Cults and the Law: Perspectives of an Attorney and Mental Health Professional

There has been increasing publicity in recent years about what the media describes as cults or cultic groups. We know that people influenced by charismatic leaders and high-demand groups engage in actions they would not otherwise engage in, to the detriment of others and sometimes themselves. The word “cult” is without legal significance, yet over the course of our careers, lawyers are confronted with situations in which clients, family members, and friends seem to have been influenced by others in ways that raise questions in our minds: Are they acting independently, or because of the influence that someone is exerting over them?

This session concerns law that, for the most part, is not in the casebooks – a different way of looking at influence and charisma. Suitable for attorneys specializing in civil and criminal litigation, family law, and trusts & estates, we will suggest a way to provide counsel and be most helpful to clients seeking legal assistance because of their own involvement — or their loved one’s — in toxic groups. We will focus on how best to use the law (where there is no law) to assist clients and their loved ones in responding to the harm caused by a charismatic leader or high-demand group.

What Attorneys Need to Know About Cults

Matthew Broderick was born and raised in the Tony Alamo Christian Ministry.  He was taken from the cult in a raid by the FBI and federal marshals on September 20, 2008.  Up to that time he had lived in a world encased from the world outside.  The only times children were outside the parameters of the cult were to recruit, and they went in groups accompanied by an adult.  They were well-traveled – putting tracts on cars in parking lots and working in Alamo’s thrift shops, warehouses, on construction sites, and performing all the tasks required under the watchful eyes of adults. From birth they were taught that the outside was a dangerous place – where they could be killed, damned to Hell; and if anyone left the cult, they would place all their family members in danger with no hope for salvation. Punishments were severe, and rules were constantly changing, creating an environment of fear and mistrust.  Families were broken apart.  Parents followed the orders of Tony Alamo.  A reporting system assured that violators were punished – by forced fasting, by severe beatings in front of others, by removal from their families, etc. Punishments reinforced the belief that Tony was all-powerful and must be obeyed. Children had no protection; studying the King James version of the Bible, regular prayer time, homeschooling, and laboring as early as 8- years- old took up every minute of their days.  Young girls were raped and taken as wives by Tony. Despite this environment, when the children were taken in the raid, they did not feel free.  They were taken from the only home they knew, torn apart, and placed in foster care. In custody hearings, their parents could have had their children back, but parents chose Tony Alamo’s “church” over their children.  That was supreme rejection. Now, they were in the outside world that they had been taught to fear. Law enforcement, community agencies, foster parents, schoolteachers, and counselors knew little about their cult lives; they didn’t understand what they needed to transition from the home they only knew to the outside world. 

Matthew Broderick could have remained lost even through his adult years.  In this session Matthew will speak from his own life experience, talking now as a lawyer. He will discuss the features of a cult leader, the factors that drive followers to be drawn in and the reasons they don’t leave.  He will identify impacts of coercive control on children and the ways they develop differently from children outside of the cult. 

When they are removed or leave on their own, both children and adults face daunting challenges to build happy and secure lives. The issues and legal needs they have are overwhelming.  They may have no money, no documented job experience, medical problems due to poor healthcare, fear of outsiders, poor education, no birth certificate, custody battles with a spouse who remains in the cult, and no one they believe they can trust. They may have committed crimes at the orders of their leader. They may have lived in an environment of physical and sexual abuse that was supported by everyone in the cult. The impact of coercive control on an adult can cause them to disengage from critical thinking. The effect on a child can result in never learning to trust, to have empathy, to solve problems, or to develop relationships with others.

In this session we will identify what attorneys need to know to respond to a cult survivor’s needs and describe what kind of “homework” an attorney can do to prepare for the complexities of cults and the law.

Examples of Coercion: Elder Fraud and Sextortion

Special Agent Mark Miller and Special Agent Michel Carter will discuss the nature of coercion in elder fraud and sextortion.  Participants will learn more about the ways coercive leaders ensnare their victims and why it can be so difficult to leave a coercive relationship or group.

Legal Insights: Why Cult Awareness Matters for Attorneys’ Ethical Practice

In the dynamic landscape of legal practice, attorneys encounter a wide array of cases and clients, each presenting unique challenges and complexities. However, amidst the diverse range of legal matters, there exists a sphere that may often be overlooked but holds significant implications for both clients and attorneys alike: the realm of cults and coercive groups. Cults, with their intricate belief systems and charismatic leaders, can exert a profound influence on individuals and communities, often leading to legal entanglements ranging from issues of personal autonomy to matters of criminal activity. For attorneys, possessing a basic understanding of cult dynamics and their legal ramifications is not merely beneficial but essential. This introduction aims to elucidate the importance of attorneys familiarizing themselves with the fundamentals of cults, exploring the intersections between law and the influence of such groups on individuals and society.