Juveniles

Delinquent Children

A delinquent child is a child who is under the age of eighteen who has committed a delinquent act. A delinquent act is an act punishable as a criminal offense by the laws of this state. These delinquent acts can be either misdemeanors or felonies, and depending upon the situation, may be filed into juvenile court as a delinquent child or remain in circuit, municipal, or district court.

If a child is adjudicated or found by the court to be a delinquent child, the child may be sentenced to community service, probation, placed in an out-of-home placement, receive a jail sentence, fines, or restitution, or several other options available in juvenile court. Once the court assumes jurisdiction over the child, the court may order parents or others involved in the child’s life to comply with certain orders as well.

Wyoming Statute 14-6-203, et al. deals with delinquent children.

Children in Need of Supervision

A child in need of supervision (CHINS) is a child who is has not reached his/her 17th birthday who is habitually truant, or has run away from home, or habitually disobeys the reasonable and lawful demands of his parents, custodian, guardian, or other proper authority, or is ungovernable and beyond control.

A child placed on a CHINS petition may be placed in an out-of-home placement, be placed on probation, be ordered to counseling, or a number of other remedies available in juvenile court. Once the court assumes jurisdiction over the child, the court may order parents or others involved in the child’s life to comply with certain orders as well.

Abuse and/or Neglected Children

A neglected child is a child whose parent, guardian or person responsible for the child’s well-being has failed or refused to provide adequate care, maintenance, supervision, education, or medical surgical or other care necessary for the child’s well-being.

Abuse means the inflicting or causing of physical or mental injury, harm, or imminent danger to the physical or mental health or welfare of a child other than by accidental means, including abandonment, excessive or unreasonable corporal punishment, malnutrition, and the commission or allowing the commission of a sexual offense against a child.

Submit a Report

Every person in Wyoming is required to report suspected abuse and neglect. Reports can be made to the Department of Family Services at 307-746-4657, the Newcastle Police Department at 307-746-4486, the Upton Police Department at (307) 746-4441 or at the Sheriff’s Department at 307-746-4486.