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 (6709)

This cable seems to provide the Director of Central Intelligence's guidelines for the operation of detention facilities, and specifically for COBALT, a CIA black site in Northern Kabul, Afghanistan. Almost everything but the acknowledgement is ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Non-legal Memo, Cable
George J. Tenet
This memo is a response from a redacted doctor to a request from the CIA Inspector General for comments on the "Draft Special Review--Counterterrorism Detention and Interrogation Program" report (2003-7123-IG). Everything but the envelope ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Non-legal Memo
John L. Helgerson
John L. Helgerson
This August 3, 2002 cable provides authorization to implement more aggressive techniques in the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, including the use of the water board and mock burial, as described in this cable. The cable also provides information ...
This is a memo from someone (name redacted) located at the site of interrogation to Jim Pavitt, Deputy Director for Operations for the CIA, reporting on the status of an investigation of the death of a detainee. Though the name of the detainee is ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Non-legal Memo
James Pavitt
James Pavitt
Gul Rahman
This May 2002 cable serves as a "reaffirmation" of headquarters consent for the use of the confinement box and the restrictions surrounding its use. The cable also authorizes the use of the box with Abu Zubaydah.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
Cramped confinement
This CIA list includes Abu Zubaydah's reported terrorist activity, injuries at the time of capture, highlights from reporting, legal authority for interrogation techniques used, and interrogation techniques used on Abu Zubaydah.
This CIA memo labeled "Legal Background" describes Title 18's probation against torture in the US criminal code and how the phrase "severe mental pain or physical suffering" is described. The memo states that at this time, none of the ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
EIT
This CIA cable describes the phase of Abu Zubaydah's interrogation and states that he underwent confinement, walling and the waterboard during his initial cycle of interrogations. The cable also describes his general behavior in his cell as well ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
EIT, Use of water, Waterboarding, Physical assault, Walling, Cramped confinement
This June 21, 2002 email is an invitation to a meeting to discuss the future of the Abu Zubaydah interrogations. Attendees include people from the CTC and the Abu Zubaydah Interrogation Team (including James Mitchell), among others.
Dec. 20, 2016
Email
James Mitchell
Abu Zubaydah
This June 17, 2002 email discuses replacing psychologist Jim Mitchell with another SERE psychologist whose name is redacted during the July headquarters meeting. The email also includes the contents of a cable regarding "preparing for [redacted] ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Email, Cable
James Mitchell
Abu Zubaydah
Isolation
This April 19, 2002 SPOT Report describes the make up of Abu Zubaydah's interrogation team, his current condition, and plans for his interrogation.
Dec. 20, 2016
Oversight Report
James Mitchell
Abu Zubaydah
These April 2002 cables sets forth the plans, preparation, and proposed strategy for the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
James Mitchell
This May 2004 memo to the Deputy Director for Science and Technology discusses the Office of Technical Service's (OTS) support of the Counterterrorism Center (CTC) by: 1) developing the enhanced interrogation techniques (EITs); 2) hiring SERE ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Non-legal Memo
Abu Zubaydah, Gul Rahman
EIT, SERE
This April 2002 cable is redacted almost in full with the exception of a paragraph that questions the effectiveness of the confinement box on Abu Zubaydah, recognizing that it had a history of demonstrated effectiveness in the SERE program.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
SERE, Cramped confinement
This cable details the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah that took place on August 5, 2002 at the which the IC SERE psychologists were present. This interrogation included the use of walling, the water board, attention grab, confinement box, hooding, ...
This cable details the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah that took place on August 6, 2002. This interrogation included the use of walling, waterboarding "numerous times", attention grab, insult slap, confinement box, and hooding. The cable states ...
This cable details the results of the August 18, 2002 cycle of interrogation sessions of Abu Zubaydah, which is day 15 of the aggressive interrogation phase. The sessions were conducted by IC SERE psychologists. The cable states that Abu Zubaydah ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
EIT
This cable discusses the preparation for Abu Zubaydah's upcoming interrogation phase and details his condition on day 30 of the isolation phase.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
Physical assault, Walling, Cramped confinement, Isolation
This email correspondence discusses the Mental Status Examination and Recommended Interrogation Plan for Gul Rahman that were prepared by Bruce Jessen. These were both reviewed by someone at the CIA's Counterterrorism Center whose name is ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Email, Medical
Bruce Jessen
Gul Rahman
EIT
This cable discusses issues that may arise during interrogations of Abu Zubaydah. The cable is heavily redacted, but sections regarding decision making authority and Abu Zubaydah's confinement conditions are partially unredacted.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
This August 2002 cable regarding Abu Zubaydah's interrogation is largely redacted with the exception of one paragraph that addresses restrictions on the use of the confinement box due to Abu Zubaydah's leg wound.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
Cramped confinement
The author of this email (whose name is redacted) writes that he/she knows of two retired SERE IC psychologists that used to work for the DOD's Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, and he/she thinks very highly of them.
This Statement of Need requests that the CIA's Counterterrorism Center (CTC) renew James Mitchell, Bruce Jessen and two additional SERE psychologists' Independent Contractor contracts so that they can continue to support the CTC's interrogation ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Other
Bruce Jessen, James Mitchell
James Mitchell's Resume, which includes a description of his work as an Independent Contractor for the CIA.
Dec. 20, 2016
Other
James Mitchell
This document is Dr. James Mitchell's contractor performance report from April 12, 2006. He received a performance rating of "Exceptional" in each category of performance.
