Is it a federal offense to open someone else's mail
In the United States, opening someone else's mail without their permission is generally considered a federal offense. Specifically, it is a violation of Title 18, Section 1702 of the United States Code, which states:
"Whoever, being the owner or custodian of any letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail, or having in his possession any letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail, which has been delivered to him by mistake for another, or who, having received any letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail, which has been delivered to him by mistake for another, fails to deliver it to the addressee, or to the postmaster of the office of mailing, or to the postmaster of the office of destination, or to the postmaster of the office of the addressee, within a reasonable time, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."
This law applies to anyone who opens or attempts to open someone else's mail, including:
- Mail that is addressed to someone else
- Mail that is delivered to the wrong address
- Mail that is opened by mistake or by someone who is not authorized to do so
It's important to note that there are some exceptions to this law, such as:
- Law enforcement officers who are investigating a crime and have a warrant or authorization to open the mail
- Postal inspectors who are investigating a mail-related crime
- Individuals who are authorized to open mail as part of their job, such as mail carriers or postal workers
It's also worth noting that opening someone else's mail can be considered a violation of their privacy and can lead to legal consequences, even if it's not a federal offense.