5 Questions About Criminal Expungement in Wyoming

If your criminal record is making it more difficult to get a job, find an apartment, or get accepted into college or a trade school, a criminal expungement might be right for you. But don’t try to do it alone - the experienced team of criminal defense professionals at Just Criminal Law is here to help by answering your questions about expungement in Wyoming and representing you throughout the expungement process.

1 - What Is Expungement?

Expungement is the process of sealing your criminal record from view by everyone except law enforcement. Once your record has been expunged, you can truthfully answer that you do not have a criminal record when applying for a job, on rental applications, or when applying for college or trade school. Law enforcement officials and certain government agencies will still be able to view your criminal record.

Different expungement laws apply depending on whether you were arrested but not convicted, or were convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can review your case and tell you whether you are eligible for expungement and, if so, can represent you throughout the expungement process.

2 - Can Juvenile Records Be Expunged?

In Wyoming, juvenile criminal records are already restricted from public view so there is generally no need to expunge a juvenile criminal record. Courts recognize that people may make poor decisions when they are young and the relative confidentiality of juvenile records recognizes that people should not be punished for these ‘youthful indiscretions’ once they become adults.

The goal of the juvenile justice system is not to punish juvenile offenders, but to rehabilitate youthful offenders so they do not offend again. As a result, juvenile court proceedings and records are kept private and access is granted only to the parents or guardians of the juvenile, law enforcement, school and government officials, child protective services, and attorneys for the juvenile.

3 - Are You Eligible for Expungement?

Not all arrests and criminal convictions can be expunged. If you were convicted of any of the following offenses, you are not eligible for expungement:

• A violent felony such as murder, manslaughter, homicide, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated assault, arson, or aggravated burglary
• Sexual assault
• Child abuse or sexual exploitation of children
• Incest
• Endangering children with controlled substances
• Bribery
• Weapons offenses
• Crimes that require sex offender registration

If you were convicted of a felony other than those listed above, you are eligible for expungement if:

• More than 10 years have passed since the end of your sentence (including probation), you completed any court-ordered programs, and you made payment in full of restitution to the victim(s)
• You have not pled guilty or no contest, or been convicted of any other felonies
• No guns were used in the commission of the crime for which you are seeking expungement, and
• You are not a danger to yourself, any victim, or society.

If you were convicted of a misdemeanor, you can have your record expunged if:

• At least 1 years has passed since the end of your sentence for a status offense (something that is only illegal for certain groups of people, such as consuming alcohol if you are under 21) or at least 5 years have passed since the end of your sentence for a non-status offense
• The crime did not involve the use of a gun, and
• You are not in danger of harming yourself, any victim, or society.

You must seek expungement in the same jurisdiction where you were convicted. A Wyoming attorney can assist you with expungement of your criminal record in Wyoming. If you were convicted of a crime in a state other than Wyoming, you need to seek expungement there.

4 - Can You Handle Your Own Expungement?

You are free to represent yourself in any criminal case, including expungement. However, criminal expungement is complicated, time-consuming, and should not be attempted without the assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer. A lawyer who knows and understands Wyoming expungement law can save you time and help you avoid the hassle of unnecessary visits to the courthouse. A lawyer can also confirm whether you are eligible for an expungement, guide you through the process, file all the appropriate expungement paperwork, and represent you at court proceedings.

5 - How Will Hiring a Lawyer Help in a Criminal Expungement?

At Just Criminal Law, Christina L. Williams and her team of criminal defense professionals are dedicated to helping our clients with any criminal-law-related need. We are committed to putting our clients’ needs first, and to helping people who have been charged with or convicted of a crime put their criminal record behind them so they can move forward with their lives. From your personalized case review and strategy session until your expungement proceedings are concluded, we are there to support you and advocate on your behalf to help you get a fair result.

Learn More and Contact Us Today

We invite you to learn more about us and the types of cases we handle, and especially the assistance we can provide to people seeking criminal expungement in Wyoming. Read why clients choose us and testimonials from former clients, then contact us today to schedule a case review and strategy session. Call us at 307-686-6556, email info@justcriminallaw.com, or complete our online form.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is offered for educational purposes only. This information is not offered as legal advice. A person accused of a crime should always consult with an attorney before making decisions that have legal consequences.