Michael Gelles

Michael Gelles is an American forensic psychologist.[1][2][3] He is notable for the role he played in uncovering the unauthorized use of abusive techniques during the interrogation of captives held in extrajudicial detention, apprehended during the "war on terror".[4][5]

Michael Gelles
NationalityUnited States of America
Occupationforensic psychologist
Known forHelped uncover abusive interrogation in Guantanamo

Gelles was chief forensic psychologist for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in 2002 when he and other senior NCIS officials learned of the unauthorized use of extended techniques on Guantanamo captive Mohammed Al Qahtani, one of the suspected 20th hijackers, who was subjected to 58 days of sleep deprivation.[6] Gelles was interviewed for the film Torturing Democracy. Selections from the interviews appeared in the film where Gelles described how he and his boss at NCIS, Alberto J. Mora, and their colleagues learned of the use of abusive interrogation techniques, and their reactions.

Prior to his service with the NCIS Gelles was an officer in the United States Navy Medical Corps.[7] In 1991 he was a lieutenant commander.

Gelles has faced criticism for his role in the treatment of United States Navy First Class Petty Officer Daniel King, in 1999.[8] Gelles was called in when King had been held without charge, and subjected to 29 days of sleep deprivation, when he told interrogators he was feeling suicidal and requested the help of a mental health professional. According to King's lawyers their confused and disoriented client's false confession was triggered, in part, due to advice from Gelles that he would feel better once he had confessed.

References
  1. Brad Olson, Stephen Soldz, Martha Davis (2009-01-29). "The ethics of interrogation and the American Psychological Association: A critique of policy and process". Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine. Philosophy, Ethics and Humanities in Medicine. 3: 3. doi:10.1186/1747-5341-3-3. PMC 2248202. PMID 18230171. There is no evidence that practicing psychologists have any special qualifications for whistle-blowing, or are any more likely to do so than others. The empirical record produces only one potential case, that of Michael Gelles in Guantanamo. Unlike most potential whistle-blowers, Gelles was reporting abuse occurring in a chain of command other than his own. Perhaps more importantly, he was supported by his own command. It was nevertheless a brave act, and one that needs to be more frequently emulated.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Bryan Vossekuil, Robert A. Fein, Marisa Reddy, Randy Borum, William Modzeleski (May 2002). "The final report and findings of the safe school initiative: implications for the prevention of school attacks in the United States". United States Secret Service and United States Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-08. In addition, Secret Service and Department of Education personnel benefited substantially from the contributions of several law enforcement, behavioral science and mental health professionals whose collective experience and expertise helped to inform the development of the project plan and research design. In alphabetical order, these individuals are: Gerardo Blue, Frederick Calhoun, Charles Ewing, Michael Gelles, Dennis McCarthy, Edward Mulvey, William Pollack, Larry Porte, Pam Robbins, Raymond Smyth, Sara Strizzi and Andrew Vita.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. L. L. Hourani; D. Jones; K. Kennedy; K. Hirsch. "Update on Suicide Assessment Instruments and Methodologies". Naval Health Research Center, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Archived from the original on 2009-09-08. Retrieved 2009-08-02. The authors gratefully acknowledge the helpful contributions of Drs. Joseph Rothberg, Jill Feig, Michael Gelles, and Tina Hawkes.
  4. Works related to Statement for the record: Office of General Counsel involvement in interrogation issues at Wikisource
  5. Gus Garcia-Roberts (2009-02-26). "Top Pentagon lawyer Alberto Mora argued against Guantánamo abuses. Now he's an Obama man". All Business. Archived from the original on 2009-09-08. Retrieved 2009-08-02. 'Mora's an American hero,' says Michael Gelles, a Navy psychologist who also helped bring prisoner abuse to light. 'He created a debate that led to a full reversal.'
  6. "Torturing Democracy (transcript)". Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-08.
  7. James J. McCarroll; John J. Jaccard; Alan Q. Radke (1991). "Military Psychiatry: Preparing for Peace in War". Borden Institute, United States Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-08.
  8. Jeffrey Kaye (2009-08-31). "Broken Faith: How a Navy Psychologist Drove A U.S. Prisoner to Attempt Suicide". The Public Record. Archived from the original on 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2020-07-20.

M. G. Gelles (1995). "Psychological autopsy: An investigative aid". Police Psychology into the 21st Century. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: 337–355.

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