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)

The index lists this document as: Shift Log 28 Nov 02. Completely redacted.
This one page document is listed in the index as: Maj [redacted] Sworn Statement, but this heavily redacted document appears to be more like the Shift Log for Detainees at Guantanamo rather than a Sworn Statement. The document reads as follows: ...
The index lists this document as: Shift Log 13 Dec 02. The document goes over the times the detainee was being offered water (refusing it); going to the latrine; medical check-ups and being exercised. It states Heavily redacted. Talks about ...
Medical Exam of a detainee at Guantanamo. Heavily redacted medical report from January 16, 2003. The report concludes that the detainee has suffered no injuries or trauma.
Memo in response to a request for information concerning the effectiveness of interrogation techniques approved by the Secretary of Defense. These techniques went beyond those permitted by the Army Field Manual. The heavily redacted memo includes ...
June 15, 2006
Letter
Geoffrey D. Miller
Geoffrey D. Miller
Deleted Page Information Sheet
Heavily redacted memorandum regarding a detainee and mentions the detainee's arrest in Mauritania in 2001 and eventual transfer to Bagram Air Force Base, as well as the opening of the interrogation with the detainee being asked if he was hungry; ...
Heavily redacted memorandum regarding a detainee. The memo mentions the detainee's arrest in Mauritania in 2001 and eventual transfer to Bagram Air Force Base.
This index lists this document as: LTC [redacted] email 22 Dec 04 containing ISN [redacted] Allegations but is also emboldened with "Attorney work-product" written on its first page. The memo addresses allegations related to incidents that took ...
DOD Deleted Page Information Sheet
DOD Deleted Page Information Sheet
The index lists this document as: Memo for the Record dtd 17 July 03. The heavily redacted memo mentions the detainee's arrest in Mauritania in 2001 and eventual transfer to Bagram Air Force Base.

These notes are a synopsis of points the British government raised with Sec. State Powell concerning the living conditions of detainees at Guantanamo. The Notes detail talking points and matters covered in Sec. State Powell's response to the ...

June 15, 2006
Non-legal Memo, Notes
Colin L. Powell, Pierre-Richard Prosper
A detainee at Guantanamo attempted suicide in his cell by hanging himself. He was rescued and lives saving measures were effective, however, the detainee suffered irreversible damage. This memo is a detail of the detainee’s condition and a ...
Brian M Pharr is sending several files to JoAnn Dolan as the agenda for for a meeting of IAEG on March 18, 2003.
June 15, 2006
Email
Brian M. Pharr
JoAnn J. Dolan
This DOD memo is a list of talking points about the release of detainees; how they may be relocated by Al Qaeda and debriefed; and how to address press inquiries about the release of detainees. For this reason, the US Gov't will not make public ...

This email between State Department officials contains several attachments concerning their transfer of detainees to Guantanamo. The document is heavily redacted.

This emial is to discuss Dept. of State talking points concerning detainees and Guantanamo. Heavily redacted.
June 15, 2006
Email
Odell C. DeHart
JoAnn J. Dolan
This email contains four attached files on UK detainees in Guantanamo. The rest of the document is heavily redacted.
June 15, 2006
Email
Brian M. Pharr
JoAnn J. Dolan | Jonathan M. Crock | Susan F. Bryant | Judith B. Cefkin | Shelia J. Peters
This DOD memo discusses and addresses the legality of detaining people in Iraq after the assumption of Iraqi governmental authority on 06/30/2004.
Letter from Kenneth Roth, the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch to Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld asking that U.S. government release all detainees from Guantanamo Bay. Mr. Roth states detaining persons at Guantanamo Bay violates ...
June 15, 2006
Letter
Kenneth Roth
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Donald H. Rumsfeld

This fax contains a response letter to The Human Rights watch Ex. Dir. Kenneth Roth addressing his points made in an earlier letter to Sec. Def. Rumsfeld about releasing Taliban armed forces from Guantanamo since the war in Afghanistan is ...

