Where to Find Wyoming Inmate Records

Wyoming inmate records are institutional documents with details of inmates incarcerated in prisons or jails across the state by the courts. In Wyoming, an inmate is incarcerated in a WDOC correctional facility, county jail, municipal jail, interstate compact, adult community correctional center, or contract facility, and in custody or under the supervision of the Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC). Established in 1991, the Department is responsible for maintaining inmate records in the state. These records contain the identifying information, criminal history data, and correctional supervision records of inmates. WDOC also manages offenders’ records under its supervision or custody, interstate compact, and who are on probation or parole. Local law enforcement agencies keep inmate records of individuals imprisoned in county jails that are not under the jurisdiction of WDOC.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Wyoming?

Complete incarceration/inmate records are restricted to the public in Wyoming. The Wyoming Department of Corrections may release certain offender/inmate information to the public in accordance with Wyo. Stat. § 7–19–106(m), unless such release could jeopardize a person’s physical safety. Under this law, WDOC may also, ten years after an inmate or offender’s death, release the record of a deceased inmate to the public except when prohibited by court order or the law. WDOC does not release the following information in a deceased inmate/offender’s record:

• Information on crime victims
• Medical, dental, and psychological records
• Records about the security of a correctional facility where an inmate was incarcerated
• Records about an inmate’s out-of-state placement

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

What Information is Contained in a Wyoming Inmate Record?

In Wyoming, members of the public have access to some inmate or offender information kept by the Department of Corrections or the particular institution of incarceration/supervision. This information includes:

• Personally identifiable information: including full name, known aliases, date of birth, etc.
• Physical description/features: including eye/hair color, height, weight, scars, tattoos, marks, etc.
• Digital photograph
• Criminal convictions
• Expected parole eligibility and release/discharge dates: including full and projected minimum and maximum discharge dates
• Date of release (if applicable)
• Inmate or offender’s current location
• Inmate or offender’s home address: This information is only released with the Division Administrator’s approval

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Wyoming?

A few options are available to persons interested in looking up inmates confined in Wyoming prisons or jail facilities, such as:

• Using the WDOC Offender Locator
• Calling the Wyoming Department of Corrections Central Office on (307) 777–7208
• Contacting the specific prison/jail facility, or supervisory/probationary institution responsible for the inmate’s care or offender’s supervision

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Wyoming?

The first method an interested person may use to search for an inmate or offender in Wyoming is with the WDOC Offender Locator. This locator is managed by the Wyoming Department of Corrections and provides an inmate or offender identifying, commitment, and release information. An individual must input an inmate’s first/last name, WDOC number, age, or gender into search bars to bring up results. The Frequently Asked Questions page has more information on using this database. The WDOC Public Information Office may be contacted on (307) 777–5889 to obtain an inmate or offender’s photograph.

Alternatively, the Wyoming Department of Corrections Central Office provides inmate or offender information to members of the public. This information may be obtained by calling (307) 777–7208 during regular working hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Secondly, an interested party may contact the facility or institution where the individual is currently being confined or supervised to find inmate/offender information. Generally, this information may be released to any person unless it compromises a person’s physical safety or is prohibited by state/federal law.

Members of the public may request physical copies of inmate records from WDOC under the Wyoming Public Records Act. Requests may be sent through the WDOC Open Record Records website. To use this platform, requesters may submit a new request or browse previous requests to see if the Department has previously published their inquiry. It is possible to view the following information about a published request:

• The Public Records Request document
• The released document(s)
• Status of request
• Request description
• Agency point of contact

Requesters can also filter results by keywords, the status of a request, and the agency staff who processed the request.

To make a new request, requesters must enter a description of the particular record being sought, including record title or date/date ranges and their personal and contact information. Fees for hard or electronic copy requests, as well as production costs of electronic records, are assessed as directed in Public Records Requests Fee Schedule, established under Wyo Stat. 16–4–204.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Wyoming?

Generally, anyone can find an inmate at no cost in Wyoming with the WDOC Offender Locator. Similarly, inmate or offender queries made to the Wyoming Department of Corrections Central Office on (307) 777–7208, or specific incarceration/supervision institutions or facilities, are free of charge.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Wyoming

The Wyoming State Archives may be contacted by email or phone at (307) 777–7826 to inquire about inmate records that are ten to twenty years old or more. Inmate records maintained by this agency may contain an inmate’s name, physical description, date/place of crime, sentence, and release date and are obtainable for a fee. However, WDOC may also be contacted to confirm if these records have been transferred to the state archives or are still in the custody of the agency. Old inmate records kept in non-WDOC correctional facilities may be located by contacting the local law enforcement agency with custody of the inmate.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Wyoming?

Members of the public can request death records of inmates or offenders that were under supervision or custody of the Wyoming Department of Corrections at (307) 777–7208 or by making a Public Records Request. Obtainable information includes an inmate’s name, cause of death, date/place of death, sentencing date, sentencing judge, length of sentence, offense, date/place of birth, and mugshot/photograph. For county jails not under the authority of WDOC, interested parties may contact the relevant local law enforcement authority (sheriff’s office or police department).

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

Federal inmate searches may be conducted with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator. By entering an inmate’s name or BOP register number/FBI, INS, or DCDC number, an inmate’s identifying, sentencing, and release information may be found. Individuals can also narrow results with an offender’s age, gender, or race. However, it is important to note that this search tool can only provide inmate information of persons incarcerated from 1982 to the present date. Anyone searching for older federal inmate records may request as directed on the National Archives and Records Administration website.

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate’s Information to Be Published in Wyoming Inmate Locator?

The Wyoming Department of Corrections updates the statewide Inmate Locator regularly with inmate or offender information. Persons searching for any information that is unavailable on this locator may reach out to the Department with their inquiries, preferably by calling (307) 777–7208 or view similar inquiries on the FAQ page.