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)

RelevanceDateRelease Date
This single page document is a list of maximum period of time to detain an Iraqi civilian for minor offenses. The document is undated.
This is an Army PowerPoint Presentation on the use of interview techniques to be used by Military Police investigators.
This is a Power Point presentation for the 427th Support Battalion on the Geneva and Hague Convention Laws of War. It covers the rules of engagement and how to handle detainees and others captured on the field of battle.
This memo provides an up-date on the status of seven (7) investigations in to detainee abuse. No author, date or agency is cited.
Jan. 31, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Donald H. Rumsfeld, Ricardo Sanchez, Antonio Taguba, George R. Fay, James R. Helmly
This is an operations guide for the Mounted Brigade Combat Team TACSOP. It covers their standard operating procedures and order of operations. It is undated.
This letter is for the Army officials who will be fielding questions regarding the allegations of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison. The letter is a set of talking points and policy statements that focus on the theme that "the Army is committed ...
Jan. 31, 2005
Letter
Ricardo Sanchez, Paul J. Kern, Anthony R. Jones, George R. Fay
The article is a compilation of observations that the JRTC Intelligence and Fire Support team viewed while in the CENTCOM AOR during operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The article discusses taking detainees in to custody.
Military Review Magazine Article: Military Commissions, Past and Future. This article discusses the history of military detention and treatment from the Revolutionary War to the present with a focus on Federal Court decisions and Military justice ...
Article by CPT Richard J. Hughbank, 519th MP Bn, Ft Polk, LA and MAJ Jennifer L. Curry, Total Force Integrator, Ft Leonard Wood, MO, members of a CALL Combined Arms Assessment Team (CAAT). Discusses Command and Control Team, Perimeter Security ...
Army Magazine: Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL), September - October 2002 issue.
Army Central Command Combined Arms Assessment Team Initial Impressions Report (ARCENT CAAT). This is a report in several chapters concerning various aspects of military operations and assessments.
Jan. 31, 2005
Other
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Letter from Lieutenant General James R. Helmly, US Army Chief, Army Reserve to Army Reserve Soldiers re: Abu Ghraib. The letter addresses the allegations of detainee abuse and the need for Army reservists to uphold the Army Code of Conduct and ...
Jan. 31, 2005
Letter
James R. Helmly
James R. Helmly
Editorials, Articles, Opinion Editorials and Letter to the Editor re: Abu Ghraib and the War in Iraq. Some of the OP-EDs are from former or current government officials. Many of the articles and opinions are from ordinary citizens expressing ...
Jan. 31, 2005
Other
John C. Yoo
General, Other Humiliation, Physical assault
This single page is a cover page for a larger document entitled: The Army Reserve Serving with an Army at War. It discusses the Abu Ghraib Detainee abuse.
Jan. 31, 2005
Other
James R. Helmly
Army training and evaluation program for the Combat Support Hospital. Chapters include: Unit Training, Training Matrix, Training Plans, Training Exercises, Training and Evaluation Exercises, and External Evaluation. Appendix B: Geneva ...
Army Pamphlet: FM 27-10 THE LAW OF LAND WARFARE, December 1956 version.
Army Field Manual Glossary. End of glossary/reference section of ARTEP 8-705-MTP. Pages may be missing.
General reference manual for Army personnel in execution of their duties. Guidance on resolving ethical dilemmas, and the ethical reasoning process.
Army Field Manual No. 3-06: FM 3-06 Urban Operations. Provides the Army soldier with guidance and understanding of the urban warfare environment and the proper manner to conduct themselves and participate in operations.
Manual guiding armed forces functioning at the operational level of war in concert with joint, multinational and/or interagency organizations. Outlines link between overall strategy/campaign and tactical operations, command structure (national & ...
Army Field Manual: Intelligence Interrogation (Chapters 5 - End). Also includes discussion of fear as an interrogation tool, but states that an interrogator's actions must not violate the Geneva Conventions.
Dec. 31, 2004
Other
Use of phobias
Manual outlining the effects of combat stress and assigning responsibility to officers and medical health personnel for controlling combat stress. Notes that killing or torturing enemy prisoners may be a manifestation of combat stress, but that ...
Statement from the Army regarding allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib (two versions). Army as Executive Agent for Detainee Operations provided talking points regarding contract interrogator standards, interrogation training improvements, and Army ...
Dec. 31, 2004
Interview (Transcript)
Isaac Newton Skelton IV, Romie Leslie Brownlee, John Warner, Carl Levin
Physical assault, General
Transcript of the testimony of Donald Rumsfeld, Gen. Richard Myers (chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Les Brownlee (Acting Sec. of the Army), Gen. Peter Shoomaker (Army Chief of Staff), and Lt. Gen. Lance Smith (U.S. Central Command Dep. ...
Dec. 31, 2004
Interview (Transcript)
Duncan Lee Hunter, Isaac Newton Skelton IV, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Joseph M. Darby, Antonio Taguba, Richard B. Myers, Romie Leslie Brownlee, Mark Traecey Patrick Kimmitt, John P. Abizaid, Geoffrey D. Miller, Donald J. Ryder, Ricardo Sanchez, David D. McKiernan, Lance L. Smith, Peter Schoomaker, Hugh James Saxton, Paul Mikolashek, Lance L. Smith, Janis Leigh Karpinski, John McKee Spratt, Jr., William McClellan Thornberry, Lane Allen Evans, Wayne Curtis Weldon, Lamar Seeligson Smith, Hugh James Saxton, John M. McHugh, Terry Everett, Roscoe G. Bartlett, Howard P. McKeon, John N. Hostlettler, Walter B. Jones, Jim Ryun, Jim Gibbons, Robin Hayes, Heather Wilson, Ken Calvert, Robert Ruhl Simmons, Jo Ann Davis, Edward L. Schrock, W. Todd Akin, J. Randy Forbes, Jeff Miller, Joe Wilson, Frank L. Lobiondo, Tom Cole, Joseph E. Bradley, Robert William Bishop, Michael R. Turner, John Kline, Candice S. Miller, John Phillip Gingrey, Michael Dennis Rogers, Trent Franks, Randall Harold Cunningham, John McKee Spratt, Jr., Solomon Porfirio Ortiz, Gary Eugene Taylor, Neil Abercrombie, Martin Meehan, Silvestre Reyes, Victor F. Snyder, James Turner, David Adam Smith, Loretta Sanchez, Douglas Carmichael McIntyre II, Ciro Davis Rodriguez, Ellen O'Kane Tauscher, Robert A. Brady, Baron Paul Hill, John Barry Larson, Susan A. Davis, James R. Langevin, Steve Israel, Richard Ray Larsen, James Hayes Shofner Cooper , James Creel Marshall, Kendrick G. Meek, Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Rodney Alexander, Timothy John Ryan
General, Other Humiliation, Physical assault
Transcript of the testimony of Paul Wolfowitz (Deputy Secretary of Defense), Gen. Peter Pace (USMC, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), and Joel Kaplan (Deputy Director of the OMB).
Army Field Manual No. 34-52: FM 34-52 Intelligence Interrogation. Manual sets forth basic principles of interrogation doctrine and procedures and techniques applicable to Army intelligence interrogations. Includes a prohibition againts the use of ...

