Wyoming Statutes
Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-101 (2026)
Definitions.
✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) As used in this act:
(i) "Court" means the district court which ordered
detention, directed outpatient commitment or involuntary
hospitalization of the person pursuant to this act, or the
district court in the county where the person resides, is found
or is hospitalized;
(ii) "Dangerous to himself or others" means that, as
a result of mental illness, a person:
(A) Evidences a substantial probability of
physical harm to himself as manifested by evidence of recent
threats of or attempts at suicide or serious bodily harm; or
(B) Evidences a substantial probability of
physical harm to other individuals as manifested by a recent
overt homicidal act, attempt or threat or other violent act,
attempt or threat which places others in reasonable fear of
serious physical harm to them; or
(C) Evidences behavior manifested by recent acts
or omissions that, due to mental illness, he is unable to
satisfy basic needs for nourishment, essential medical care,
shelter or safety so that a substantial probability exists that
death, serious physical injury, serious physical debilitation,
serious mental debilitation, destabilization from lack of or
refusal to take prescribed psychotropic medications for a
diagnosed condition or serious physical disease will imminently
ensue, unless the individual receives prompt and adequate
treatment for this mental illness. No person, however, shall be
deemed to be unable to satisfy his need for nourishment,
essential medical care, shelter or safety if he is able to
satisfy those needs with the supervision and assistance of
others who are willing and available;
(D) While this definition requires evidence of
recent acts or omissions of endangerment, either to self or
others, a court may consider a person's mental health history in
determining whether directed outpatient commitment or
involuntary hospitalization is warranted.
(iii) "Department" means the state department of
health;
(iv) "Examiner" means a licensed psychiatrist, a
licensed physician, a licensed advanced practice registered
nurse, a licensed physician assistant, a licensed psychologist,
a licensed professional counselor, a licensed addictions
therapist, a licensed clinical social worker or a licensed
marriage and family therapist;
(v) "Head of hospital" means the individual in charge
of a hospital or his designee. When this act requires or
authorizes the head of a hospital to perform an act which
involves the practice of medicine, the act shall be performed by
a physician;
(vi) "Hospital" means a facility designated pursuant
to W.S. 25-10-104 or the state hospital;
(vii) "Mental health center" means a behavioral
health center as defined by W.S. 35-1-613(a)(xvi), other
provider under W.S. 35-1-611 through 35-1-627 or an equivalently
staffed and equipped student health service;
(viii) Repealed By Laws 1999, ch. 172, § 3.
(ix) "Mental illness" and "mentally ill" mean a
physical, emotional, mental or behavioral disorder which causes
a person to be dangerous to himself or others and which requires
treatment, but do not include addiction to drugs or alcohol,
drug or alcohol intoxication or developmental disabilities;
(x) "Patient" means an individual receiving treatment
pursuant to this act;
(xi) "Physician" means an individual licensed under
the laws of this state to practice medicine, or a physician in
the service of the United States government while in this state
in the performance of his official duties;
(xii) "State hospital" means the Wyoming state
hospital at Evanston, Wyoming;
(xiii) "Treatment" means diagnosis, evaluation,
intervention, which may include psychiatric medication,
individual and group mental health counseling, illness
management diversion services such as immediate linkages to
mental health services in the community and discharge planning.
Treatment shall begin at the time of detention, if the person
knowingly and voluntarily consents, and shall continue
throughout involuntary hospitalization or directed outpatient
commitment. Treatment may be given without the consent of the
detained person or his parent or guardian when treatment is
limited to diagnosis or evaluation or when treatment is
necessary to prevent immediate and serious physical harm to the
person or others. "Treatment" does not include observation or
supervision;
(xiv) "Treatment center" or "treatment provider"
means as defined by department rule;
(xv) "Resident" means a United States citizen who has
been a resident of and domiciled in Wyoming for not less than
ninety (90) days and who has not claimed residency elsewhere for
the purpose of obtaining medical or psychiatric services during
that ninety (90) day period immediately preceding the date when
services under this act were sought or imposed. "Resident" also
includes any alien who has resided continuously in Wyoming for
at least ninety (90) days immediately prior to the date when
services under this act were sought or imposed. "Resident" also
includes any active duty member, the spouse or minor child of
any active duty member of the armed forces of the United States
who is stationed in Wyoming;
(xvi) "Gatekeeper" means the single point of
responsibility which may be designated by the department
pursuant to W.S. 25-10-112(g);
(xvii) "This act" means W.S. 25-10-101 through
25-10-305.Notes of Decisions
Cited in 22
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1983–2023 · leading case: Keats v. State, 2003 WY 19 (Wyo. 2003).
Keats v. State, 2003 WY 19 (Wyo. 2003). “On appeal, appellant argues that the district court failed adequately to instruct the jury on the specific intent element of first-degree arson, improperly excluded evidence that appellant was taken into custody pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 25-10-101 through 25-10-127…”
United States v. Christopher Perkins, 67 F.4th 583 (4th Cir. 2023). “20 (West 2022); Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 25-10-101 , 25-10-110 (West 2022).”
Moore v. Wyoming Med. Ctr., 825 F. Supp. 1531 (D. Wyo. 1993). “Moore further complains that the defendants did not inform her of her rights nor did they *1536 complete the required forms in support of her detention, all pursuant to Wyoming’s Emergency Detention Statute, Section 25-10-101, et seq.”
Reiter v. State, 2001 WY 116 (Wyo. 2001). “]" Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 25-10-101 (a)(ix) (Michie 1997).”
Joyner v. State, 2002 WY 174 (Wyo. 2002). “For reasons not explained in the record, UMC detained Joyner, and proceedings were commenced for his involuntary hospitalization under Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 25-10-101 through 25-10-305 (LexisNexis 2001).”
