Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • Chapter 14 - Legal Implications of Cults

  • from Section 3 - Treatment and Legal Repercussions
  • Edited by Tyler Durns, University of Utah, Charles Scott, University of California, Davis, Paul Whitehead, University of Utah, Barbara E. McDermott, University of California, Davis
  • Book:
    A Clinical and Forensic Guide to Cults and Persuasive Leadership
    Published online:
    19 June 2025
    Print publication:
    03 July 2025, pp 273-282

  • Summary

    Potential legal repercussions exist for cults and for the persons who lead, belong to, or otherwise interact with such organizations. Cults may be deemed criminal organizations, and may also incur civil liability when faulty attempts to maintain corporate status requirements are exposed. Despite this, attempts on the part of criminal prosecutors and civil plaintiffs’ attorneys to seek criminal penalties and civil damages have been met with mixed success. Cult members subjected to coercive control may attempt to assert defenses that involve duress and insanity, with uneven results. Of considerable concern for media representatives as well as cult members are defamation lawsuits that can lead to monetary damages and compelled public retractions. Lawyers whose efforts to provide zealous advocacy on behalf of cults are best advised to avoid overidentification with their clients. Treatment providers and forensic evaluators should weigh various risk factors carefully when engaging in service provision to cult members.