Part IV · Punitive Articles

Article 104. Public records offenses · MCM ¶ 34

2024 Manual for Courts-Martial, United States

Recent revisions Summary of changes Cited by (3)
(a) Text of statute. Any person subject to this chapter who, willfully and unlawfully—
(1) alters, conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys a public record; or
(2) takes a public record with the intent to alter, conceal, remove, mutilate, obliterate, or destroy the public record;
shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
(b) Elements.
(1) That the accused altered, concealed, removed, mutilated, obliterated, destroyed, or took with the intent to alter, conceal, remove, mutilate, obliterate, or destroy, a certain public record; and
(2) That the act of the accused was willful and unlawful.
(c) Explanation “Public records” include records, . reports, statements, or data compilations, in any form, of public offices or agencies, setting forth the activities of the office or agency, or matters observed pursuant to duty imposed by law as to which matters there was a duty to report. “Public records” include classified matters.
(d) Maximum punishment. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 3 years.
(e) Sample specification. In that __________ (personal jurisdiction data), did, (at/on board—location) (subject-matter jurisdiction data, if required), on or about _____ 20 __, willfully and unlawfully [(alter) (conceal) (remove) (mutilate) (obliterate) (destroy)] [take with intent to (alter) (conceal) (remove) (mutilate) (obliterate) (destroy)] a public record, to wit: __________.
Information on this tab is reproduced from the U.S. Army Military Judges’ Benchbook (Electronic Benchbook v2.70, updated 2026-05-26). It is for informational purposes only to compare to the text on the Manual for Courts-Martial on the MCM tab. Always check the current EBB to make sure you’re reviewing the most recent information.
3a-34-1PUBLIC RECORDS OFFENSES
NOTE 1. If convicted of only offenses committed on or after 28 December 2023, the judge shall sentence the accused in accordance with the sentencing parameters or criteria, as appropriate, or state reasons for deviating in writing. See RCM 925(c)(2), RCM 1002(a)(2), Appendices 12B (Parameter Table-Confinement Categories), 12C (Offense Category Chart), and 12D (List of Criteria Offenses), 2024 MCM.
Maximum punishment

DD, TF, 3 years, E-1. (Category 2)

Sample specification

In that __________ (personal jurisdiction data), did, (at/on board—location), on or about __________, willfully and unlawfully [(alter) (conceal) (remove) (mutilate) (obliterate) (destroy)] [take with the intent to (alter) (conceal) (remove) (mutilate) (obliterate) (destroy)] a public record, to wit: __________.

Elements

(1) That (state the time and place alleged), the accused [altered, concealed, removed, mutilated, obliterated, or destroyed] [took with the intent to alter, conceal, remove, mutilate, obliterate, or destroy] a public record, namely: (state the record alleged); and

(2) That the [(altering) (concealing) (removing) (mutilating) (obliterating) (destroying)] [(taking)] was willful and unlawful.

Definitions & other instructions

“Willfully” means intentionally or on purpose.

“Public records” include records, reports, statements, or data compilations in any form of public offices or agencies, setting forth the activities of the office or agency, or matters observed pursuant to duty imposed by law as to which matters there was a duty to report. (Public records include classified matters.)

NOTE 2. Other instructions. Instruction 7-3, Circumstantial Evidence (Intent), is ordinarily applicable. Instruction 6-5, Partial Mental Responsibility, Instruction 5-15, Evidence Negating Mens Rea, and Instruction 5-21, Voluntary Intoxication, as bearing on the issue of intent to alter, conceal, etc., may be applicable.
Source: Instruction 3a-34-1 · view original on jagcnet.army.mil
Cross-referencesCited by 3Elsewhere 2
Cited by

Provisions elsewhere in the Manual whose text cites Article 104. Each link opens the citing provision.

Rules for Courts-Martial
Discussion under R.C.M. 307(c)(2) — Preferral of charges generally
…charges before arraignment. See R.C.M. 601(e)(2). (C) Preemption . An offense specifically defined by Articles 81 through 132 may not be alleged as a violation of Article 134 . See paragraph 91.c.(5)(a) of Part IV. But see R.C.M.…
UCMJ Punitive Articles
Article 134, ¶ 91.c.(5)(a) — General article generally
Preemption doctrine. The preemption doctrine prohibits application of Article 134 to conduct covered by Articles 80 through 132. For example, larceny is covered in Article 121, and if an element of that offense is lacking—for example,…
Uniform Code of Military Justice
Art. 137(a)(3) — Articles to be explained generally
…to sections 802, 803, 807– 815, 825, 827, 831, 837, 838, 855, 877–934, and 937–939 of this title (articles 2, 3, 7–15, 25, 27, 31, 37, 38, 55, 77–134, and 137–139).
Elsewhere on this site
Maximum punishment chart (App. 12)
1 chart line for Article 104
Statute of limitations checker
Article 43's general period applies to this offense