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)

Court Martial and Record of Trial of Corporal Scott A Burton, of the 81mm Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. He was tried at Camp Pendleton, CA. Burton conspired with Corporal Jeffery S. Case to use a fire ...
PowerPoint presentation to Sec. Def. Rumsfeld on detainee operations at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. States that there is no evidence of non-compliance with Department of Defense orders at either facility save for "some minor infractions." These ...
June 30, 2006
Non-legal Memo, Other
Albert T. Church | Duane D. Thiessen
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Donald H. Rumsfeld, Albert T. Church, Duane D. Thiessen
List of annexes to report by BG Formica.
June 30, 2006
Chart/List
Richard P. Formica

Appointment of Brigadier General Richard P. Formica as an investigating officer to "conduct an informal investigation into allegations of detainee abuse occurring while detainees were under the control of [redacted] and were detained at ...

June 30, 2006
Non-legal Memo
Ricardo Sanchez
Richard P. Formica
Ricardo Sanchez, Richard P. Formica, John P. Abizaid
This document is part of an AR 15-6 investigative file with a chronology of the progress and steps taken to investigate abuses at the Abu Ghraib detention Facility.
June 30, 2006
Non-legal Memo, Investigative File (AR 15-6)
Richard P. Formica
Memo from Major General Fay to Lieutenant General Sanchez stating that during the course of interviews on Abu Ghraib, five (5) detainees "reported possible abuse they believe occurred at other locations." Three (3) witnesses also "stated that ...
June 30, 2006
Non-legal Memo
George Fay
Ricardo Sanchez
George R. Fay, Ricardo Sanchez
Physical assault, Sexual, General
Collection of five (5) sworn statements about abuse in detention facilities in Iraq, attached to ACLU-RDI 2493. None of the statements report witnessing any physical abuse at Abu Ghraib, but all recount claims by detainees of abuse at other ...
June 30, 2006
Interview (Statement)
George R. Fay
Physical assault, Face slap or insult slap, Sexual, General, Threat, Family/others, Use of phobias, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual
List of legal references for Formica Report. Heavily redacted. Under a section headed "Interrogation," states, "US policy expressly prohibits as a means of or aid to interrogation: Acts of violence or intimidation, including physical or mental ...
Sworn statements of three (3) detainees at Abu Ghraib. FIRST STATEMENT: Detainee states that he "was never hit in Abu Ghraib," but was mistreated between his capture and his arrival at Abu Ghraib. Describes being interrogated and hit "by an ...
Memo from BG Formica to LTG Ricardo S. Sanchez, requesting an extension until the end of June 2004 for BG Formica's "informal investigation into abuse." Attached letter provides LTG Sanchez's approval for the extension. Also includes a subsequent ...
June 30, 2006
Non-legal Memo
Richard P. Formica
Ricardo Sanchez
Ricardo Sanchez, Richard P. Formica, Thomas F. Metz
Three maps of Iraq showing OPCON (Operational Control), TACON (Tactical Control), Direct Support, and General Support. Titles and all details are blacked out. First map is dated pre-January 2004.
8-page document entirely withheld. Cover sheet says: "Annex 9. Withheld/EXEMPT. b(1) 1.4a AND b(2) high (8 pages)"
Fragmentary Order (FRAGO) dated June 2004. Substance redacted. Lists changes to "Situation," "Execution," "Coordinating Instructions," and "Command and Signal."
Email between Joint Task Force 7 with attached spreadsheet. The email states "[This reflects the information we gathered from all subordinate elements on whether or not they maintained a temporary detention facility or an interrogation facility ...
Cover sheet for Annex 12-16: Published Regulations. Actual documents not included.
Fragmentary Order 749 (FRAGO 749) relating to detainees, which "consolidates prior orders and guidance." Document is substantially redacted. States, "Capturing units will not detain persons unless there is a reasonable belief that the person is ...
Gives instructions on detainee reports. Requires that all detainees in coalition custody be tracked.
Fragmentary Order (FRAGO) regarding detainee operations, approved for release by Colonel Pricone. Gives brief instructions on detention procedures, including stating that "capturing units will not detain persons for greater than 72 hours unless ...
June 30, 2006
Non-legal Memo
Robert Pricone
Robert Pricone
Fragmentary Order (FRAGO) regarding detainees at a Temporary Holding Facility (THF) capable of holding up to 15 detainees at Radwaniya Palace Complex. Contains instructions for setting up THF and processing detainees. "The [redacted] THF will ...
8 pages withheld/exempt. Cover sheet says "Annex 20. 8 pages withheld/EXEMPT. b(1) 1.4a & 1.4c & b(2) High."
Contents Completely Redacted.
All content withheld. Cover sheet says "Annex 22. 2 pages withheld. b(1) 1.4a. b(2) high."
Timeline of interrogation policy as of 05/30/2004. Covers from 09/14/2003 to 05/21/2004. Details communication between individuals (inc. Sanchez) and policy updates regarding interrogation techniques. Explains why it was that CJTF-7 was using ...
June 30, 2006
Non-legal Memo
Ricardo Sanchez
Sworn statement from a US Army Lieutenant Colonel regarding the interrogation policy distributed for use in Septermber-october 2003. He explains why an outdated policy (from 14 September 2003) was provided rather than the most recent policy (from ...
Email references September 2003 Sanchez memo on "CJTF-7 Interrogation and Counter-Resistance Policy" and asks for a signed copy of the "current policy". The email states "You're listed as the POC on Interrogation end Counter-Resistance Policy ...
Paper refers frequently to a redacted policy name as well as to CJTF-7 policy. "CJTF-7 policy allows detainees to be held beyond 72 hours (up to 14 days) for continued interrogation. No approval required." Approves the use of 21 interrogation ...

