Federal · Title 10 — Armed Forces

10 U.S.C. § 909a: Art. 109a. Mail matter: wrongful taking, opening, etc.

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Military personnel who wrongfully take, open, secrete, destroy, or steal mail before delivery with intent to obstruct correspondence or pry into secrets are subject to court-martial punishment.

Read the full statutory text

Any person subject to this chapter who, with the intent to obstruct the correspondence of, or to pry into the business or secrets of, any person or organization, wrongfully takes mail matter before the mail matter is delivered to or received by the addressee shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. Any person subject to this chapter who wrongfully opens, secretes, destroys, or steals mail matter before the mail matter is delivered to or received by the addressee shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

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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.