Few postal employees are as highly visible as the nation’s letter carriers are. They work on regular schedules and in almost every U.S. neighborhood. They can be targets for thieves, thugs, or rapists. Even simply approaching a home can cause problems such as attacks by unleashed dogs. Before someone makes a move to attack a clerk or carrier, he or she should know that the penalty for assaulting a postal employee is up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 dollars in fines, or both. The Postal Inspection Service maintains a standing reward offer up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who forcibly assaults a postal employee during the performance of his or her duties.