Sign-in sheet for a Temporary Holding Facility (THF) stating that the undersigned "have read and understand the THF and Policy Memorandum and will enforce the Policy and SOP'S during [their] duty shift at the THF." States that ...

Heavily redacted document establishing interrogation and counter-resistance policy during the interrogation of all detainees and enemy prisoners of war (EPWs). States that "interrogations performed at Tactical Interrogation Center require ...
Army memo on the procedures of handling detainees and the guards responsibility to keep the detainees safe, what to do in the event of an emergency and who to contact if necessary.
Charts relating to investigation results. Handwritten note states: "137 detainees held by [redacted] units – compiled from data provided by MSC(CF) Units operating detention facilities and verified with information from [redacted]". All ...
List of detainees summaries in reverse chronological including name, date captured, capturing unit, where detained, departure date, and remarks. All information redacted except for some dates of capture, some remarks, a few descriptions under the ...
Memo from Headquarters, Combined/Joint Special Operations Task Force – Arabian Peninsula (CJSOTF-AP), Office of the Commander. Addressed to Brigadier General [redacted]. Contents are almost entirely redacted, but include the headings "Detention ...
Memo addressing reporting requirements from 24 August, 2003 until 10 June, 2004. Refers to 24 August, 2003 directive to "all coalition brigades or equivalent to report all captures within 48 hours to the 800th MP BDE." As of January 2006, the ...
Sets out requirements and time frames for transfer of detainees for detainee operations from August 24, 2003 to date of memo, June 23, 2004. States that "high value detainees are taken to Camp Cropper, where they are inducted into DRS [possibly ...
Discusses a meeting that took place regarding an AR 15-6 investigation concerning incidents of detainee abuse at Radwaniya Palace, Iraq. Topics of discussion included: "four investigation files into significant incidents" at THFs, including two ...
CID Report regarding allegations by 2 detainees at Camp Cooke of aggravated assault and prisoner mistreatment between April 23, 2004 and May 8, 2004. One detainee alleged that he was "coerced into a confession through beatings by the FPS ...
June 30, 2006
Investigative File (CID)
Physical assault
Memo regarding interviews conducted at the DCCP (Displaced Civilian Collection Point) on May 31, 2004. Detainee claims that "while at an unknown location he received no food or water and could not sleep due to very loud American music blaring the ...
References documents that outline minimum standard of living for detainees, including the Geneva Conventions, Army Regulations, and Army Field Manual. Notes that Army Regulations do not address "temporary holding facilities of a capturing unit," ...
Update on a CID investigation (number 0281-03-CID259-61236). Investigation has concluded that credible information exists to believe the detainee concerned committed murder. Directs that he be placed on "CID Hold" until further notice. Author's ...
Update on a CID investigation (number 0281-03-CID259-61236). Investigation has concluded that credible information exists to believe the detainee concerned committed murder. Directs that he be placed on "CID Hold" until further notice. Author's ...
Cover sheet labeled: "Annex 40-43 CID Documents <*Sent on SIPR Side> (& Portions of Annex 120)" No other information included.
Investigation of two incidents; in the first, which took place on November 1, 2003 between a car and US forces, rocket propelled grenades were fired at US forces. In the second, which took place on November 2, 2003, a service member died after ...
Documents related to CID Investigations 0233-03-CID259-61217 and 0022-04-CID149-. Includes two Agent's Investigative Reports and a translation of a statement provided by a detainee. The first Agent's Investigative report summarizes interviews ...
Pages 9-11 of a 12-page CID report (0106-04-CID259-80185), consisting of an Agent's investigation Report. A detainee claims that he was "physically abused while at the palace," including being "pulled by his penis, kicked, punched, and hit with a ...
June 30, 2006
Investigative File (CID)
Ali
Physical assault, General, Assault/death, Threat
CID Report summarizing findings related to allegations of abuse at Adhamiya, most of which are unfounded. States, "Investigation established probable cause to believe [names redacted] committed the offense of False Official Statement" in ...
June 30, 2006
Investigative File (CID)
Physical assault, Sexual
Sworn statement of a Colonel regarding detention procedures and policies at Abu Ghraib prison. He stated "I would want to know what we were getting out of the detainees and is anything coming out of them. If not, ... either release them or get ...
Sworn statement by a commander of [redacted]. Refers to allegations of detainee abuse. Notes, "A detainee died at the 3rd ACR detention facility. I told all of my guys to be extremely careful with the treatment of detainees because they could be ...
Sworn statement by US Navy Commander. Discusses detainee detention limits and extensions. States, "The facilities we maintained for detainee exploitation are austere but more than adequate." Makes no mention of abuse, and states, "The most ...
Sworn statement by a Major, who discusses detainee operations. States, "ICDC [Iraqi Civilian Defense Corps] interview techniques were a little rougher than ours and there was a guy that got slapped, so the commander decided not to leave ICDC ...
June 30, 2006
Interview (Statement)
Assault/death, Use of phobias, Threat