Wyoming Warrant Search

Are Warrants Public Record in Wyoming?

Since Wyoming is a closed records state, the disclosure of warrants, associated records, and reports (like Wyoming criminal records) are typically restricted. However, selected warrants are made public following a specified period of confidentiality.

What is Considered a Warrant in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, a warrant is a court order that gives law enforcement officers the authority to arrest, search or seize the property listed on the warrant. Judges in Wyoming Courts may issue different warrants depending on the facts of cases and actions that the courts need law enforcement officers to carry out. Law enforcement officers are allowed to execute active warrants in any part of the State of Wyoming. If a person has an active warrant and an officer pulls the person over for a traffic stop, the officer may perform a routine background check. If the background check comes up with an outstanding warrant, the officer may place the person under arrest.

The common types of warrants in Wyoming are arrest warrants, bench warrants, and search warrants. Before a judge issues a warrant, a law enforcement officer must make a complaint before the court. Then, the judge must determine if probable cause connects the person with the crime. Once a judge issues a warrant, law enforcement officers may take the suspect into custody or search property and seize incriminating items.

How to Find Out if You Have a Warrant in Wyoming?

The State of Wyoming is a closed records state, and only law enforcement agencies and certain employers may access public records like crime history data. Individuals may conduct personal searches but not for a third party. Interested persons may initiate a Wyoming Warrant Search through the following ways:

• County databases
• Personal Background report
• Third-party searches

Each Wyoming County has an official database. Individuals may search warrant information on the appropriate database, depending on the county where the judge issued the warrant. For instance, in Natrona County, the County Sheriff's office has a free database that enables warrant searches. Casper County also has a warrant database on the government website. Other counties that allow for online warrant searches include Wheatland, Weston, Campbell, and Sublette County. Interested persons may also check with the District of Wyoming US Marshals Service, which publishes the identity of fugitives in the district.

Another way to carry out a Wyoming Warrant Search is through a personal background report. To request a report of this nature, contact the Attorney General’s Office in Wyoming. The application costs $15 for a statewide report and $24 for a report from the FBI. To make an inquiry, send fingerprint cards and a $15 check or money order to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation at 315 West 22nd Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002.

Third-party searches also serve as an alternative for individuals who wish to carry out online warrant searches. These websites provide comprehensive warrant information pooled from different law enforcement databases and charge a small fee for the service. Interested persons may also search detailed criminal records on the central repository of the Wyoming State Police.

Many online databases can assist individuals in carrying out warrant searches to find out if they have active warrants in the state. Records of warrants issued or executed in various jurisdictions are also maintained and by third-party websites. While third-party sites make accessing these records substantially easier, the information available on the sites may vary since they are not government-run sources. To obtain warrant records from a third-party site, the requesting party may be required to provide:

• The personal information of the alleged suspect
• Information regarding the issuing officer
• The location where the warrant was issued.

How Long Does a Warrant Stay Active in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, there is no statute of limitation, despite the severity of a crime. A statute of limitation is the time limit within which a state may prosecute a crime, and the purpose of such a law is to make sure criminal trials proceed with the best available evidence. Evidence like eyewitness accounts, DNA, fingerprints, and testimonial evidence may get lost or fade over time. So, it is advised to conduct trials as soon after the crime as possible.

Yet, in Wyoming, the reason for the lack of statutes of limitation is to ensure that criminals face trials and not wait out the limitation period. Hence, a warrant in Wyoming may remain active for many years, and state prosecutors may file criminal charges at any time. Moving out of the state or hiding will not get a suspect off the hook.

How Do Search Warrants Work in Wyoming?

A search warrant is an order that directs law enforcement officers to enter and search a specific location or property. Under Rule 41 of the Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure, a judicial officer has the authority to issue a search warrant upon the request of the State Attorney or a local officer. A judicial officer may issue a warrant for the search and seizure of the following:

• Property that serves as evidence of the commission of a crime
• Contraband items and other proceeds of a crime
• Property used or intended for the use of committing a crime
• A person for whose arrest there is probable cause

A judicial officer may only issue a search warrant where there is an affidavit sworn under oath and the judicial officer is satisfied that there is probable cause to support the application. Following this, the judicial officer may then issue a warrant that states the following:

• The identity of the person and a description of the property that is the subject of the search
• The grounds or probable cause for issuing the warrant
• The identity of the officer to execute the warrant
• Names of the persons who provided affidavits to support the application for a search warrant

How Does a Wyoming Search Warrant Become Invalid?

Rule 41 of the Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure provides that an officer executing a search warrant must do so within ten days. Such an officer must also execute the warrant within the hours of 6:00 am to 10:00 pm unless there is a provision in the warrant for the officer to execute the warrant at another time. If an officer executes a search warrant outside the provided time frame, such a warrant is invalid. Also, where relevant information is missing from a search warrant, such as the subject’s name, the warrant is invalid.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Warrant in Wyoming?

There is no specified time for processing a warrant in Wyoming. It may take anywhere from a few days to a few months to process a warrant, depending on the case, probable cause, and the court where the application is filed.