In the Interest of RB, State of Wyoming, By & Through the Off. of the Park Cnty. Attorney v. Wyoming State Hosp. & RB, 2013 WY 15 (Wyo. 2013). “See § 25-10-101(a)(ix) (defining mental illness).”
Van Dean v. State, 668 P.2d 639 (Wyo. 1983). “" The court may order commitment of a mentally ill person to the state hospital for treatment pursuant to the proceedings set forth in § 25-10-101, et seq., W.S. 1977; it may order an examination of a defendant at the state hospital pursuant to § 7-11-304, W.”
United States v. Bradley, 417 F.3d 1107 (10th Cir. 2005). “§ 25 — 10—110(j), with mental illness defined as “a physical, emotional, mental or behavioral disorder which causes a person to be dangerous to himself or others and which requires treatment^]” Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 25-10-101 (a)(ix). Dr. DeMier reported Bradley presented no threat…”
State ex rel. West Park Hosp. Dist. v. Skoric, 321 P.3d 334 (Wyo. 2014). “- That statute provides as follow: (a) A person who willfully causes the unwarranted hospitalization of any individual under this act [§§ 25-10-101 through 25-10-305] is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000.”
Keats v. State, 2005 WY 81 (Wyo. 2005). “Mentally ill is defined as "a physical, emotional, mental, or behavioral disorder which causes a person to be dangerous to himself or others and which requires treatment.”
K.C. v. State, 771 P.2d 774 (Wyo. 1989). “This definition section of the commitment statute W.S. 25-10-101 has been rewritten by Wyo.”
Polston v. State, 685 P.2d 1 (Wyo. 1984). “2d 639, 645-646 (1983), we said: "The court may order commitment of a mentally ill person to the state hospital for treatment pursuant to the proceedings set forth in § 25-10-101, et seq., W.S. 1977; it may order an examination of a defendant at the state hospital pursuant to §…”
— Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-101(a) — 2 cases
State ex rel. West Park Hosp. Dist. v. Skoric, 321 P.3d 334 (Wyo. 2014). “- That statute provides as follow: (a) A person who willfully causes the unwarranted hospitalization of any individual under this act [§§ 25-10-101 through 25-10-305] is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000.”
In the Interest of Asm: Asm v. The State of Wyoming, 2021 WY 109 (Wyo. 2021).
— Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-101(a)(ii) — 1 case
K.C. v. State, 771 P.2d 774 (Wyo. 1989). “This definition section of the commitment statute W.S. 25-10-101 has been rewritten by Wyo.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-101(a)(iv) — 2 cases
State of Wyoming ex rel. West Park Hosp. Dist. & Yellowstone Behavioral Health Ctr. v. Bryan A. Skoric, Park Cnty. & Prosecuting Attorney, In His Off. Capacity, 2014 WY 41 (Wyo. 2014).
State of Wyoming ex rel. West Park Hosp. Dist. & Yellowstone Behavioral Health Ctr. v. Bryan A. Skoric, Park Cnty. & Prosecuting Attorney, In His Off. Capacity, 2014 WY 41 (Wyo. 2014).
— Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-101(a)(ix) — 3 cases
Keats v. State, 2005 WY 81 (Wyo. 2005). “Mentally ill is defined as "a physical, emotional, mental, or behavioral disorder which causes a person to be dangerous to himself or others and which requires treatment.”
In the Interest of RB, State of Wyoming, By & Through the Off. of the Park Cnty. Attorney v. Wyoming State Hosp. & RB, 2013 WY 15 (Wyo. 2013). “See § 25-10-101(a)(ix) (defining mental illness).”
In the Interest of Asm: Asm v. The State of Wyoming, 2021 WY 109 (Wyo. 2021).
— Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-101(a)(v) — 2 cases
In the Interest of RB, State of Wyoming, By & Through the Off. of the Park Cnty. Attorney v. Wyoming State Hosp. & RB, 2013 WY 15 (Wyo. 2013). “See § 25-10-101(a)(ix) (defining mental illness).”
K.C. v. State, 771 P.2d 774 (Wyo. 1989). “This definition section of the commitment statute W.S. 25-10-101 has been rewritten by Wyo.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-101(a)(viii) — 2 cases
People v. Stevens, 761 P.2d 768 (Colo. 1988).
K.C. v. State, 771 P.2d 774 (Wyo. 1989). “This definition section of the commitment statute W.S. 25-10-101 has been rewritten by Wyo.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-101(a)(xi) — 1 case
K.C. v. State, 771 P.2d 774 (Wyo. 1989). “This definition section of the commitment statute W.S. 25-10-101 has been rewritten by Wyo.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-101(ii) — 1 case
Moore v. Wyoming Med. Ctr., 825 F. Supp. 1531 (D. Wyo. 1993). “Moore further complains that the defendants did not inform her of her rights nor did they *1536 complete the required forms in support of her detention, all pursuant to Wyoming’s Emergency Detention Statute, Section 25-10-101, et seq.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-101(ii)(A) — 1 case
Moore v. Wyoming Med. Ctr., 825 F. Supp. 1531 (D. Wyo. 1993). “Moore further complains that the defendants did not inform her of her rights nor did they *1536 complete the required forms in support of her detention, all pursuant to Wyoming’s Emergency Detention Statute, Section 25-10-101, et seq.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-101(ix) — 1 case
Moore v. Wyoming Med. Ctr., 825 F. Supp. 1531 (D. Wyo. 1993). “Moore further complains that the defendants did not inform her of her rights nor did they *1536 complete the required forms in support of her detention, all pursuant to Wyoming’s Emergency Detention Statute, Section 25-10-101, et seq.”
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