Federal · Title 10 — Armed Forces

10 U.S.C. § 831: Art. 31. Compulsory self-incrimination prohibited

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute prohibits military personnel from compelling self-incrimination, requires advisories before interrogation, and bars admission of statements obtained through coercion or improper inducement in court-martial proceedings.

Read the full statutory text

No person subject to this chapter may compel any person to incriminate himself or to answer any question the answer to which may tend to incriminate him. No person subject to this chapter may interrogate, or request any statement from, an accused or a person suspected of an offense without first informing him of the nature of the accusation and advising him that he does not have to make any statement regarding the offense of which he is accused or suspected and that any statement made by him may be used as evidence against him in a trial by court-martial. No person subject to this chapter may compel any person to make a statement or produce evidence before any military tribunal if the statement or evidence is not material to the issue and may tend to degrade him. No statement obtained from any person in violation of this article, or through the use of coercion, unlawful influence, or unlawful inducement may be received in evidence against him in a trial by court-martial.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.