---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 855"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "855"
heading: "Art. 55. Cruel and unusual punishments prohibited"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/855"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 47 — Uniform Code of Military Justice"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Sentences"
---

# §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](/usc/10/704.md?p=c-3-A)-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.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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”.