Cheyenne Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Cheyenne, Wyoming?
Arrest records are public in Cheyenne, Wyoming, pursuant to the Wyoming Public Records Act (Wyo. Stat. § 16-4-201 through § 16-4-205). This legislation establishes that government-held records, including those pertaining to arrests, shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The Wyoming Public Records Act serves to promote transparency and accountability in law enforcement operations and governmental functions throughout the state.
Members of the public may access arrest records maintained by various law enforcement agencies in Cheyenne, including the Cheyenne Police Department and the Laramie County Sheriff's Office. These records typically become available after the booking process has been completed and the information has been entered into the official record-keeping system.
Certain exceptions to public disclosure may apply in cases involving:
- Ongoing investigations
- Juvenile records (protected under Wyo. Stat. § 14-6-239)
- Records sealed by court order
- Information that would compromise personal privacy beyond the public interest in disclosure
How to Look Up Cheyenne Arrest Records in 2025
Multiple official channels exist for accessing arrest records in Cheyenne. Individuals seeking such information may utilize the following methods:
- Visit Local Law Enforcement Agencies: Citizens may request arrest records in person at the Cheyenne Police Department or Laramie County Sheriff's Office. A formal records request may be required.
Cheyenne Police Department
2060 Capitol Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82001
(307) 637-6500
Cheyenne Police Department
Laramie County Sheriff's Office
1910 Pioneer Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82001
(307) 633-4700
Laramie County Sheriff's Office
- Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation: The DCI maintains criminal history records and can provide information pursuant to Wyo. Stat. § 9-1-618(a). Wyoming DCI processes requests for criminal history information and arrest records.
Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation
208 South College Drive
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 777-7181
Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation
- Wyoming Highway Patrol: For arrests made by state troopers, records may be requested through the Wyoming Highway Patrol's public records division.
Wyoming Highway Patrol Headquarters
5300 Bishop Boulevard
Cheyenne, WY 82009
(307) 777-4301
Wyoming Highway Patrol Public Records
- Laramie County District Court: Court records related to arrests and subsequent proceedings may be accessed through the district court clerk's office.
Laramie County District Court
309 West 20th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82001
(307) 633-4270
Laramie County District Court
- Online Resources: The Wyoming Department of Corrections maintains an inmate locator system that provides information on individuals currently in custody or under supervision.
Contents of a Cheyenne Arrest Record
Arrest records maintained by Cheyenne law enforcement agencies typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. Standard elements included in these records are as follows:
Biographical Information:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Date and place of birth
- Gender
- Race/ethnicity
- Social security number (partially redacted in public versions)
- Current address at time of arrest
Physical Descriptors:
- Height and weight
- Hair and eye color
- Identifying marks such as tattoos, scars, or birthmarks
- Fingerprints (full set taken during booking)
- Mugshot photograph
Arrest Details:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Incident report number
- Probable cause statement
- Miranda rights acknowledgment
Criminal Charges:
- Specific charges filed
- Statutory citations (referencing the Cheyenne Municipal Code or Wyoming state law)
- Classification of offense (misdemeanor or felony)
- Weapon involvement, if applicable
Case Processing Information:
- Booking number
- Court docket number
- Bond amount and status
- Court appearance dates
- Disposition of charges
- Sentence information, if convicted
The Cheyenne Police Department Records division maintains these arrest records in accordance with departmental policies and state retention schedules.
Legal Framework for Arrest Records in Wyoming
The management and accessibility of arrest records in Cheyenne operate within a specific legal framework established by Wyoming state law. Key statutory provisions include:
Wyoming Public Records Act (Wyo. Stat. § 16-4-201 et seq.): Establishes the presumption that government records, including arrest records, are open to public inspection unless specifically exempted.
Criminal History Record Information Act (Wyo. Stat. § 7-19-101 through § 7-19-109): Governs the collection, maintenance, and dissemination of criminal history information by law enforcement agencies.
Juvenile Justice Act (Wyo. Stat. § 14-6-201 through § 14-6-252): Provides special protections for records involving juvenile offenders, generally restricting public access.
Expungement Statutes (Wyo. Stat. § 7-13-1401 through § 7-13-1408): Outlines procedures for the expungement of certain arrest records under qualifying circumstances.
Law enforcement agencies in Cheyenne must adhere to these statutory requirements when processing requests for arrest records. The Wyoming Attorney General's Office has issued opinions clarifying that while arrest records are generally public, agencies may redact certain sensitive information to protect privacy interests where appropriate.
Limitations on Access to Arrest Records
While arrest records in Cheyenne are generally accessible to the public, certain limitations and restrictions apply to their disclosure. These limitations serve to balance transparency with other important interests such as privacy and the integrity of the criminal justice process.
Statutory and policy-based limitations include:
Active Investigations: Records pertaining to ongoing investigations may be temporarily withheld if disclosure would impede law enforcement activities (Wyo. Stat. § 16-4-203(b)(i)).
Juvenile Records: Information regarding arrests of individuals under 18 years of age is subject to heightened confidentiality protections under Wyoming's Juvenile Justice Act.
Sealed or Expunged Records: Court orders sealing or expunging arrest records render such information unavailable to the general public.
Privacy Protections: Certain personal identifiers such as social security numbers, home addresses, and medical information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records.
Victim Information: Details that could identify victims of certain crimes, particularly sexual offenses or domestic violence, may be withheld or redacted.
Witness Protection: Information that could compromise the safety of witnesses may be withheld from public disclosure.
Agencies may charge reasonable fees for searching, retrieving, and copying arrest records in accordance with Wyo. Stat. § 16-4-204. The Cheyenne Police Department currently charges $0.50 per page for copies of arrest records, with additional fees for certified copies.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Cheyenne
Wyoming law provides mechanisms for the expungement of certain arrest records under specific circumstances. Pursuant to Wyo. Stat. § 7-13-1401 through § 7-13-1408, individuals may petition for expungement when:
- The arrest did not result in a conviction
- Charges were dismissed
- The individual was acquitted at trial
- The conviction was pardoned
- The individual has completed all terms of their sentence for qualifying misdemeanors or non-violent felonies after specified waiting periods
The expungement process requires filing a petition with the court that handled the original case. Petitioners must demonstrate that they meet the statutory criteria for expungement and that the benefit to their privacy outweighs the potential risk to public safety.
Upon granting an expungement, the court will order all records of the arrest and related proceedings to be sealed from public access. Law enforcement agencies, including the Cheyenne Police Department and Laramie County Sheriff's Office, must comply with such orders by removing the records from public-facing systems.
Expunged records remain accessible to law enforcement agencies for limited purposes, including subsequent criminal investigations and prosecutions. However, expunged records cannot be used against the individual in employment decisions, housing applications, or other civil matters.
Search Arrest Records in Cheyenne
