Mail Theft Now Carries Up to 10-Year Prison Sentence Under New Law

The "Ensuring the Safety of Our Mail Act of 2025" does one main thing: it doubles the maximum prison time for mail theft from 5 years to 10 years. This change is made by amending section 1708 of title 18 in the United States Code, which deals with mail theft.

Tougher Penalties

The core of the bill is straightforward—anyone convicted of stealing mail could now face up to a decade in prison. Previously, the maximum sentence was capped at five years. This increase, as detailed in SEC. 2, aims to make potential thieves think twice before messing with the mail.

Real-World Impact

Imagine someone stealing a package off your porch or grabbing mail from your box. Under the old rules, they’d face up to 5 years in prison. Now, that same act could land them in jail for up to 10 years. This hits everyone who sends or receives mail—whether you're ordering online, sending a rent check, or getting important documents. The idea is that more severe penalties could reduce the number of these incidents, making mail delivery safer for everyone.

The Bigger Picture

This law fits into the broader criminal justice system by updating the penalties for mail theft. While it doesn't change how mail theft is investigated or prosecuted, it does raise the stakes. There is a potential challenge, however, as the longer sentences could lead to higher costs for incarceration, and there's a question of whether these harsher penalties will actually deter crime or just lead to more crowded prisons. It will be important to see how this plays out in practice, to ensure that the increased penalties are applied fairly and effectively.