A practical approach for law enforcement when dealing with cultic groups

ICSA Annual International Conference: Manipulation and Victimization
Montréal, Canada; July 5-7, 2012 - more information


Abstract

Mark  Roggeman   

Many people who have had an experience with cults because a relative became involved have been disillusioned when they have asked law enforcement for help.  The response they usually get is that there is not much that can be done unless there is illegal activity.  The concern is that the police may be interfering with the freedom of religion.  In the present day, police departments are successfully using problem-solving models through the Community Policing model.  This model can also be implemented when a questionable group comes to the attention of local police departments. 

A simple approach that officers can take is to visit a group and let them know who they are and that they are there to assist them.  They can let the group know that the department is there to protect them from those who might dislike the group or who possibly threaten to cause harm.  The connection that results could possibly cause authorities to become aware of the group’s behavior, so that the authorities may be able to observe any changes that might occur relative to the group that could signal a violation of the law or even harm to the members.

Law enforcement, both local and federal, most often become involved with cults after a tragedy occurs, such as suicide, involvement in financial fraud, or a case that affects children through neglect or abuse, including sexual violations.  Most of these groups probably will never do anything that attracts the attention of law enforcement.  The problem is that illegal activities that are not known to anyone outside the group do go on because of the group’s isolation from the rest of society.  This kind of situation is one in which officers become effective in gathering intelligence by getting to know the group. The result is that officers may become aware of illegal activities.  I personally had members of a group in southern Colorado reach out to me because they did not know anyone one else outside the group.  Through this connection, authorities learned that children had died, they believe, because medicine was denied as a result of the group’s belief that to take medicine reflected a lack of faith.

An article on cultic groups in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin of September 2000 stated accurately that the potential for violence on behalf of members of biblically driven cults is determined almost exclusively by the whims of the cult leader.  Therefore, effective intelligence and analysis of such cults requires an extensive understanding of the cult leader.

To address the concern of authorities about violating the protection of individuals’ freedom of religion, officers need to be concerned only with behavior that may be harmful to people both inside and outside the group.  Granted, the beliefs may be the cause of the harmful behavior, but only the behavior is the cause for concern.

Joining, Leaving, and Recovering from a Cultic Group: Giving and Receiving Support

Former Group Members, Families, and Helping Professionals Share Experiences

May 5-6, 2012

Fort Myers, Florida

In order to give more people an opportunity to have face-to-face educational experiences, ICSA is now organizing special events in various cities. Events have been held in London, New York, and Philadelphia. This is the first special event to be held in Florida.  The event is designed so that each of the two days can stand alone, giving attendees the option of attending either or both days. Both days will include considerable opportunity for discussion.

Questions to Explore

Attendees and facilitators will explore questions that are often central to the concerns of former members of cultic groups and families/friends troubled about a loved one’s group involvement:

• How are cultic groups different from and similar to other kinds of groups?
• Why do people join (or are recruited or brought into) and remain in cultic groups?
• Why do people leave?
• Can departures be facilitated?
• What problems do people have when they leave?
• How can they manage these problems?

Program

• Both days will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., with a 90-minute lunch break. We hope that attendees will chat informally during breaks, in the evening, and after the event.
• Saturday will consist of directed discussions aimed at encouraging participants to describe their relevant experiences and explore their current opinions regarding the key questions listed above. (Participants may choose not to contribute to discussions, if they wish.)
• On Sunday, each facilitator will give a brief presentation on one or more of the questions, taking into account the discussions of day one. There will be additional opportunities for discussion after each presentation and a wrap-up discussion at the end of day two.

In short, the event will focus on attendees’ experiences and views, not presenters’ prepared talks, so as to help attendees better understand these important questions and enhance their capacity to express themselves and help others as well as themselves.

Register – Print Fax/Mail Flyer

A Novel Legislative Proposal in Italy

ICSA Annual International Conference: Manipulation and Victimization
Montréal, Canada; July 5-7, 2012 - more information
Abstract

Roberto  Asquini   

Perceiving and supporting a person’s right for his or her intellectual, psychological, and moral liberty must be an obligation of a public administration to all citizens.  To guarantee the absence of “forgotten areas,” where it is truly difficult to support these principles, there is a need for promoting and realizing “positive projects” of support to citizens, to strengthen them against manipulation and control from others.

Unfortunately, these kinds of abuses are always more common in modern societies than many people realize; and they are often manifested in organizations such as so-calledcults that exploit individuals when they are weak and tend to manipulate their will.

This model doesn’t intend to intervene in arguments and matters that are not within the competencies of a region; instead, it intends to promote educational and psychological support first, and then legal assistance when people or families ask for an intervention.  Such actions will prevent the spread of these forms of abuses by offering assistance to victims of abuse.

The prototype is based upon two concepts:

·         The promotion and realization of positive projects for supporting citizens against any form of manipulation and control in their relationships through life, thereby preventing or ending the induction of dependency through behaviors and techniques that modify the self-determination of individuals.

• The institution of supporting centers that will operate with the contribution of professional experts in the sociological, pedagogical, psychological, and legal areas, and with proven experience in their specific fields, who will directly assist citizens and their families in need of such support.

The model consists of seven articles.  Article 1 defines the objectives of the law; articles 2, 3, and 4 define the criteria for and the form in which to present the projects of prevention and assistance.  Article 5 defines the criteria for direct interventions in educational, psychological, and legal areas for the victims, and the requirements for persons to qualify to receive free psychological and legal assistance.  Article 6 responds to the financial norm, and article 7 defines the terms of application of the norm.