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 (48)

RelevanceDateRelease Date
FBI | ACLU-RDI 3528

Memo is an FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) report of DOD interrogation tactics used in Guantanamo. BAU reported witnessing the following techniques being used: duct tape to a detainee's mouth, growling dogs, bright lights, loud music, and ...

Feb. 06, 2006
Non-legal Memo
Stephen R. Wiley
Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Environmental manipulation, Light or sound, Other
Apr. 05, 2004 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 1343
This report by a DAIG Team interviewed 24 individuals and conducted 4 sensing sessions consisting of 23 Soldiers. All Soldiers interviewed and sensed were given surveys to assess factors associated with combat stress. The inspection took place ...
July 15, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Use of water, Other, Physical assault, General, Threat, Assault/death, Stress positions, Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Dietary manipulation, Environmental manipulation, Hooding/Goggling, Other
Apr. 16, 2003 | DOD | ACLU-RDI 3544

A memo from Secretary Rumsfeld approving a set of interrogation techniques, including some that it admits may be "inconsistent with" provisions of the Geneva Conventions.  The techniques include "Pride and Ego Down," ...

June 01, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Donald H. Rumsfeld
James T. Hill
Donald H. Rumsfeld, James T. Hill, Richard B. Myers
Stress positions, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Dietary manipulation, Environmental manipulation
Mar. 27, 2003 | FBI | ACLU-RDI 3437
Interview of a detainee at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay. The detainee was visably sick when interviewed, and remained so through out. Detainee stated that he had no connection to terrorism and knew nothing about the September 11, 2001 attacks other ...
May 18, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Stress positions, Sleep deprivation, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual
June 20, 2004 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 723
Memo-Interview of a Tiger Team member assigned to the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion, 205th Military Intelligence Brigade. Noted that on an "interrogation plan form there were two columns of procedures listed. The first column listed the ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Use of water, Other, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Dietary manipulation, Other Humiliation, Sexual, Other
June 02, 2004 | DOD | ACLU-RDI 736
Memo is an interview-statements regarding conditions in AG. Interviewee recalled finding a detainee naked in their cell, the detainee was identified as a high level official. Recalled the detainee was embarrassed about being naked in the cell ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Thomas Pappas
Physical assault, General, Stress positions, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Nudity
June 04, 2004 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 776

Telephonic interview of a Military Intelligence interrogator (Rank & Rate unknown) regarding detainee interrogations at Abu Ghraib prison. The MI Interrogator stated "I never placed any of my detainees on sleep deprivation. I did use a stress ...

Mar. 03, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Transcript, Statement)
Stress positions, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Nudity, Other Humiliation
May 23, 2004 | DOD | ACLU-RDI 832
Interviewee's Procedure 15 interview is an addendum to his prior interview (Interviewee's title and length of assignment are unknown). Interviewee stated that he observed a detainee hooded and handcuffed to a railing. When he inquired about the ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
George R. Fay, Ricardo Sanchez
Use of water, Water dousing, Physical assault, General, Stress positions, Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Environmental manipulation, Hooding/Goggling, Nudity
June 20, 2004 | DOD | ACLU-RDI 902
Memo contains information obtained from an interview of [redacted]. Interviewee arrived in AG from late July 2003, he generally discusses the interrogation process and the interrogation rules of engagement (IROE). Interviewee noted that ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Thomas Pappas
Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Dietary manipulation, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual
| ACLU-RDI 413

This document is the Claim for Compensation; documents in support of the claim; and correspondence from the Army Claim Service concerning a claim by an Iraqi/Swedish citizen for compensation for his alleged torture and other mistreatment ...

Feb. 28, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Letter, Photograph
Antonio Taguba
Use of water, Physical assault, Face slap or insult slap, General, Threat, Assault/death, Use of electricity, Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Environmental manipulation, Light or sound, Temperature, Hooding/Goggling, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual, Religious, Manipulation of interrogator’s identity