After September 11, 2001, U.S. officials authorized the cruel treatment and torture of prisoners held in Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo, and the CIA's secret prisons overseas.

This database documents the U.S. government's official experiment with torture. At present, the database contains well over 100,000 pages of government documents obtained primarily through Freedom of Information Act litigation and requests filed by the ACLU, and through litigation of Salim v. Mitchell, a lawsuit brought by the ACLU on behalf of the survivors and the family of a dead victim of the CIA torture program. To learn more about the database, please read the About and Search Help pages. If you're a developer, you can also access this data through our API.

Search Result (3096)

RelevanceDateRelease Date
Sept. 20, 2004 | OLC | ACLU-RDI 6545
Email from Daniel Levin to John Rizzo discussing whether the use of twelve interrogation techniques in the interrogation of Sharif al-Masri would violate any U.S. statute, the U.S. Constitution, or any treaty obligation of the U.S.
June 13, 2016
Email
Daniel B. Levin
John A. Rizzo
Daniel B. Levin, John A. Rizzo
Khalid Al-Masri
EIT, Water dousing, Physical assault, Face slap or insult slap, Stomach/abdominal slap, Attention grasp, Facial hold, Walling, Stress positions, Cramped confinement, Sleep deprivation, Dietary manipulation, Nudity, Use of water
Mar. 02, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 6514
A letter from the CIA to OLC requesting that the OLC reaffirm its analyses in several previously issued memos relating to interrogation. The letter states that "we rely on the applicable law and OLC guidance to assess the lawfulness of detention ...
June 13, 2016
Legal Memo, Letter
CIA General Counsel
Jack Goldsmith
EIT, SERE, Use of water, Water dousing, Physical assault, Stomach/abdominal slap, Environmental manipulation, Temperature
Jan. 13, 2004 | CIA | ACLU-RDI 6531
This heavily redacted memorandum contains comments from Medical Services on the Counterterrorism Detention and Investigation Program. The memorandum mentions OMS concerns about a conflict of interest in which the only individuals approved to ...
June 10, 2016
Non-legal Memo
John L. Helgerson
May 12, 2004 | CIA | ACLU-RDI 6532
This Operational Review of the CIA Detainee Program finds that the program is a success and provides "unique and invaluable intelligence." The review also finds that the procedures for handling detainees are "adequate and clear"and that the ...
June 10, 2016
Non-legal Memo
Henry A. Crumpton
Deputy Director for Operations
Jose A. Rodriguez, Jr.
Aug. 11, 2004 | CIA | ACLU-RDI 6533
This memorandum is a heavily redacted message to Acting Assistant Attorney General Dan Levin, stating that the CIA is preparing preliminary biographies "in preparation for a future request for a legal opinion" on interrogations in CIA control.
June 10, 2016
Cable, Letter
Dan Levin
Daniel B. Levin
Mar. 01, 2004 | DOD | ACLU-RDI 5111

DOD PowerPoint presentation on the detainee population, detention procedures, prosecutions, and transition issues in Iraq. The presentation provides the nationalities and numbers of detainees held, as well as other information about the ...

Jan. 14, 2014
Other
L. Paul Bremer
June 30, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 5130
This map represents the locations of Non-US Coalition Forces in Iraq in July 2004. There is a legend on the second page.
June 04, 2004 | DOD | ACLU-RDI 5116
Coalition Provisional Authority memo prescribes standards to be applied to Iraqi border control, customs, immigration and consular or quarantine services under authority of the Ministry of Justice. Includes 19 sections with headings such as ...
Jan. 14, 2014
Non-legal Memo
L. Paul Bremer
L. Paul Bremer
June 08, 2004 | DOD | ACLU-RDI 5117
Presentation entitled, "C2X Conference, Camp Victory, Baghdad 8 Jun 04" with slides on "Interrogation Policy and "New Initiatives" of the C2X, Command" and Control Exercise. The "Interrogation Policy" slide contains the following bullets: "• ...
Mar. 12, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 5145
This Iraq Survey Group chart lists the current high value detainees as of March 12, 2004 and intends to "inform HVD stakeholders of current ISG analytical/exploitation focus." The document states that detainees scheduled for release are ...
Jan. 14, 2014
Chart/List
Azi Salih al-Numan, Jamal Mustafa Abdallah Sultan al Tikriti, Ahmad Abdal-Rashid, Fadhil Abbas Ibrahim al-Ameri, Mahmud Fazi al-Hazaa al-Tikriti, Mullah Al-Bapir, Isam Rashid al-Huwaysh, Asit Sa'ami Mohammad Mahdi Tabrah, Khalil Khadir Mohammad Al-Salhat, Mehdi Abed Mehdi, Thair al-Latif Tilfah, Hazam Abdul Razzak Ayyubi Shihab, Isma'il Hamud Nayif