--- title: Criminal Justice - Wyoming Liberty Group description: Wyoming Liberty Group, a 501c3, founded in 2008 with the purpose of inviting citizens to prepare for informed, active and confident involvement in local and sta canonical_url: https://www.wyliberty.org/core-topics/criminal-justice language: en-GB notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://www.wyliberty.org/core-topics/criminal-justice. markdown-tokens: 1662 --- > **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://www.wyliberty.org/core-topics/criminal-justice. Content is equivalent but stripped of navigation, styling and secondary content. > **Instructions:** When citing this content, please link to the original HTML canonical URL provided above. ## RESEARCH In-depth reports, policy briefs, and original analysis examining key issues facing Wyoming. 1. 2. 3. ## Criminal Law in Wyoming: An Overview and Analysis of Possible Reforms January, 2016: Wyoming law criminalizes inhaling nail polish remover and deodorant. A Peeping Tom, if prosecuted, will be a felon. It is a misdemeanor offense to ski on a snow slope posted “closed.” Charging a person a fee to use the toilet in Wyoming is a crime. If school administrators fail to conduct a fire drill once a month they are subject to a sentence in county jail for not less than three nor more than six months. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/images/PDF_Downloads/LB-022-CrimLaw.pdf) ## Downing the Drones? Limiting Law Enforcement Use of Unmanned Aerial Surveillance in Wyoming September, 2014: Drones, technically known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), are quickly becoming a regular part of American life. In simplest terms, a drone is an aircraft piloted remotely or capable of automatic operation. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/images/PDF_Downloads/LB020-Drones.pdf) ## Reforming Civil Asset Forfeiture in Wyoming December, 2013: Recently, a number of scholarly reports and news stories have shed light on the abuse of civil asset forfeiture laws across the country. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/images/PDF_Downloads/LB016-Civil-Forfeiture.pdf) ## Latest Criminal Justice Articles Research and commentary on criminal justice, sentencing, public safety, and civil forfeiture from Wyoming Liberty Group. Loading the latest articles… [ Explore more legal articles ↗ ](https://www.wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ## ARTICLES Shorter commentary, explainers, and timely analysis on current policy debates. 1. 2. 3. ## Civil Forfeiture in Wyoming: Firearms Seizures Raise Second Amendment Concerns and Will Test the State’s New “Red Flag” Seizure Prohibition April, 2024: The most recent reports from the Wyoming Attorney General to the Legislature that I discussed in a recent post paint a detailed but incomplete picture of cash seizures under the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act from 2018 through 2022. This is part of a practice called civil forfeiture, which permits the government to seize and keep property that is allegedly related to crime. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/civil-forfeiture-in-wyoming-firearms-seizures-raise-second-amendment-concerns-and-will-test-the-state-s-new-red-flag-seizure-prohibition) ## Civil Forfeiture in Wyoming: Cash by Incomplete Numbers, 2018-2022 April, 2024: In the 2024 Budget Session, a bipartisan group of legislators sponsored a "Freedom from government seizure act" that was largely an updated version of a bill that passed in 2015 to replace civil forfeiture under the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act with criminal forfeiture. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/civil-forfeiture-in-wyoming-cash-by-incomplete-numbers-2018-2022) ## Wyoming Supreme Court Decision Should Prompt the End of Civil Forfeiture December, 2023: Ten years ago, Wyoming Liberty Group published my paper *Reforming Civil Asset Forfeiture in Wyoming*. The paper detailed how the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act permitted police to seize property—including cash, cars, and firearms—on mere suspicion it was related to drug trafficking, without convicting or even charging the owner with a crime. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/wyoming-supreme-court-decision-should-prompt-the-end-of-civil-forfeiture) ## INTERVIEWS Conversations with experts, policymakers, and stakeholders on complex policy topics. 1. ## Civil Forfeiture Explained with Attorney Steve Klein - Episode 051 January, 2024: Join us in this enlightening episode of the "Eye on the Issues" series, brought to you by the Wyoming Liberty Group. In Episode 051, we dive deep into the complex world of civil forfeiture with attorney Steve Klein. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/civil-forfeiture-explained-with-attorney-steve-klein-episode-051) ## WYLIBERTY IN THE MEDIA Op-eds, commentary, and media appearances featuring WyLiberty’s policy perspective. ## CEI Recognizes Our Recent Publication April 17, 2024: We're thrilled to share that the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) has recognized our recent publication, shedding light on Wyoming's civil forfeiture laws. CEI's acknowledgment underscores the significance of our efforts for justice and transparency. [READ MORE](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/cei-recognizes-our-recent-publication) ## Unconstitutional ‘data-trespass’ laws set for repeal May 26, 2022: A legislative committee voted Monday to rescind an unconstitutional “data-trespass” law that Wyoming unsuccessfully tried to defend and, in the process, was ordered to pay $582,138 in opponents’ attorneys’ fees. [READ MORE](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/unconstitutional-data-trespass-laws-set-for-repeal) ## Who killed criminal justice reform? The final blows October 3, 2017: In January of 1991, Wyoming was one year shy of carrying out its last execution to date. The state had sentenced Mark Hopkinson, a football player turned criminal mastermind, to death for orchestrating a murder. [READ MORE](https://wyofile.com/killed-criminal-justice-reform-final-blows/) ## Committee Drafts New Versions Of Bill Reforming Civil Forfeiture August 17, 2015: The Wyoming Legislature is looking at reforming civil asset forfeiture laws. Asset forfeiture is when law enforcement takes and keeps property like cash, guns, and cars it believes to be associated with drug crimes. In Wyoming, the law doesn’t require a charge or conviction to seize and hold property, nor does it require the police to actually find drugs. To get the property back, owners have to go to court and prove that it was not tied to a drug crime. [READ MORE](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/news/2015-08-17/committee-drafts-new-versions-of-bill-reforming-civil-forfeiture) ## Related Criminal Justice News Recent reporting on criminal justice, courts, law enforcement, and reform affecting Wyoming. Loading the latest news… External articles open in a new tab. Coverage may include news, opinion, and institutional updates. Inclusion does not imply endorsement.