---
type: "LegalText"
title: "10 U.S.C. § 855"
description: "Art. 55. Cruel and unusual punishments prohibited"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
chapter_number: "47"
chapter_name: "UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE"
section: "855"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 855"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc10@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s855"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-10/usc10.xml"
source_hash: "ebc8c4118835d7f92c8f9d4eb8a68e264d1a1e1c2f487afe5fe539965c49b2ef"
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text_hash: "c6f13715029f666a830fef61c4d72ae527ea3c842159d82495afb24a4fa2de28"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 10 U.S.C. § 855 - Art. 55. Cruel and unusual punishments prohibited

## Text

Punishment by flogging, or by branding, marking, or tattooing on the body, or any other cruel or unusual punishment, may not be adjudged by any court-martial or inflicted upon any person subject to this chapter. The use of irons, single or double, except for the purpose of safe custody, is prohibited.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 56.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 85550:636.May 5, 1950, ch. 169, § 1 (Art. 55), 64 Stat. 126. The word “may” is substituted for the word “shall”.