Albany County Criminal Records
What Is Albany County Criminal Records
Albany County criminal records are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system within the county's jurisdiction. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies throughout the arrest, prosecution, adjudication, and supervision process.
Key distinctions among record types include:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt, either through a guilty plea or a jury or bench verdict.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor: Under Wyoming law, felonies are offenses punishable by imprisonment in a state facility for more than one year, while misdemeanors carry penalties of up to one year in a county jail. Both categories appear in criminal history files.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile records are routinely sealed pursuant to Wyoming statutes to protect the privacy of minors, and access is strictly limited to authorized parties.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for an individual's arrest and remain open until executed or recalled. Historical records document past charges, dispositions, and sentences that have been resolved.
Criminal records in Albany County encompass charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial proceedings, sentencing orders, and any subsequent probation or parole supervision. The principal agencies responsible for maintaining these records include:
- Albany County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records and jail booking information
- Albany County Circuit Court and District Court — maintains case filings, dispositions, and sentencing records
- Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) — maintains statewide criminal history through its Criminal Records Unit
- Local law enforcement agencies, including the Laramie Police Department
Members of the public seeking court case information may access records through the Wyoming Judicial Branch, which provides centralized access to court proceedings statewide.
Albany County Sheriff's Office 525 Grand Ave, Laramie, WY 82070 (307) 755-3540 Albany County Sheriff's Office
Albany County Circuit Court 525 Grand Ave, Laramie, WY 82070 (307) 721-2530 Albany County Circuit Court
Albany County District Court 525 Grand Ave, Laramie, WY 82070 (307) 721-2534 Albany County District Court
Are Criminal Records Public In Albany County
Criminal records in Albany County are presumptively open to the public under Wyoming's Public Records Act. Pursuant to § 16-4-201 et seq. of the Wyoming Statutes, all public records are available for inspection and copying by any person unless a specific statutory exemption applies. This framework reflects Wyoming's strong policy favoring government transparency and accountability.
Records that are generally available to the public include:
- Adult conviction records, including felony and misdemeanor dispositions
- Court case filings, hearing dates, and sentencing orders
- Booking information and jail rosters maintained by the Sheriff's Office
- Sex offender registration information as required by state law
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
- Juvenile delinquency records, which are sealed by operation of law to protect minors
- Expunged records, which are legally removed from public view following a court order
- Certain victim information, including addresses and identifying details protected under victim privacy statutes
- Mental health and medical information contained within presentence investigation reports
Under current law, agencies are not required to create records that do not exist, nor are they obligated to compile data in a format not already maintained. Requests that implicate sealed or exempt categories will be denied in whole or in part, with written notice provided to the requester.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Albany County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Albany County criminal records through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required.
Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the record sought originates from a law enforcement booking (Sheriff's Office or Laramie Police Department), a court proceeding (Circuit or District Court), or a statewide criminal history repository (Wyoming DCI).
Step 2 — Submit a public records request. For law enforcement records, submit a written public records request to the Albany County Sheriff's Office at 525 Grand Ave, Laramie, WY 82070. Requests should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and the approximate date of the incident if known.
Step 3 — Request court records. Court case records may be requested in person at the Albany County Courthouse during public counter hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Requesters should provide the case number or the subject's full name and date of birth.
Step 4 — Obtain a statewide criminal history background check. For a comprehensive criminal history, members of the public may submit a name-based background check request to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Fingerprint-based checks are available for employment, licensing, and other authorized purposes. The Criminal Records Unit processes these requests and charges applicable fees.
Step 5 — Check inmate and offender status. For individuals currently incarcerated in a Wyoming state facility, the Wyoming Offender Locator provides real-time search capability by name or WDOC inmate number.
Step 6 — Submit fees and identification. Most agencies require a valid government-issued photo identification and applicable copy or search fees at the time of the request. Fee schedules vary by agency and record type.
How To Find Criminal Records in Albany County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Albany County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Wyoming Judicial Branch Case Search The Wyoming Judicial Branch operates a statewide case search portal that allows members of the public to search for court cases by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal contains civil, criminal, and traffic case information from Circuit and District Courts across Wyoming, including Albany County. No registration is required for basic case lookups. The portal displays case numbers, filing dates, charges, hearing schedules, and disposition information.
