a list of all the courts in the state, including links to forms and helpful organizations that assist applicants in finding their way through the state’s complex judicial system. 

Conclusion 

To find arrest records in Wyoming, applicants would have to go through different sources. 

First, however, applicants need to confirm if the law permits them to access such documents. 

For instance, before an employer or landlord can obtain an arrest record on a prospective employee or tenant, the consent of the subject must first be obtained.