{"id":377393,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:24","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/wyoming-law\/wyoming-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-03-12T14:32:36","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T19:32:36","slug":"wyoming-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/wyoming-law\/wyoming-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Wyoming Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wyoming Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Criminal statutes of limitation<\/a> place time limits on the amount of time a prosecutor has to file charges after a crime. In most states, these time limits range from a year for most misdemeanors to unlimited time for serious felonies like homicide and sexual assault.<\/p>\r\n

The state of Wyoming is one of two states with no criminal statutes of limitations<\/a>. South Carolina is the only other such state. Three states, Kentucky, West Virginia, and North Carolina, have limits for misdemeanors, but not felonies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Definition<\/th>\r\n

Under Wyoming law, there is no time limit for the statute of limitations, regardless of the severity of the crimes a person is accused of.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Felonies<\/th>\r\n

Wyoming statutes have no time limit.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Misdemeanors<\/th>\r\n

The state statute has no time limit.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

The Purpose of Criminal Statutes of Limitation<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Criminal statutes of limitations<\/a> ensure that criminal trials are based on the best available evidence. Prosecutors must file charges within a reasonable period of time when evidence is available and witness memories are fresh.<\/p>\r\n

More serious crimes justify longer or indefinite statutes of limitation. Homicide<\/a>, sexual assault, and crimes against children usually have no statutory limits. Less serious felonies have shorter periods of time of 10 to 20 years, which ensures law enforcement sufficient time to investigate crimes and locate defendants.<\/p>\r\n

Statutes of limitation are essential for the criminal justice system<\/a>. They support state laws by:<\/p>\r\n