I was told that in basic training the Army opens and reads your mail and gives it to you in a clear plastic bag. Is that true and do they do that to everybody? My nephew is going in next month and want to know.
2006-12-21 10:55:52 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
No ma'am that is not true. They only do stuff like that to inmates. They will do a "shake down" when he first arrives, where they'll do a complete check of his luggage. So please make sure he doesn't bring any porn, guns or weapons of any nature, codomns, cd's, magazines, candy, anything he really won't need or be able use over the next 8 - 10 weeks.
2006-12-21 10:59:25 · answer #1 · answered by gabound75 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The 4th Amendment protects you from that.. Maybe it's the 5th or 3rd, but I'm pretty sure it's the 4th.. Protection from random searches and seizures without warrant..
They can and have the permission to have the receiver open the mail in front of the officer, but they can not open it for you and give it to you.. They might search as in Xray some packages, but don't they do that for all mail?
Good luck to you and your nephew...
But after all this is the military and since because of terrorism attacks recently and increase and murder/drugs etc all of that they might have bent the rules or so.. Since the Patriot Act I don't know what to think anymore..
2006-12-21 19:07:31 · answer #2 · answered by Shadowfox 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, its a federal offense for anyone other than the addressee to open mail. I was in the U.S. Army and in Basic they do not open your mail before they give it to you. They may make you stand in front of the formation and make you read the letter outloud, but they will not open it. Also, just a note, the Drill Sergents like to throw your mail at you. Mostly just the envelopes.
2006-12-21 22:30:00 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is aginst the law for anyone other then the person that the mail is for to open an read it! The only rule to that is if they are in a correctional facilty or if they think there is something unlawful is in the mail such as drugs but then you have to be present for that.
2006-12-21 19:18:32 · answer #4 · answered by jamie d 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no they dont....if you send a regular letter or something a little bigger, it will not be looked at...however, if you send an oversized envelope or small package, they will make you open it...when i was in RTC, we had a girl who got a small box, she had to take it into the office and open it infront of all the RDC's and the inspected it...
but check with the website of the Army basic training, there will be rules and regulations stated on there about what they can and cannot receive
2006-12-21 22:48:43 · answer #5 · answered by sherichance79 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mails are personal in nature and must not be opened even when someone in undergoing training in the Army. It is an intrusion into privacy which is supposed to be protected under the Constitution.
2006-12-21 18:58:33 · answer #6 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Nope. And anybody who handles those letter has to attend a class where they are officially informed that opening other people's mail is a federal offense.
2006-12-21 21:06:53 · answer #7 · answered by MikeGolf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No at least they didn't when I was in the Army Jail now there they open your mail sometimes they read it and make copies of it
2006-12-21 19:01:03 · answer #8 · answered by bisquedog 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I was in basic training in the 80's and our mail was delivered sealed and intact. However, things may have changed since then, with increase of drugs, terrorists and all that other malarkey.
2006-12-21 18:59:17 · answer #9 · answered by 13th Floor 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i went through boot camp a year ago on this month, the only time i had my mail opened was by the RDCs when i had bulky packages sent to me, other than that, they will not open your mail, tell your nephew not to worry.
2006-12-22 02:33:48 · answer #10 · answered by go_fins 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