Wyoming Offender Locator The Wyoming Offender Locator is maintained by the Wyoming Department of Corrections and allows users to search for individuals currently or previously incarcerated in state correctional facilities. Searches may be conducted by last name, first name, or WDOC inmate number. The tool returns offender status, facility location, and sentence information.
Wyoming Department of Corrections Public Records Portal The Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC) provides general offender information and processes formal public records and media requests through its designated records office. Requests for specific offender documents not available through the Offender Locator must be submitted in writing.
Albany County Sheriff's Office Jail Roster The Albany County Sheriff's Office maintains a current jail roster that lists individuals held at the Albany County Detention Center. This roster is updated regularly and is accessible through the Sheriff's Office website or by contacting the facility directly.
Note on online vs. in-person records: Certain records — including sealed case files, presentence investigation reports, and older paper-based records — are available only through in-person inspection at the courthouse or agency office. Online portals reflect active and recent records and may not contain complete historical data.
Can You Search Albany County Criminal Records for Free?
Wyoming law provides that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Pursuant to § 16-4-204 of the Wyoming Statutes, agencies may charge fees only for the actual cost of copying or transmitting records; inspection itself is free. This means that any person may review criminal records in person at the maintaining agency without incurring a fee.
Free online resources currently available include:
- Wyoming Judicial Branch case search portal — free name-based and case-number-based searches of court records statewide, including Albany County Circuit and District Court cases
- Wyoming Offender Locator — free searches of state correctional offender data by name or inmate number
- Albany County Sheriff's Office jail roster — free access to current detention center booking information
Fees that may apply:
- Photocopies of court documents (typically $0.10–$0.25 per page, depending on the agency)
- Certified copies of court records (flat fee per document)
- Fingerprint-based background checks processed through the Wyoming DCI Criminal Records Unit (statutory fee applies)
- Mailed or electronically transmitted records (postage or transmission costs)
Members of the public who wish to inspect records without incurring copy fees may do so during regular business hours at the Albany County Courthouse or the Sheriff's Office.
What's Included in a Albany County Criminal Record?
A complete Albany County criminal record may contain several categories of information, depending on the stage of the criminal justice process reached and the agency maintaining the file.
Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
- Mugshot photograph taken at booking
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) assigned by Wyoming DCI
- FBI Number assigned for federal tracking purposes
Arrest Information:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, Laramie Police Department, or other)
- Booking number and detention facility
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
- Name of jail facility where the individual was held
Court Case Information:
- Case number and court of jurisdiction (Circuit or District Court)
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges as formally filed, including applicable Wyoming statutes and felony or misdemeanor classification
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
- Attorney of record for the defense and prosecution
Disposition Information:
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, or dismissed)
- Conviction date if applicable
- Sentencing details, including type of sentence (incarceration, probation, suspended sentence), length, fines, restitution ordered, and special conditions
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole supervision terms and supervising agency
Additional Record Elements:
- Active or recalled arrest warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status under § 7-19-302 of the Wyoming Statutes
- DUI/DWI convictions and associated license actions
- Traffic violations adjudicated in Circuit Court
- Pending charges not yet resolved
How Long Does Albany County Keep Criminal Records?
Albany County and Wyoming state agencies retain criminal records according to established schedules that reflect the nature and severity of the underlying offense.
General retention periods under current practice include:
- Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Wyoming DCI Criminal Records Unit and the courts of jurisdiction; these records do not expire
- Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained permanently in the statewide criminal history repository
- Arrest records without conviction: Retained for a minimum period established by agency policy; individuals may petition for expungement under applicable Wyoming statutes
- Juvenile records: Sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood or upon court order; retention periods vary by offense type
- Court case files (Circuit Court): Retained for a minimum of ten years for misdemeanor cases; felony case files are retained permanently
- Jail booking records: Retained by the Albany County Sheriff's Office for a minimum period consistent with Wyoming records retention schedules
- Expunged records: Following a court order of expungement, records are removed from public access; law enforcement agencies may retain sealed copies for internal use as permitted by statute
Wyoming's Public Records Act and the Wyoming State Archives records retention schedules govern the minimum periods for which agencies must preserve public records. Agencies are prohibited from destroying records before the applicable retention period has elapsed. Individuals seeking expungement of eligible records must file a petition with the court of jurisdiction, as the Criminal Records Unit does not independently initiate expungement proceedings.
Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation — Criminal Records Unit 316 W 22nd St, Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307) 777-7523 Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation
Wyoming Department of Corrections 1934 Wyott Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307) 777-7405 Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC)