LARAMIE, Wyo. — Albany County law enforcement officials recently had to issue a reminder against taking the law into one’s own hands after a group of people began conducting private investigations into Albany County residents.
According to the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, the group was comprised of non-residents who were trying to identify people they believed to have committed crimes against children.
“While we acknowledge the intentions behind these efforts, it is critical to highlight that these investigations are often conducted in ways that lack legal standards, render gathered information inadmissible in court, violate citizens’ rights to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence and potentially undermine future prosecution efforts,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a press release. “These actions create increased safety risks to involved parties and the broader community.”
Already, local law enforcement agencies work hand in hand with state agencies to investigate the exploitation of children across Wyoming, including in Albany County, where the sheriff’s office, local police departments and University of Wyoming Police Department work with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Anyone with suspicions or information of criminal activity is urged to act by reporting directly to law enforcement. People can give tips to Wyoming DCI by calling 307-777-7181.
