Criminal charges are formal accusations of criminal conduct made by a governmental authority against a person or entity. Criminal charges are usually filed or initiated by a city, county, state, or the federal government, acting through a public prosecutor—also known as a municipal prosecutor, county attorney, district attorney, state attorney general, or United States Attorney (for federal crimes). Criminal charges range from low-level misdemeanors such as traffic tickets to first degree felonies such as capital murder.

The charging document in which the specific crime(s) alleged to have been committed are specified may be referred to as (1) a complaint; (2) an information; (3) an indictment; (4) a citation; or (5) a traffic ticket.

In Wyoming, criminal charges are formal allegations of unlawful behavior brought against individuals or entities by the government. These charges can be initiated by local (city or county), state, or federal prosecuting authorities. At the local level, a municipal prosecutor or county attorney may file charges, while at the state level, the responsibility falls to the district attorney or the state attorney general. For federal offenses, a United States Attorney would handle the prosecution. The severity of criminal charges in Wyoming can vary widely, from minor misdemeanors like traffic infractions to serious felonies, including capital murder. The specific criminal accusations are detailed in a charging document, which may take the form of a complaint, an information, an indictment, a citation, or a traffic ticket, depending on the nature of the offense and the stage of the criminal process. Each type of document serves a different legal function and is used in different circumstances, with indictments typically resulting from grand jury proceedings and informations or complaints being used in other cases.