Your Rights After You Have Been Arrested in Wyoming

There are few things as stressful as facing a criminal charge. Fortunately, under the U.S.

Constitution and Wyoming state law, you have rights that protect you. Whether you believe your Wyoming arrest is fair or not, never resist arrest. Instead, say you wish to remain silent and ask for a Wyoming criminal defense lawyer.

Here are four essential rights to keep in mind after you have been arrested in Wyoming.

  1. You have a right to know the crime you are being charged with in the state of Wyoming. Although any arrest made in the United States requires probable cause, a law enforcement officer may not be required to share this probable cause assessment with you while you are being arrested. This is because you may be arrested and taken into police custody temporarily without being charged for a crime.

    However, if you are charged with a crime, the police must give you a copy of the arrest warrant that states the charges being brought against you. At the time of your arrest, the police are not required to have the arrest warrant on hand, but it must be presented to you within a reasonable amount of time.

  2. After you are arrested, you have the right to know the identity of your arresting officer, as well as the officers you interact with at your holding facility. You have the right to see an arrest report containing the name and badge number of your arresting officer, as well as the arrest warrant, which details the charges that are being brought against you.
  3. If you are arrested, you have the right to make a local phone call after you are brought to the police station. At this time, you may decide to communicate with your attorney via phone, but you should be aware that your phone call is not private – the police are permitted to listen to your conversation and might be listening upon that initial phone call with your attorney.It is best to avoid speaking about the facts of your case during phone calls from the police station after an arrest.
  4. The sixth amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants you the right to an attorney during a criminal proceeding. Specifically, it requires the “assistance of counsel” for the accused “during a criminal prosecution.” Keep in mind that your right to an attorney begins immediately after your arrest, and all states, including Wyoming, are required to provide you with a defense attorney should you not be able to afford one on your own.

Consult an experienced Wyoming criminal defense attorney

If you are facing criminal charges in the state of Wyoming, it is in your best interest to consult an experienced criminal defense attorney. At Davis & Cannon LLP, we have been serving the residents of Gillette, Cheyenne, Sheridan, Casper, and all of Wyoming for more than 70 years and are prepared to work tirelessly for you to ensure the best possible outcome for your case. Call us today at (307) 672-7491 or contact us online for a free and confidential consultation.