Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73not60
§831 Art. 31. Compulsory Self-incrimination Prohibited
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— General Military Law › Part II— PERSONNEL › Chapter 47— UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE › Subchapter VI— PRE-TRIAL PROCEDURE › § 831
Summary
Under military law, people can't be forced to say things that would get them in trouble or to give irrelevant or degrading evidence. Before questioning, they must be told the charge, warned they may stay silent and that anything they say might be used in a military trial; statements taken by force, illegal pressure, or improper promises can't be used.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §831
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)No person subject to this chapter may compel any person to incriminate himself or to answer any question the answer to which may tend to incriminate him.
(b)No person subject to this chapter may interrogate, or request any statement from, an accused or a person suspected of an offense without first informing him of the nature of the accusation and advising him that he does not have to make any statement regarding the offense of which he is accused or suspected and that any statement made by him may be used as evidence against him in a trial by court-martial.
(c)No person subject to this chapter may compel any person to make a statement or produce evidence before any military tribunal if the statement or evidence is not material to the issue and may tend to degrade him.
(d)No statement obtained from any person in violation of this article, or through the use of coercion, unlawful influence, or unlawful inducement may be received in evidence against him in a trial by court-martial.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 831(a)831(b)50:602(a).50:602(b).May 5, 1950, ch. 169, § 1 (Art 31), 64 Stat. 118. 831(c)50:602(c). 831(d)50:602(d). The word “may” is substituted for the word “shall” throughout the revised section.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 831
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60