What happens if you don't register for selective service?

Answer 1

You are required to register for US Selective Service by age 18, not by age 26.

If you fail to do so and you are female, nothing will happen to you because women are not required to register. If you're male, you may have to pay a fine of up to $250,000.00 or go to prison for up to 5 years.

However this rarely, if ever, happens, because in such cases successful arguments have been presented that since Congress by law abolished the draft in 1973 and since the Selective Service's primary function is to maintain registration of viable male citizens for purposes of a draft, that registration with the selective service is unnecessary and unlawful.

The number of violations of Selective Service laws and regulations since 1980 exceed 20,000,000.

Since 1986 there have only been 20 indictments (19 for self-reported or self-publicized nonregistration)

5 Indictments were withdrawn by prosecutors due to the defense's arguments that Selective Service registration was illegal and unconstitutional since Congress abolished the draft making it illegal. The prosecutors dismissed all 5 cases at the pretrial hearings, avoiding any chance of a precedent being set in such cases.

There were 15 convictions out of 20 indictments.

9 were imprisoned. Out of 9 of those, one man was sentenced to 35 days. Of the 8 others, none served more than 6 months in prison and none of the 9 were fined more than $1,000.

6 were given the option to register with Selective Service and received 3 months probation before judgment which would upon completion of probation not be listed on their criminal record.

But it is better to register. Then you don't have to worry about consequences

Answer 2

Selective service will take all men up to the age of 25. After age 26 you can still fill out paper work showing that you are a valid citizen. Not applying for selective service makes it difficult to get jobs, loans, and many other things.

Answer 3

you're breaking the law....