Absconding for criminal purposes-criminal offense.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify how the new offense will be enforced or what resources will be provided to law enforcement.

Creating a New Crime for Fleeing After Committing Serious Offenses

This law creates a new criminal offense called 'absconding for criminal purposes' when someone leaves one county or Wyoming to avoid being caught after committing, intending to commit, or hiding the results of a serious crime.

What This Bill Does

• Creates a new criminal offense called 'absconding for criminal purposes'.
• Defines absconding as leaving one county in Wyoming for another county or going outside of Wyoming with intent to evade law enforcement after committing, intending to commit, or hiding the results of any criminal offense.
• Specifies that the penalty for this new crime is the same as the most serious crime committed, intended, or furthered by the act of fleeing.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who leave one county in Wyoming for another county or go outside of Wyoming after committing a crime with intent to evade law enforcement.
• Law enforcement agencies that will enforce this new criminal offense.

Terms To Know

Absconding

Leaving an area to avoid being caught by law enforcement after committing a crime.

Penalty

The punishment given for breaking the law.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how this new offense will be enforced or what resources will be provided to law enforcement.
• Effective date is July 1, 2026.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 26LSO-0082

Bill No.:

SF0008

Effective:

7/1/2026

LSO No.:

26LSO-0082

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0008

Chapter No.:

12

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Absconding for criminal purposes-criminal offense.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Creating the criminal offense of absconding for criminal purposes.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act creates a new criminal offense, absconding for criminal purposes.

A person commits the offense of absconding for criminal purposes if the person travels from one (1) county to another county in Wyoming or from one (1) county in Wyoming to another jurisdiction outside of Wyoming:

After having committed any criminal or drug-related offense and with the intent to evade or elude law enforcement;
With the intent to commit an additional criminal or drug-related offense after having committed an offense in the original county; or
To dispose of or conceal the proceeds, property or other items of value obtained after having committed any criminal or drug-related offense.

The penalty for absconding for criminal purposes is the same as the penalty for the most serious crime that was committed, intended to be committed, or furthered as a result of the abscondence.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

26LSO-0082

ORIGINAL Senate

File No
.
SF0008

ENROLLED ACT NO. 8,

SENATE

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating the criminal offense of absconding for criminal purposes; specifying penalties; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
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5
‑
215 is created to read:

6
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5
‑
215.

Absconding for criminal purposes; penalty.

(a)

A person is guilty of absconding for criminal purposes if the person travels from one (1) county to another county in Wyoming or from one (1) county in Wyoming to another jurisdiction outside of Wyoming:

(i)

After having committed any criminal offense under this title or the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act of 1971 and with the intent to evade or elude law enforcement;

(ii)

With the intent to commit an additional criminal offense under this title or the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act of 1971 after having committed an offense in the original county; or

(iii)

To dispose of or conceal the proceeds, property or other items of value obtained after committing any criminal offense under this title or the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act of 1971.

(b)

The penalty for absconding for criminal purposes shall be the same as the penalty for the most serious crime that was committed, was intended to be committed or furthered as a result of the absconding for criminal purposes.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1