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 (4791)

RelevanceDateRelease Date
Aug. 04, 2003 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 1783
Form for AR 15-6 proceedings. Appointed by MG Raymond Odierno. A detainee died while in custody at the DCCP. The deceased was seen by a cardiologist at the 28th CSH and diagnosed with coronary artery disease, angina and type II diabetes. He died ...
Nov. 30, 2005
Investigative File
Raymond T. Odierno
May 19, 2003 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 1784
Instructions for Task Force Talon Unit in detaining individuals. Deadly force is not authorized unless ammunition, weapons or explosives are being looted. Categories of detainees. Rules of Engagement. Arrest procedures.
Sept. 21, 2003 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 1785
Army memo stating that the proper safeguarding of detainees is the responsibility of capturing US forces and that US personnel are to adhear tot he Rules of Engagment.
Nov. 30, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Raymond T. Odierno
Sept. 21, 2003 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 1786
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance for the treatment of enemy prisoners of war (EPW), civilian internees (CI) and other detainees (OD) in the custody of U.S. Forces. Commanders at all levels will ensure that EPWs, civilian ...
Nov. 30, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Raymond Odierno
Raymond T. Odierno
Oct. 25, 2004 | NCIS | ACLU-RDI 569

NCIS report on the results of investigative efforts regarding allegations of abuse made by two detainees, Ali and Hassan, in Iraq. In one case, a detainee captured on February 8, 2004, alleged he was assaulted while being held at "al ...

Nov. 29, 2005
Investigative File (NCIS)
Physical assault, General, Other
May 23, 2003 | EOUSA | ACLU-RDI 4873

This memo was circulated by the government to all U.S. Attorneys around the country in response to public criticism of the Patriot Act. 

Nov. 09, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Guy A. Lewis
Guy A. Lewis, Mary Beth Buchanan, John D. Ashcroft, Patrick Leahy
Mar. 15, 2004 | Legislative | ACLU-RDI 4874

 A CRS report analyzing the law relating to the detention of two American citizens (Yaser Hamdi and Jose Padilla) as alleged "enemy combatants."

Nov. 09, 2005
Legal Memo
Jennifer K. Elsea
Jennifer K. Elsea, George W. Bush, William J. Haynes, II, Alberto R. Gonzales, Michael H. Mobbs, John D. Ashcroft
Yaser Esam Hamdi, Jose Padilla, John Walker Lindh, Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri
Mar. 24, 2004 | DOD | ACLU-RDI 1687
This Army Questionnaire is part of a larger sensing operation to understand the training and preparation of soldiers in the field in dealing with detainees.
DOA | ACLU-RDI 1693
This memo is a report on the survey and investigation of commander’s understanding and training to his soldier the detainee operations procedures. The memo details the commander's instructions and preparation for accepting detainees and EPWs. It ...
June 04, 2004 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 1738
Reports the findings of an inspection of the 1st Cavalry Division Brigade and Interrogation Facilities. Report found that facilities did not violate shutdown criteria. Common deficiencies included failing to conduct medical screenings prior to ...
Oct. 31, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Peter W. Chiarelli