Dec. 20, 2016
Other
James Mitchell
James Mitchell
This CIA cable requests SERE psychologists' comments on the proposed enhanced interrogation techniques waterboarding and mock burial for the next interrogation of Abu Zubaydah. The cable specifically asks for the psychologists' comments on the ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
John Yoo
Abu Zubaydah
SERE, Use of water, Waterboarding, Mock Burial, Threat
This CIA document contains USG's plan to obtain intelligence more quickly from unlawful combatants through interrogation. The plan discusses the current CTC interrogation team for Abu Zubaydah and the plan to train more CIA officers to deploy ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Other
George Bush, Bruce Jessen, James Mitchell
Abu Zubaydah
EIT, SERE
This cable discusses the proposed strategy for the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah and the involvement on contract psychologist Dr. James Mitchell.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
James Mitchell
Abu Zubaydah
EIT
This CIA cable provides information about the size and use of the confinement box for proposed use in an interrogation of Abu Zubaydah.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
Cramped confinement
This CIA cable contains psychologists James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen's assessment of Abu Zubaydah's current mental state, resistance posture, and recommendations for continued interrogation.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
James Mitchell , Bruce Jessen
Abu Zubaydah
This email chain discusses the use, purpose, and constraints of psychological support in interrogations and includes feedback from Jim Mitchell.
Dec. 20, 2016
Email
Bruce Jessen, James Mitchell
SERE
This cable describes the current state of the interrogations for Abu Zubaydah and recommends the use of sleep deprivation to "degrade his ability to keep up his full mental capacities."
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
EIT, Sleep deprivation
This CIA cable states that Rizzo, Bellinger, Gonzales, and Yoo have been briefed on the interrogation plan for Abu Zubaydah and all approve. The cable also mentions the IC SERE Psychologists managing the psychological aspects of Abu Zubaydah's ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
John B. Bellinger, III, Alberto R. Gonzales, John A. Rizzo, John Yoo
Abu Zubaydah
This CIA document is heavily redacted and identifies James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen as contractors who administered enhanced interrogation techniques to Abu Zubaydah and Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.
Dec. 20, 2016
Non-legal Memo
James Mitchell , Bruce Jessen
Abu Zubaydah, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed
EIT
This message includes notes on the attached revised interrogation plan, and discusses the role of the CIA's Operational Assessment Division in implementing this plan.
Dec. 20, 2016
Notes
SERE
This CIA memo discusses the timeline for the use of enhanced interrogation techniques post 9/11 on high value detainees at black sites.
Dec. 20, 2016
Non-legal Memo
George J. Tenet, George Bush
EIT, SERE
This CIA memorandum for the Deputy Director of Operations is a review of the CIA Detainee Program with particular focus on the guidelines for detention and interrogation on May 12, 2004. The memorandum is heavily redacted and states that the CIA ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Non-legal Memo
Henry A. Crumpton
This CIA cable describes Abu Zubaydah's condition in detention as of July 19, 2002. The cable states that the next stage of Zubaydah's detention will include confinement, dressing changes, walling and a head immobilizer, as requested by IC SERE ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
EIT, Walling, Cramped confinement, Isolation, Other, Physical assault
This e-mail from an anonymous source to James Mitchell expresses interest in training with Mitchell and Bruce Jessen for future interrogations and discusses psychological techniques from Mitchell and Jessen's recent paper presented at a conference.
Dec. 20, 2016
Email
James Mitchell
James Mitchell , Bruce Jessen
SERE
This is an email (with sender and receiver redacted) sending a final draft of the CIA High Value Target Interrogation and Exploitation (HVTIE) Team Training document. The postscript note in the email mentions Mitchell and Jessen by name and ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Email
James Mitchell , Bruce Jessen
SERE
This cable includes the contents of Abu Zubaydah's April 2004 mental status exam and December 2003 psychological assesment conducted by Mitchell and Jessen.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable, Medical
Bruce Jessen, James Mitchell
Abu Zubaydah
This CIA cable recommends the continuation of the interrogation/debriefing process, particularly for Abu Zubaydah and mentions the psychologists James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
James Mitchell , Bruce Jessen
Abu Zubaydah
This is an email which provides electronic copies "of the CTC/RDG Interrogator Course Critiques." This course was taught by Mitchell, Jessen, and one other redacted official, and the critiques come from "interrogator graduates" and an OMS ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Email, Other
James Mitchell , Bruce Jessen
This November 2006 cable lists the personnel involved with the detainee program who have acknowledged reading and understanding the "Guidelines on Confinement Conditions for CIA Detainees". The list includes James Mitchell.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
James Mitchell
This CIA e-mail contains a summary of Dr. James Mitchell's experience and education.
Dec. 20, 2016
Email
James Mitchell
SERE
This is a heavily redacted email sent to students who "have been selected/invited to attend/support the CTC/RDG Interrogators and Debriefers courses." The only unredacted information in the email (other than Mitchell and Jessen's names) is ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Email
Bruce Jessen, James Mitchell
This heavily redacted CIA cable states that in anticipation of a CIA site operating without a high value detainee psychologist on site, Bruce Jessen is requested to prepare an operational handbook on detainee management.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Bruce Jessen
This April 2002 cable provides an updated interrogation plan for Abu Zubaydah, which includes descriptions of the physical environment, security measures, and interrogation process, including the use of interrogation techniques.
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah
Cramped confinement, Sleep deprivation, Environmental manipulation, Light or sound, Temperature
This March 2004 paper written by James Mitchell and John Jessen discusses the importance of knowing how human memory works for intelligence collection efforts. The paper also includes some interrogation and debriefing techniques to employ on ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Non-legal Memo
James Mitchell and John Jessen
James Mitchell , Bruce Jessen
This May 2002 cable contains a summary of the interrogation status of Abu Zubaydah. The summary states that because this is not a law enforcement interrogation, the interrogation team is not limited to the use of traditional law enforcement ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Cable
Abu Zubaydah