Wyoming Arrest Warrants: Rules of Procedure

An arrest warrant is an order given to law enforcement officers to arrest a named person and take the person into custody. Under Rule 4 of the Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure, courts in Wyoming may issue arrest warrants upon the application of the Attorney General. The signed warrant must contain the following information:

• The name of the defendant or any other name or description where the defendant’s name is unknown (this may include the first name and physical description of the subject, such as their race, eye color, weight, and height)
• A description of the offense charged.
• A command that law enforcement arrest the defendant and bring the defendant before the court that issued the warrant.

A sheriff or other officer of the law may execute an arrest warrant in Wyoming at any place the law permits. An arrest warrant is regarded as executed once law enforcement officers have arrested the defendant. The officer need not be with the warrant at the time of arrest but must provide a copy to the defendant in no distant time.

Child Support Arrest Warrants in Wyoming: What You Need to Know

A child support arrest warrant is an order from a judge for the arrest of a non-custodial parent for not paying child support. The effect of this warrant is to bring such a parent before the court to give reasons for not paying child support. Title 20 of the Wyoming Statutes provides for child support orders and payments. A child support order is an official government order that determines the parent responsible for paying for the basic expenses of the child. Most times, the buck falls on the non-custodial parent.

Where a non-custodial parent becomes delinquent, the custodial parent may file an enforcement action in the courts. The judge may find the non-custodial parent in contempt of court for disobeying a court order to make child support payments. The punishment may involve jail time or fines.

In Wyoming, the Department of Family Services, under the Child Support Enforcement program (CSE), helps parents enforce and collect child support payments. Interested parents may read the CSE guide to understand the various child support rights and responsibilities.

Wyoming Bench Warrants: Issuing and Arrests

A Bench Warrant is an order that comes from the bench and directs law enforcement officers to bring a person before the court. According to Title 14 of the Wyoming Statutes, where a person fails to respond to a court order to show up in court, the action amounts to contempt of court. The court may then issue a bench warrant to bring the person to court. A judge may issue a bench warrant in the following circumstances:

• Where a person violates the conditions of bail
• Refusal to show up for a court date
• Failure to pay fines or serve court-appointed punishments for a crime

It is important for individuals to carry out a warrant search in Wyoming to find out about outstanding bench warrants. Such a person may pursue legal action where necessary to deal with the situation.

Failure to Appear in Wyoming: Rules and Consequences

The court may request the presence of a person for various reasons, like a traffic ticket, committing crimes, or to testify in court. An unexplainable absence is a crime regarded as Failure to Appear (FTA). Where the court releases a person under Rule 46 of the Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the person fails to appear at a subsequent date, the court may find such a person in contempt. However, the court may consider uncontrollable circumstances that may have prevented the defendant from showing up. Where a person fails to appear with no reasonable excuse, the court may exercise the following punishments:

• Forfeiture of bond
• Revocation of an order of release
• Prosecution for contempt
• Suspension of license
• Jail time

How Long Do You Have to Stay in Jail for a Warrant for Missing Court in Wyoming?

Missing a court date in Wyoming may lead to the issue of a warrant. Where the matter in question is a civil one, the judge may issue a bench warrant. For serious offenses or criminal charges, the judge may issue an arrest warrant. In both cases, the missing court in Wyoming may lead to penalties and fines. Under Title 28 of the Wyoming Statutes, a person who fails to appear in court is guilty of a misdemeanor. It attracts a fine of not more than one hundred dollars and imprisonment in a county jail for not more than six months.

It is in the best interest of affected persons to attend all scheduled court hearings. Where unexpected circumstances or forgetfulness leads to missing a court date, an affected person is advised to get a criminal defense attorney.

Failure to Pay in Wyoming: How It Works

Failure to Pay is a charge that arises when the court orders a person to pay a fine as punishment and the person fails to do so within the allotted time. Under Title 5 of the Wyoming Statutes, where a municipal judge convicts such a person, the person may pay a fine not exceeding seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750) or an imprisonment term of not more than six months. Before jailing a person for failure to pay a fine, the court may look into the reason, and it shall determine if the defendant has the ability to pay.

No-Knock Warrant in Wyoming: General Laws

In Wyoming, a no-knock warrant is a warrant from a judge that allows law enforcement officers to enter a person’s property or residence without knocking or announcing entry. It allows officers to search a property or arrest a person under stealth. The following circumstances may justify the issuance of a no-knock warrant:

• Where there is a risk of serious harm to law enforcement officers
• Where there is a great possibility that the suspect may escape or destroy the evidence of the suspected crime
• Where the inhabitants of the premises may take up arms against law enforcement officers

However, the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution expects law enforcement officers to announce their presence before making an entry.

Does Wyoming DMV Check for Warrants?

It is common practice for a DMV to check for warrants when processing a license or registration application. Most DMVs conduct background checks on their applicants to confirm their eligibility to obtain the document being requested. If the applicant is determined to be a wanted person, the DMV will then contact the applicable law enforcement agency.