U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Presumption of Guilt: Human Rights Abuses of Post-September 11 Detainees

NCJ Number
196704
Journal
Human Rights Watch Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2002 Pages: 1-95
Author(s)
Cesar Munoz Acebes; Allyson Collins
Date Published
August 2002
Length
95 pages
Annotation
This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the mistreatment of non-citizens in the United States swept up in the post-September 11, 2001, investigation.
Abstract
After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the United States, the lives of many who had come to the United States with hopes of a better life have been harmed by the practices detailed in this report. Their nationality and religion drew the Government’s attention even though they were not charged with terrorism. This report is divided into six areas of basic human rights violations, reflecting on the values declared by the President of the United States in the aftermath of the terrorist attack. These areas include: (1) those arrested or detained; (2) secrecy of arrests; (3) denial of access to counsel and protection of legal rights; (4) violation of consular rights; (5) arbitrary detention; and (6) conditions of detention. Recommendations are presented and intended to address the human rights violations identified in the report and directed to the Department of Justice, as well as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The United States Government must ensure that the investigation and detention of persons suspected of having links to terrorism are conducted with full regard for the rights of all individuals in the United States and free of discrimination, arbitrary detention, mistreatment in confinement, and violations of due process.