Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-307 deals with expunging certain criminal records. The statute says: “Nothing in W.S. 7-13-301 through 7-13-306 shall be construed to authorize the court to expunge the record of a person charged with or convicted of a criminal offense.”
The petition and the sections next to it
Read Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-1401 when the issue is petition for expungement; records of arrest. The statute says: “(a) A person, or the state with regard to a petition for the expungement of records pertaining to a juvenile, may petition the court in which a proceeding occurred, or would have occurred, for an order expunging…”
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-1502 deals with expunging a criminal record. The statute says: “(a) A person convicted of a felony or felonies subject to expungement under this section arising out of the same occurrence or related course of events, may petition the…”
On expunging a criminal record, the Wyoming text is Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-1501. The statute says: “(a) A person who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to or been convicted of a misdemeanor may petition the convicting court for an expungement of the records of conviction…”
When a different section applies
Read Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14-6-241 when the issue is expunging a criminal record. A juvenile record uses this section rather than the adult petition. The statute says: “Any person adjudicated delinquent as a result of having committed a delinquent act other than a violent felony as defined by W.S. 6-1-104(a)(xii), under the provisions of this act may petition the court for the expungement of his record in the juvenile court upon reaching the age of majority.”
Wyoming uses Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14-6-440 for expungement of records in juvenile court. A juvenile record uses this section rather than the adult petition. The statute says: “Any person adjudicated in need of supervision under the provisions of this act may petition the court for the expungement of his record in the juvenile court upon reaching the age of majority.”
Appellate readings
Alex Garcia v. the State of Wyoming, 1977 Wyo. LEXIS 300 (1977) is worth reading in full. The opinion puts it this way: “Whether the trial court improperly considered an expunged juvenile offense record in imposing the sentence in this case.”
The State of Wyoming v. Dixon Dean Cole, 2026 WY 19 (2026) is worth reading in full. The opinion puts it this way: “The Court will affirm the Order of Expungement expunging the misdemeanor conviction.”
Russell Lee Lynch v. The State of Wyoming, 2026 WY 8 (2026) is worth reading in full. The opinion puts it this way: “The Expungement Statute ¶7 Wyoming’s felony expungement statute provides: (a) A person convicted of a felony or felonies subject to expungement under this section arising out of the same occurrence or related course of events, may petition the convicting court for an…”
A practical sequence
- Open Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-307 and read the part on expunging certain criminal records. Everything else in the filing has to fit that section.
- Ask the clerk which local form that Wyoming county uses, then check the form against Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-307.
- If the person was a juvenile, move to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14-6-241 instead of forcing the case into the adult section.
- Then read Alex Garcia v. the State of Wyoming, 1977 Wyo. LEXIS 300 (1977). That is a Wyoming court already applying this kind of request.
Frequently asked questions
How do you expunge a criminal record in Wyoming?
Read Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-307 when the issue is expunging certain criminal records. The statute says: “Nothing in W.S. 7-13-301 through 7-13-306 shall be construed to authorize the court to expunge the record of a person charged with or convicted of a criminal offense.”
Does Wyoming use a different statute when the person was under eighteen?
On expunging a criminal record, the Wyoming text is Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14-6-241. A juvenile record uses this section rather than the adult petition. The statute says: “Any person adjudicated delinquent as a result of having committed a delinquent act other than a violent felony as defined by W.S. 6-1-104(a)(xii), under the provisions of this act may petition the court for the expungement of his record in the juvenile court upon reaching the age of majority.”
How have Wyoming courts ruled on expungement?
Alex Garcia v. the State of Wyoming, 1977 Wyo. LEXIS 300 (1977) “Whether the trial court improperly considered an expunged juvenile offense record in imposing the sentence in this case.”
Read Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-307 in full before you file. A quotation on this page is a starting point, not the whole section.