Can my 20 year old bf prosecute someone who is tampering with his mail in his own home?

Question

Okay so my bf is 20 and lives with his father and stepmother. his stepmother opens/reads his bank statements and, well, pretty much all his mail. Can he press charges or is this out of criminal jurisdiction simply because he shares an address with them? I know it's obvious he doesn't particularly like his parents, but legally, COULD HE DO IT?

Answer 1

It would probably be difficult to prove, and could just cause him more problems. I suggest getting a P.O. box. at the post office, or some place like that PAK Mail.

Answer 2

He could since he is over 18. But...... how to prove it? Maybe if it was CSI. They set up cameras, he leaves for a week or two and they bust them in the act and rush in. Not.

If he has a job, his license is Ok and nothing else is going on what reason would there be to go through mail? None as there is nothing to be gained by doing so. Any other communication could be done by email or cell. Bank statements.... he has agreed to pay something and is not telling the truth? Your bf can try to bring charges but what then? Who's paying for net access, a home, food or the car? Can he handle all of that on his own? They could just pitch him out.

Call his stepmother and go have lunch or something. The way you stated it you don't really know his parents. Is he kind of keeping you away? Sit down, have the conversation and you will know what to do after that.

Answer 3

Only the addressee is allowed to open his/her mail.
It is a federal offense to tamper with the mail.
He can talk to someone at the post office to find out for sure and yes he can file charges.
The post office has its own investigators and they can go anywhere in the world and make an arrest.

Answer 4

Actually, the opening of someone else's mail is a federal offense, so calling the police really wouldn't do you any good (they do not have the authority to enforce non-urgent federal laws). What you would have to do is contact the Postal Inspector's Office (the Post Office's 'Policemen') ... their only job is to investigate and enforce postal violations.

The only time you can legally open the mail of another adult without breaking the law is if it is addressed to your spouse -- thats the only exception.

Answer 5

They might have the right to do that since he lives in their home and is not a dependant. He is over 18 and in his parent's house. They can do as they please with his property, short of destroying it.

You see, they might not have a right to open his mail, but they can kick him out, for no reason at all, and that might happen if he complains about the mail. He has to give a warning first, and I imagine that that will cause enough of a rift to where they'll say 'hit the road.'

Answer 6

Yes he can. It's a federal offense to tamper with someone else's mail. Or a simpler solution would be to open a p.o. box and have him change his address to it. It would actually do two things, solve the problem and keep her permanently out of his business.

Answer 7

Yep, he can do it. He is an adult. The fact that he shares an address doesn't matter. The mail she is opening is addressed to someone else and that is a federal offense.

Answer 8

If u live in the US, u can press charges. No mail can be opened unless the bearer's name is on it or bearer has permission from namesake (or is namesake's legal guardian). Since he's 20, he has no guardian (usually true unless he is sick or mentally declared)

He can press charges if above is true.

Answer 9

it is a federal offense to open someone else's mail, but unless he has another place to stay he may want to considered the ramifications if he were to pursue charges. After all he is an adult.

Answer 10

Does he have his BAR? I doubt he does since he's only 20, so no, he can't prosecute. He can go to the police and press charges though.