Clearing a criminal record in Wyoming
In Wyoming it is called expungement: expungement seals the court file and classifies the record in the state central repository at the Division of Criminal Investigation. Some misdemeanor and felony convictions may be cleared.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026. · Free letter and checklist ↓
Can my record be cleared in Wyoming?
Expungement — In Wyoming, expungement seals the court file (open only by court order) and classifies the record in the state central repository at the Division of Criminal Investigation so it is shared only with criminal justice agencies. The public cannot see it, but law enforcement still can.
Wyoming has 3 ways to clear a record. Each covers different records and has its own waiting period.
Expungement of arrest records and dismissed charges (W.S. 7-13-1401)
Arrests with no conviction, arrests where no charges were filed, and cases where all charges were dismissed by the prosecutor or court
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Arrest or dismissed charge, no conviction | See the rule At least 180 days must pass after the arrest or after the charges were dismissed. | The arrest or the dismissal of the charges |
- Not eligible
- Not available if formal charges are pending, or if any charge from the incident (including a lesser charge) was resolved by a deferral under W.S. 7-13-301 (first-offender deferral), W.S. 35-7-1037 (drug deferral) or former W.S. 7-13-203.
Law: W.S. 7-13-1401
Source: Official text
Expungement of misdemeanor convictions (W.S. 7-13-1501)
Misdemeanor convictions, including guilty and no-contest pleas
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Misdemeanor (non-status offense) | 5 years Wait 5 years after your sentence, probation and any ordered program are finished. | The end of the sentence, including probation and any court-ordered program |
Status offense (illegal only for a group, such as underage drinking) | 1 year Wait 1 year after the sentence ends. | The end of the sentence, including probation and any court-ordered program |
- Not eligible
- Misdemeanors that involved the use or attempted use of a firearm; offenses under W.S. 6-2-313 committed by a health care provider against a patient. The court must also find you are not a substantial danger to yourself, any victim or society.
- Limits
- You can get a misdemeanor conviction expungement under this section only once.
Law: W.S. 7-13-1501
Source: Official text
Expungement of felony convictions (W.S. 7-13-1502)
A first felony conviction (or several felonies from the same occurrence) not on the excluded list
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Eligible felony | 10 years Wait 10 years after your sentence and probation ended, any ordered program was completed and restitution was paid in full. Apart from the conviction(s) you want expunged, you must have no other felony conviction. | The end of the sentence including probation, completion of any court-ordered program, and full payment of restitution |
- Not eligible
- Any felony if you have another prior felony conviction; felonies involving the use or attempted use of a firearm; violent felonies under W.S. 6-1-104(a)(xii) (such as murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated assault, first or second degree arson, aggravated burglary); and offenses including aggravated vehicular homicide, drug-induced homicide, sexual assault crimes, a second or later domestic battery, child abuse, aggravated assault on a corrections officer, sexual exploitation of children, incest, endangering children with methamphetamine, bribery, disarming a police officer, escape, any offense under W.S. 6-8-101 or 6-8-102, and any offense requiring sex offender registration. The court must also find you are not a substantial danger to yourself, any victim or society.
- Limits
- You can get a felony conviction expungement under this section only once.
Law: W.S. 7-13-1502
Source: Official text
When can I file? Waiting periods in Wyoming
Pick your kind of case and the date the waiting period runs from. We add the waiting period from the law; nothing else.
How to file in Wyoming
Expungement of arrest records and dismissed charges (W.S. 7-13-1401)
File a verified petition in the court where the case was (or would have been) and serve the prosecutor. The prosecutor has 20 days to object; if there is an objection the court holds a hearing, otherwise it may grant the order without one.
- Cost
- No filing fee (W.S. 7-13-1401(e)).
Expungement of misdemeanor convictions (W.S. 7-13-1501)
File a verified petition in the court that convicted you and serve it on the prosecutor and the Division of Criminal Investigation. The prosecutor notifies victims. The prosecutor or a victim has 30 days to object; if anyone objects, there is a hearing. No order can be issued until 30 days after service on the prosecutor. If the court grants it, you usually need to bring a written order for the judge to sign (Wyoming Judicial Branch handout).
- Cost
- $100 filing fee per petition (W.S. 7-13-1501(b)).
Expungement of felony convictions (W.S. 7-13-1502)
File a verified petition in the court that convicted you and serve the prosecutor and the Division of Criminal Investigation. The prosecutor notifies victims within 30 days. The prosecutor or a victim has 90 days to object; if anyone objects, there is a hearing. No order can be issued until 90 days after service on the prosecutor. If the court grants it, you usually need to bring a written order for the judge to sign (Wyoming Judicial Branch handout).
- Cost
- $300 filing fee per petition (W.S. 7-13-1502(b)).
Court self-help
Free help in Wyoming
- Legal Aid of Wyoming · 877-432-9955
- Equal Justice Wyoming: Find Legal Services
- Find free legal aid at LawHelp.org
National help
Free letter and checklist
Letter: ask for a copy of your own record
A request to the state records office (Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Criminal Records Unit) with your name, date of birth and mailing address.
Checklist: what to gather before you file
Case numbers, court papers, proof you finished your sentence, forms and fees for Wyoming.
Clearing a record in Wyoming by topic
Expungement of arrest records and dismissed charges (W.S. 7-13-1401) in Wyoming
Which records each remedy covers, who is not eligible and what changes afterwards.
