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)

A soldier in the in-take processinf was told by a detainee that the detainee received rough treatment, being hit and placed in an uncomfortable position while being transported on the plane.
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault
A Military Police soldier states that when he interviewed a detainee the detainee stated that he was assaulted in transit due to his not following movement instructions given to him my the gusrds. The detainees face was noticed to be cut and ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault, Face slap or insult slap
Interrogator's sworn statement that a detainee stated he had been beaten and roughly handled, thrown around by guards.
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault, General
A detainee screener reported that a detainee who had attempted escape complained of rough treatment. The detainee did not sustain any marks or injuries from the rough treatment.
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, General
Translator tells of incident during interrogation states that when they stepped away from the interview booth Special Forces members entered the booth; all crouched around the prisoner; blew cigarette smoke in his face; and threatened him. The ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault, General, Threat, Assault/death, Use of electricity
Army soldier/interrogator asks a detainee if he has health problems. Detainee stated that since he was taken in to custody he was abused. He stated he was stuck on his body, beaten, received "extremely poor" treatment and was "rough-handled" by ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault, General
A Detainee Screener states that a detainee complained of rough treatment and being hit. The detainee complained of being put in uncomfortable position on plane ride, guards were rough with him and pushed his hands and feet flat during in-processing.
Dec. 21, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault, General, Cramped confinement
Statement of an interrogator who noticed cuts and bruises on detainee during an interview. The detainee stated that while he was in a holding pen in Afghanistan he was told to stand with other detainees, but sat due to weak legs. The detainee ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, General
This is a statement of an interpreter was states he was told by a detainee that the detainee was hit in the back of the head while hooded and in transit, possibly with the butt of a gun/rifle. The detainee was unable to identify or describe the ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, General
This is a statement by a Sergeant interrogator/translator who reported four incidents of potential detainee abuse that he witnessed or were related to him by detainees. The first incident of possible detainee abuse was the rough handling of a ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, General, Stress positions, Forced physical training
Interpreter states that a detainee told him that the guards had punished him for not answering a question by forcing him to do physical exercises. He did not answer because he was praying.
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Statement)
Forced physical training
This Army memo from Major General Robert Wilson, Commander of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate Office at Ft. Carson, CO. is to transfer two (2) Court-Martial Cases to Ft. Hood TX for disposition. The document is heavily redacted as to the ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Robert Wilson
Robert Wilson
Chart lists the cases of detainee abuse, their location and other information concerning the handling and management of the case load.
Army After Action Memo reviewing the operation and problems encountered to be overcome. The document is almost entirely redacted.
This commander's report is in reference to CID number: 0058-04-CID939-82650. There is a recommendation for no action to be taken. There are no specifics on the charges or other information to identify the matter.
This commander's report is in reference to CID number: 0058-04-CID939-82650. Judicial Finding: Not guilty. There are no specifics on the charges or other information to identify the matter.
This Commander's Report is in reference to CID number: 0058-04-CID939-82650. The Corporal who is the subject of the disciplinary action is charged with obstruction of justice; found guilty; and given a written reprimand.
This Commander's Report is in reference to CID number: 0058-04-CID939-82650. The Corporal who is the subject of the disciplinary action is charged with obstruction of justice; found guilty; and given a written reprimand.
This CID report is very detailed. Three (3) Iraqi nationals reported they were robbed by U.S. soldiers at a checkpoint on Main Supply Route (MSR) Tampa, Iraq. Investigation established probable cause to believe the soldiers committed the offense ...

