---
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"
date: "2026-07-12"
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-martial or inflicted upon any [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) 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”.