Letter from Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Warfighting Support William G. Boykin to the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency concerning Defense Intelligence Agency policy for interrogation operations. Mostly redacted.
June 15, 2006
Letter
William G. Boykin
William G. Boykin
This DOD memo is to address allegations of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib in the wake of news reports and features, i.e. Sixty Minutes II, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. It lists the events and action taken in response and specifically ...
June 15, 2006
Non-legal Memo
Mark Traecey Patrick Kimmitt
Physical assault, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual
This DOD memo details the U.S. authority for detaining foreign nationals engaged in military-type activities and specifically cites the 1949 Geneva Convention. "Persons currently being detained by the US military…are subject to the protections ...
This DOD memo is to address allegations of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib in the wake of news reports and features, i.e. Sixty Minutes II, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. It lists the events and action taken in response and specifically ...
June 15, 2006
Non-legal Memo
Mark Traecey Patrick Kimmitt
DOS cable to US Embassy and Consular posts concerning how to address allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib prison. The cable instructs the embassy and consular officials to understand the different allegations of abuse and how to address questions ...
Irene Khan the Secretary General of Amnesty International writes to Secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld condemning the use of hoods when transporting and interrogating detainees. Ms. Khan states that the hooding and blindfolding of detainees is ...
June 15, 2006
Letter
Irene Khan
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Javier Zuniga of Amnesty International letter to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld asking for permission for an Amnesty International delegation to visit Guantanamo Bay detention facility "to observe the conditions under which prisoners are detained ...
June 15, 2006
Letter
Javier Zuniga
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Letter is from Mile Florence Rinaldi of Amnisty International in France to Sec. Def. Rumsfeld in conjunction with Amnesty International's memo on rights of detainees in custody. The letter’s author"Urges" the Secretary to "ensure detainees held ...
June 15, 2006
Letter
Mile Florence Rinaldi
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Donald H. Rumsfeld, Mile Florence Rinaldi
Letter is from Mile Florence Rinaldi of Amnisty International in France to Sec. Def. Rumsfeld in conjunction with Amnesty International's memo on rights of detainees in custody. The letter’s author"Urges" the Secretary to "ensure detainees held ...
June 15, 2006
Letter
Mile Florence Rinaldi
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Donald H. Rumsfeld, Mile Florence Rinaldi
Letter is from a 29 year old British citizen, with copies sent to Colin Powell, Jack Straw (UK Home Secretary), William Farish (US Ambassador to UK), John Howard (PM of Australia) and his local MP (Member of Parliament) in the UK. The letter ...
Coalition Provisional Authority memo prescribes standards to be applied in the Iraqi prison system under authority of the Ministry of Justice. States "Basic Principles and Control" for detention. Includes 32 sections with headings such as ...
DoD memo on recent deaths of detainees at Bagram detention facility. This is a Q&A to be followed when investigating the circumstances of the deaths.
This DoD Memo addresses the circumstances leading up to the creation of the Guantanamo facility and the conflict Al Qaida and Taliban forces have initiated against the United States and the other western powers. The memo states that the U.S. has ...
Coalition Provisional Authority Cable to Secretary of Defense discussing Amb. Jones Meeting with International Committee of the red Cross concerning conditions in Iraq and specifically the bombing of the ICRC HQ in Baghdad. Heavily redacted.
June 15, 2006
Cable
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Donald H. Rumsfeld
DoD memo providing guidance on answering inquiries concerning detainee deaths at the Bagram Detention Facility. This document is related to RDI 2418.
CID information memo for file concerning an investigation in to detainee abuse. The investigation revealed Military Police (MP) and Military Intelligence personnel were notified by Detainee that a detainee within the isolation area possessed a ...
Agent's Investigation Report about detainee abuse in Abu Ghraib. A sworn statement by an Army Specialist who witnessed an Army Captain punch and kick a detainee at the Abu Ghraib detention facility after the detainee had shot an Military ...
June 15, 2006
Investigative File (CID)
Physical assault, General
This sworn Statement by an Army Specialist assigned to the Abu Ghraib Detention Facility concerns the November 3, 2003 shooting by a detainee who gained access to a handgun smuggled in to him. The soldier giving the statement was a member of the ...
June 15, 2006
Investigative File (CID), Interview (Statement)
Physical assault
This is a sworn Statement by an Army Sergeant assigned to the the Internal Reaction Force at Camp Ganci, Camp Vigilance, and Abu Ghraib Prison Detention Facility. This sworn statement concerns an incident on August 23, 2003, when, after a mortar ...
June 15, 2006
Investigative File (CID), Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, Assault/death, Use of phobias, Threat
This is a chronological report of a CID agent’s investigation in to abuse at Abu Ghraib following a mortar attack and shooting at the facility. The agent interviewed six (6) soldiers including a Captain and Master Sergeant concerning the ...
This is a sworn statement made by a soldier who was present during an alleged incident of abuse at Abu Ghraib prison following a mortar attack and shooting by a prisoner who had a gun smuggled in to him. The soldier states that there was an Iraqi ...
This CID Report is a follow-up on earlier reports that are related. There was a reported abuse of a detainee at Abu Ghraib prison, but it was, by the description of the Military Intelligence (MI) personnel involved, a rouse in order to isolate a ...

Combatant Status Review Tribunal Decision Report Enclosure 1 on the status of a detainee as an Enemy Combatant. The report states that the detainee is properly classified as an enemy combatant because he is affiliated with the Taliban and Al ...

This memo is in conjunction with the Combatant Status Review Tribunal Decision Report Enclosure 1 on the status of a detainee as an Enemy Combatant. The report states that: i) The tribunal was properly convened and constituted; ii) the detainee ...
June 15, 2006
Non-legal Memo
James R. Crisfeld, Jr.
This memo is to address the sensitivity Muslims have when non-Muslims handle the Koran. It directs hospital personnel not to handle the Koran and to have the Chaplain or Muslim interpreter handle it if necessary. It also instructs personnel not ...
This memo is to clarify the mission, duties and limitations of the Behavioral Science Consultation Team (BSCT) while at Guantanamo hospital and how they may interphase with the Joint Medical Group (JMG). The memo states i) JMG staff members do ...
Army memo on how staff at Guantanamo hospital are to secure detainee medical and dental records. It states: i) At no time will active Detainee medical/dental records leave the custody of Detention Medical staff; ii) All dental records will be ...
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 ...
June 15, 2006
Other
L. Paul Bremer