Commander's Report of Disciplinary or Administrative Action concerning CID Nos. 0073-04-CID939-82567 and 0058-04-CID939-82650

CID Report on an investigation of: i) Aggravated Assault; ii) Willfully Discharging Firearm; iii) False Official Statement; iv) failure to Obey Order or Regulation. The charges stem from an incident where a Corporal supposedly willfully ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File (CID)
Assault/death, Other, Threat
Investigation of abuse of a detainee by a linguist hired by Titan Corporation during an interrogation in Karbala, Iraq. Investigation established that there was insufficient evidence to prove or disprove listed offenses. Titan interrogator's ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File (CID)
Face slap or insult slap, General, Physical assault
Allegations of detainee abuse with photographs of nude and semi-nude detainees. Investigation revealed that photos were exposed by a combat Photographer, U.S. Army Magazine, in the performance of his duties as an imbedded reporter with the 3rd ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File (CID), Photograph
Nudity
This document is almost completely empty of any information. The first page does not have any context and only has a cryptic list.
Investigation into abuse of detainee who was captured on 01/04/04. Investigation found there was no probable cause to believe the offenses occurred as alleged; therefore, they are unfounded. The only names identified by this investigation were ...
Investigation into abuse of detainee upon capture and on a subsequent occasion in Baghdad. Detainee was captured on 03/19/04 by Iraqi Police and turned over to custody of Americans. He was taken to Al Azhamiyah base. Detainee's account of who ...
Instructions for a course entitled "HUMINT Intelligence Collector." Discusses intelligence oversight and procedures. Examples of special activities would include the movie Clear and Present Danger - inserting drug interdiction troops into ...
Outlines corrective actions taken following the inspection of the Camp Delta Facility on May 13, 2004. Copies of rules have been put on-hand at facility. Staff and guards have been trained. Physical improvements to facility.
Incomplete account of detainee abuse. Pages are missing and the document is not complete. The detainee claimed that the guard made threatening gestures, shined a light in his eyes.
Dec. 21, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Other
OJAG email to DOD officials, the email discusses the initiation of a CID investigation into alleged detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib.
Email from DOD to DOD reminding officials to refrain from abusing and mistreating detainees.
Emails discuss raids and questions the authority of the ING.
Emails discuss a parole program for Iraqi detainees in order to deal with the problem of lengthy detentions. LTC [Redacted] states in the email, "[w]e hold detainees so long that there is no hope of getting actionable intelligence."
Emails discuss what is needed to accept a detainee into a facility.
Emails discuss the flawed judicial system currently in place. Among the problems is the length detainment of prisoners, who have committed petty crimes. The author explains that the "individual will sit in jail for 6 months for a small theft ...
Emails discuss the current status of 36 detainees captured in March/April 2004 and their status. [Names redacted].
Emails discuss the need to decrease the investigation period and improve the investigation process. One author states " ...our process is drawn out and inefficient."
Emails discuss a detainee's allegation that he was butt stroked in the face by a Soldier after being captured, while blindfolded and flexcuffed.
Dec. 21, 2005
Email
Physical assault, General, Environmental manipulation, Hooding/Goggling
Email from DOD to DOD reminding officials to refrain from abusing and mistreating detainees.
Original email describes a visit from [redacted], a committee member of an Islamic human rights organization. The email also references a conversation between the author and [redacted] discussing alleged abuse cases that took place at Abu Ghraib.
The original email includes an attachment, with a different CID number in the title of the document. The reply email references allegations of detainee abuse inside the Stryker.
Emails discuss a CID investigation into allegations that a detainee was kicked during questioning. Investigation found there was no probable cause to believe the alleged incident occurred.
Dec. 21, 2005
Email
Keith M. McCullen
Physical assault
Emails discuss Harrington's allegations of detainee abuse.
Dec. 21, 2005
Email
Thomas J. Harrington
Emails discuss the need to decrease the investigation period and improve the investigation process. One author states " ...our process is drawn out and inefficient."
Email seeks confirmation from recipients that two detainees, believed to be members of the Hezib Tehreer target set and planning future attacks, were released.
High Profile Detainee Status chart of 10 detainees. Chart includes information regarding their arrival dates and dates of their last interrogations. [Details are redacted].
Email includes the Commanding General's guidance regarding probable cause review of detainees.
Dec. 21, 2005
Email
Carter F. Ham
The author of the email requests a one week extension for detainees [names listed, but redacted].

Email includes a list of 36 detainees captured in March/April 2004 and their status. [Names redacted].

Email includes an attachment, which is a power-point presentation entitled processing detainees. Includes power point presentation.