10 USC § 855 - Art. 55. Cruel and unusual punishments prohibited

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s855"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 855 - Art. 55. Cruel and unusual punishments prohibited"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "855"
section_name: "Art. 55. Cruel and unusual punishments prohibited"
chapter_number: 47
chapter_name: "UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE"
subchapter_number: "VIII"
subchapter_name: "SENTENCES"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "PERSONNEL"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 56.)"
---


# § 855. Art. 55. Cruel and unusual punishments prohibited

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.

---

**Source Credit**: (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 56.)

| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 855 | 50:636. | May 5, 1950, ch. 169, § 1 (Art. 55), 64 Stat. 126. |

The word “may” is substituted for the word “shall”.