Wyo. Stat. § 7-22-106 (2026)

force.

     (a) No person shall be employed as a private-company
detention officer unless the person has been trained in the use
of force and the use of firearms in accordance with American
correctional association standards, §§ 3-4070 through 3-4091,
and, at the contractor's expense, has satisfactorily completed a
basic training program approved by the state. If the training is
provided under contract with the state, the costs of a basic
training program shall not be greater than the costs of peace
officer training at the Wyoming law enforcement academy.

     (b) A private-company detention officer may use force only
while on the grounds of a facility or while transporting
inmates. Nondeadly force and deadly force shall be used by a
private-company detention officer only as provided in this
section.
     (c) A private-company detention officer is authorized to
use only such nondeadly force as the circumstances require in
the following situations:

          (i) To prevent the commission of a felony or
misdemeanor, including escape;

           (ii)    To defend himself or others against physical
assault;

           (iii)    To prevent serious damage to property;

           (iv)    To enforce institutional regulations and orders;
and

           (v)    To prevent or quell a riot.

     (d) A private-company detention officer who is trained
pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section,
shall have the right to carry and use firearms and shall
exercise such authority and use deadly force only as a last
resort when reasonably necessary to prevent the commission of a
violent felony as defined in W.S. 6-1-104(a)(xii), to prevent
the escape of a convicted felon from custody, or to defend the
officer or any other person from imminent danger of death or
serious bodily injury.

     (e) Within three (3) days following an incident involving
the use of force against an inmate or another, the employee
shall file a written report describing the incident with the
administrative staff of the facility and with the contract
monitor appointed pursuant to W.S. 7-22-108.

     (f) A private contractor shall have the same standing,
authority, rights and responsibilities as the contracting
governmental entity in any agreement, formal or informal, with
local law enforcement agencies concerning the latter's
obligations in the event of a riot, escape or other emergency
situation.