Transcript of the testimony of Donald Rumsfeld, Gen. Richard Myers (chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Les Brownlee (acting sec. of the Army), Gen. Peter Shoomaker (Army Chief of Staff), and Lt. Gen. Lance Smith (U.S. Central Command dep. ...

Department of Defense Directive: Program for Enemy Prisoners of War and Other Detainees. Reissues reference to update policy for a program to ensure implementation of the international law of war, both customary and codified, about EPOW, to ...
Department of Defense Directive: Law of War Program. DoD compliance with the law of war obligations of the United States. Establishes DoD Law of War Working Group. Policy includes that all reportable incidents committed by US or enemy persons are ...
Army Pamphlet 715-16: Procurement - Contractor Deployment Guide. Discusses when US contractors are and are not covered by the Geneva conventions in an armed conflict.
Army Field Manual: Multiservice Procedures for Humanitarian Assistance Operations. This manual is a joint publication of the armed forces. This publication provides military forces, civilians, and volunteer organizations with information ...
Army Pamphlet 690-8: Civilian Personnel - Use and Administration of Local Civilians in Foreign Areas During Hostilities. Basic Policies, Planning Considerations and Emergency Administration.
Army Field Manual No. 3-19.4: FM 3-19.4 Military Police Leaders' Handbook Describes need to set up temporary EPW (Enemy Prisoners of War) collecting points; Evacuating EPWs quickly so their transit does not impede the movement of friendly forces; ...
Army Regulations 40-400: Medical Services - Patient Administration. Manual that consolidates regulation and prescribes policies and mandated tasks governing the management and administration of patients.
Pamphlet 600-8-101: Personnel General - Personnel Processing: In-, Out-, Soldier Readiness, Mobilization and Deployment Processing. Manual on mobilization and deployment processing of soldiers (to and from theater of operations, demobilization ...

An Army regulation governing the armed forces' cooperation with and use of the services of the American National Red Cross. The regulation deals with services of the Red Cross to the U.S. Armed Forces. Chapter 1 - General (includes mission of ...

Army Regulation 690-11: Civilian Personnel Use and Management of Civilian Personnel in Support of Military Contingency Operations. Manual on the mobilization, deployment planning and management of civilian personnel of DOA deployed in crisis ...
Army Pamphlet 27-173: Legal Services Trial Procedure. Legal Services Manual.
Army Pamphlet 690-47: Civilian Personnel DA Civilian Employee Deployment Guide. Manual providing information on civilian (employees of DOD) deployment procedures. Civilian employees deployed are only subject to UCMJ in "congressionally declared ...
Army Field Manual No. FM 3-19.1: FM 3-19.1 Military Police Operations
Dec. 31, 2004
Other
Eric K. Shinseki
Eric K. Shinseki, Joel B. Hudson
Army Pamphlet 360-512: Army Public Affairs Code of the U.S. Fighting Force. Obligation to oppose enemies, uphold the Constitution and Bill of Rights and Ethical Guide.
Army Field manual No. 19-15: FM 19-15 Civil Disturbances
Army Cover Letter: Mission Training Plan for Headquarters Area Support Group
Dec. 31, 2004
Letter
Eric K. Shinseki
Eric K. Shinseki, Joel B. Hudson
Army Field manual 27-14: FM 27-14 Legal Guide for Soldiers
Army Training and Evaluation program No. 63-622-MTP: Mission Training Plan for Headquarters Area Support Group
Army Cover Page for Field Manual: FM 3-0.
Dec. 31, 2004
Letter
Eric K. Shinseki
Eric K. Shinseki, Joel B. Hudson
Army Field Manual FM 100-23-1: FM 100-23-1 HA Multiservice Procedures for Humanitarian Assistance Operations. Operational-Level Roles and Responsibilities. Tactical Level Organization and Coordination. Domestic Operations. Appendices; How ...