Waiting periods in Wyoming
How long you wait for each kind of case, and a date helper.
How to file in Wyoming
The steps, the cost, fee waivers, the forms and court self-help.
Juvenile records in Wyoming
If you were adjudicated delinquent for anything other than a violent felony, you can petition the juvenile court to expunge the record once you turn 18. If the prosecutor objects, the court must find you have no felony conviction since, no felony case pending, and that you are rehabilitated. Juvenile expungement destroys the records, and you may answer as if the case never happened. Minors' misdemeanor, municipal, diversion and dismissed cases can be expunged the same way (W.S. 14-6-241). DCI deletes a person's juvenile state criminal history at 18 unless the person was convicted as an adult.
Source: DCI FAQ
Pardons in Wyoming
- Who decides
- Governor of Wyoming
- How
- A person convicted of a felony applies to the Governor with their name, the offense, date and place of conviction, sentence imposed and served, any later arrests or convictions, and other information the Governor requests. The Governor notifies the district attorney at least 3 weeks before considering it.
Law: W.S. 7-13-803 to 7-13-806
After your record is cleared in Wyoming
After expungement of an arrest or dismissed charge, you may answer any inquiry as though the arrest or charges did not occur, unless a law says otherwise (W.S. 7-13-1401(f)). The court file is sealed and the repository record is available only to criminal justice agencies. A felony expungement restores rights lost because of the conviction (W.S. 7-13-1502(m)). The Wyoming Judicial Branch says that after expungement you do not have to disclose the record to employers or anyone else, but news articles cannot be removed.
Get your own record in Wyoming
Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Criminal Records Unit · (307) 777-5614
Request your Wyoming criminal history report from the Division of Criminal Investigation (fingerprint-based; see DCI's Applicant Tracking page). Questions: dci-criminalrecords@wyo.gov.
Letter: ask the state records office for a copy of your record
Good to know in Wyoming
- Each type of conviction expungement (misdemeanor and felony) can be granted only once in a lifetime (W.S. 7-13-1501(k), 7-13-1502(k)).
- Cases resolved by a first-offender or drug deferral cannot be expunged under the arrest/dismissal statute (W.S. 7-13-1401(a)(i)).
- A felony expungement restores rights lost because of the conviction (W.S. 7-13-1502(m)).
Questions about clearing a record in Wyoming
What is clearing a record called in Wyoming?
Expungement. In Wyoming, expungement seals the court file (open only by court order) and classifies the record in the state central repository at the Division of Criminal Investigation so it is shared only with criminal justice agencies. The public cannot see it, but law enforcement still can.
Can convictions be cleared in Wyoming?
Expungement of arrest records and dismissed charges (W.S. 7-13-1401): Arrests with no conviction, arrests where no charges were filed, and cases where all charges were dismissed by the prosecutor or court. Expungement of misdemeanor convictions (W.S. 7-13-1501): Misdemeanor convictions, including guilty and no-contest pleas. Expungement of felony convictions (W.S. 7-13-1502): A first felony conviction (or several felonies from the same occurrence) not on the excluded list.
How long do I have to wait in Wyoming?
Arrest or dismissed charge, no conviction: At least 180 days must pass after the arrest or after the charges were dismissed, counted from the arrest or the dismissal of the charges; Misdemeanor (non-status offense): 5 years, counted from the end of the sentence, including probation and any court-ordered program; Status offense (illegal only for a group, such as underage drinking): 1 year, counted from the end of the sentence, including probation and any court-ordered program; Eligible felony: 10 years, counted from the end of the sentence including probation, completion of any court-ordered program, and full payment of restitution.
How much does it cost to clear a record in Wyoming?
Expungement of arrest records and dismissed charges (W.S. 7-13-1401): No filing fee (W.S. 7-13-1401(e)). Expungement of misdemeanor convictions (W.S. 7-13-1501): $100 filing fee per petition (W.S. 7-13-1501(b)). Expungement of felony convictions (W.S. 7-13-1502): $300 filing fee per petition (W.S. 7-13-1502(b)).
Can juvenile records be cleared in Wyoming?
If you were adjudicated delinquent for anything other than a violent felony, you can petition the juvenile court to expunge the record once you turn 18. If the prosecutor objects, the court must find you have no felony conviction since, no felony case pending, and that you are rehabilitated. Juvenile expungement destroys the records, and you may answer as if the case never happened. Minors' misdemeanor, municipal, diversion and dismissed cases can be expunged the same way (W.S. 14-6-241). DCI deletes a person's juvenile state criminal history at 18 unless the person was convicted as an adult.
What can I say after my record is cleared in Wyoming?
After expungement of an arrest or dismissed charge, you may answer any inquiry as though the arrest or charges did not occur, unless a law says otherwise (W.S. 7-13-1401(f)). The court file is sealed and the repository record is available only to criminal justice agencies. A felony expungement restores rights lost because of the conviction (W.S. 7-13-1502(m)). The Wyoming Judicial Branch says that after expungement you do not have to disclose the record to employers or anyone else, but news articles cannot be removed.
How do I get a copy of my criminal record in Wyoming?
Request your Wyoming criminal history report from the Division of Criminal Investigation (fingerprint-based; see DCI's Applicant Tracking page). Questions: dci-criminalrecords@wyo.gov.
Where can I get free help in Wyoming?
Legal Aid of Wyoming and Equal Justice Wyoming: Find Legal Services.