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How U.S. Prison Officials Rubberstamped a CIA Torture Chamber
Loaded on Aug. 28, 2015
by Carl Takei
published in Prison Legal News
September, 2015, page 42
Filed under:
Racial Discrimination,
Excessive Force,
Guard Brutality/Beatings,
Restraints,
CIA.
Locations:
Afghanistan,
United States of America.
How U.S. Prison Officials Rubberstamped a CIA Torture Chamber
by Carl Takei, ACLU National Prison Project
The CIA’s chief interrogator called it “the closest thing he has seen to a dungeon.”
At the agency’s COBALT detention site in Afghanistan – also known as the “Salt Pit” …
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More from this issue:
- Life Without Parole, by Beth Schwartzapfel
- News in Brief
- Legislation Removes Secrecy from Georgia Parole Board’s Proceedings, Decisions, by David Reutter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Delaware: Drop in Prison Phone Rates Called a “Drop in the Bucket”, by Derek Gilna
- Is Texas Poisoning Prisoners with Contaminated Water?, by Panagioti Tsolkas
- Texas County Pays Prisoner’s Family $214,500 for Wrongful Death
- Mandamus Improper Remedy to Challenge Illinois DOC’s “Violating at the Door” Policy, by David Reutter
- Prisoners Pay Millions to Call Loved Ones Every Year. Now this Company Wants Even More, by Ben Walsh
- Jails in Trouble as IRS Investigates Tax-Exempt Bonds, by Matthew Clarke
- Nevada: Federal Suit over Shackling of Pregnant Prisoner Settles for $130,000 and Policy Changes, by Matthew Clarke
- BOP Ordered to Pay Prisoner’s Attorneys $41,703 for Discovery Abuses, by Derek Gilna
- British Banking Giant Fined for Laundering Mexican Drug Money Through U.S. Banks, by Matthew Clarke
- Two Reports Find at Least 54 Countries Complicit in Secret CIA Prisons, by Matthew Clarke
- Alabama: Settlement to Integrate HIV-Positive Prisoners Finalized, by David Reutter
- Former New York Prisoner Receives $3,375,000 Settlement for Wrongful Conviction, by Derek Gilna
- $290,000 Judgment for Failure to Treat Ruptured Appendix Affirmed, by David Reutter
- Mental Health Care in South Carolina Prisons Found Unconstitutional, by David Reutter
- Ninth Circuit Orders New Trial in “Pink Underwear” Lawsuit; Case Settles for $240,000, by Mark Wilson
- Social Impact Bonds in Criminal Justice: A Deal We Can’t Refuse?, by Jennifer R. Zelnick
- Oregon Workgroup Recommends Strategies to Deal with Prison Medical Care Costs, by Mark Wilson
- Federal Court Orders Cameras to Cover Blind Spots at North Carolina Prison, by David Reutter
- Rejecting Foreign Language Letters after Interpretation May Violate Prisoner’s Rights, by David Reutter
- $400,000 Settlement in New Jersey Juvenile Solitary Confinement Suit, by Derek Gilna
- Illinois Supreme Court Affirms Supervised Release Period Despite Sentencing Omission, by Derek Gilna
- Vermont Newspaper Defends Hiring Reporter with Sex Offense Conviction, by Matthew Clarke
- Former Illinois Drug Court Judge Gets Prison Time Following Fellow Judge’s Fatal Overdose, by Joe Watson
- How U.S. Prison Officials Rubberstamped a CIA Torture Chamber, by Carl Takei
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Wisconsin Sex Offender Registration Fee, Names John Doe Plaintiffs, by Derek Gilna
- Fourth Circuit Finds Strip Searches and Delousing of Arrestees Constitutional, by Lonnie Burton
- Prison Legal News Wins FOIA Appeal Against BOP, by Derek Gilna
- Washington Prisoner Granted Injunction Ordering Outside Orthopedic Evaluation, by Mark Wilson
- Seventh Circuit: New Trial for Wrong Legal Standard in Jail Death Case, by Mark Wilson
- Texas Prisoner Held in Prison 35 Years after Conviction Vacated, by Matthew Clarke
- Corporations You’ve Never Heard of are Making Millions from Mass Incarceration, by James Kilgore
- Illinois University Faculty Member and PLN Contributor Fights for His Job after Opposing New County Jail, by Joe Watson
- Vice President’s Son Discharged from Navy Due to Drug Use, by Christopher Zoukis
- Michigan: Perjured Testimony at Trial Results in Habeas Relief, but Reversed on Appeal, by David Reutter
- Court Denies Challenge to D.C. Sex Offender’s Website on Registry Officials
- Terrorism Suspect Moves to Suppress Statements Made to FBI due to Torture Threats, by Matthew Clarke
- Tennessee Jail Considers Charging for Toilet Paper, Underwear, by Christopher Zoukis
- Automatic Placement of Death Row Prisoner in Segregation Does Not Violate Due Process, by David Reutter
- ACLU Awarded $50 Million to Help End Mass Incarceration, by Christopher Zoukis
- Seventh Circuit Reverses Verdict when Prisoner Not Allowed to Poll Jury, by Derek Gilna
- Liability against Taser for Negligence Upheld but $5.5 Million Damages Award Reversed, by David Reutter
More from Carl Takei:
More from these topics:
- Colorado Prison Wardens Participated in Longstanding Racist, Homophobic Group Chat, July 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, DOC/BOP misconduct, Racial Discrimination, Gay/Lesbian, Employee Litigation.
- Federal Conviction, Guilty Pleas for Jail Guards Responsible for Oklahoma Detainee’s Death, July 1, 2026. Misconduct/Corruption, Medical, Conditions of Confinement, Excessive Force, Civil Rights Actions or Offenses/Bivens Actions.
- SCOTUS Reverses Mississippi Capital Conviction, July 1, 2026. Racial Discrimination, AEDPA, Preservation of Appellate Rights/Issues, Jury Selection, Batson Claims.
- CoreCivic’s Long Record of Abuse and Neglect in Tennessee, June 1, 2026. Corrections Corporation of America/CoreCivic, Systemic Medical Neglect, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Medical Neglect/Malpractice.
- Warden, Four Other Louisiana Jailers Indicted for Brutalizing Compliant Detainees with Riot Shield, June 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Stun Guns/Tasers, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Texas Executes 600th Prisoner Since Reinstating Death Penalty in 1976, June 1, 2026. Racial Discrimination, Statistics/Trends, Death Penalty, Mental Retardation/Intellectual Disability.
- $112,500 Paid to Former New Mexico Prisoner Denied Public Records of Excessive Force by Guards, June 1, 2026. DOC/BOP misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Settlements, Public Records Act, False Imprisonment.
- $75,000 for Pennsylvania Prisoner’s Excessive Force Claim Against Jail Guard, June 1, 2026. Failure to Treat, Guard Brutality/Beatings, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Monell Liability, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Two More Guards Face Prison Time for Messiah Nantwi Killing, June 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Sentencing, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Plea Agreements/Guilty Pleas.
- Ombuds Report Doesn’t Rule Out Racism or Retaliation at Red Onion State Prison, June 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Racial Discrimination, Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Failure to Treat, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement.

