Is it legal to open someone else's mail at work?

Answer 1

Answer

No. Federal privacy laws prohibits the opening of another person's mail. Title 18-Part 1-Chapter 83-1703 states in part that "Whoever, without the authority opens or destroys any mail or newspaper package not directed to him shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year or both." Obviously there can be large variances in how the law is applied.

Wrong! That law applies only to postal employees. Well, unless the question was posted by a postal employee, in which case....

See 463 F.Supp 128; 403 F.Supp. 1368;

Try 18 USC 1702. That one applies to civilians:

Whoever takes any letter, postal card, or package out of any post office or any authorized depository for mail matter, or from any letter or mail carrier, or which has been in any post office or authorized depository, or in the custody of any letter or mail carrier, before it has been delivered to the person to whom it was directed, with design to obstruct the correspondence, or to pry into the business or secrets of another, or opens, secretes, embezzles, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Answer 2

Yes, but only if done with wrong intentions... if someone has asked you to check his/her mail then you are not committing a crime.

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the opening of another persons mail or not forwarding ie. 'not at this address' is a federal offense

• It is all about intent. If you opened in good faith...maybe thought it was yours, etc...if you did it out of curiosity, spite, or greed...yes it is a felony offense.

• Opening someone else mail is a crime. However, parents can open their kids' mail under 18.

• It is a Federal crime and up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine to hide keep or open others peoples mail without permission if you are reported you will want to return the mail to the post office. This is true even if the person the mail is addressed to lives in the same household.

• It is a Federal Offense. Even the person who delivery your mail and keeps any mail or ceases to deliver that mail and keeps it can lose their job, fine or put in prison. If an envelope is addressed to two people then either of those two people have the right to open that mail.

Answer 3

It is legal to open someone else's mail at work. When something is mailed to a business or organization, it is actually mailed to them.