[magnetaress]

llegal Cults
It is very rare for any religious group to be rendered illegal in the United States. This is due to the legal protections provided by the First Amendment freedom of religious exercise protection contained in the Constitution. In essence, the First Amendment protects US citizens from interference in their religious beliefs and practices by the state. However; as with any right, the freedom of religion can be abridged if its exercise would infringe on the rights of others.

As a result, several groups have been made into recognized criminal organizations. This is not a common designation, but it has occurred on occasion, typically after a cult group has been involved with a criminal enterprise. These cults have generally been involved with activities like murder, abduction, statutory rape, or other serious crimes. Often, they hold an illegal activity to be a primary focus of their religious teachings, making adherence to the group’s beliefs a virtual guarantee of grossly illegal activity directly harming others.

Unfortunately, most cults are driven by a leader or small group of leaders. These leaders can often change the tenets of the religion on a whim, making it difficult to impossible for law makers to get ahead of potentially dangerous groups or to identify standards by which a cult becomes illegal. Thus, most groups that would be considered illegal have already engaged in criminal conduct.
Controversial Conduct
Many oppose cults because of activities that appear quite questionable. Examples may include brainwashing, strong-arming members into dedicating their belongings to the cult, undergoing unusual medical procedures, or a wide array of other conduct. However, just because one does not approve of the conduct does not make it illegal.

These are exactly the kinds of activities protected by the First Amendment. A religious adherent’s engaging in activities that may seem odd or inappropriate to those outside of that belief system cannot be stopped simply because they are distasteful to others. Activities such as brainwashing may seem like they should be illegal, but “brainwashing” is actually a highly subjective term and thus, not widely regulated. If one consents to undergo the activity that might lead to the behavior modification, they have not been victimized anymore than someone who sees a hypnotherapist for help to quit smoking or lose weight has been brainwashed.

The grey zone exists in areas of questionable legality. This might include blackmailing members into remaining in the cult, ritualistic rites akin to hazing, or other forms of mental or physical abuse. This is where many cult groups end up in legal trouble, but usually in a civil setting rather than a criminal one.
What To Do About a Cult
If you have concerns that someone you know is involved with a cult, you have several options. There are a number of groups that are dedicated to helping families and friends find loved ones who have been indoctrinated into a cult and helping them leave the group. There may also be legal consequences for the cult’s actions, requiring the aid of an attorney. You can find a list of attorneys in your area by visiting HG.org and searching by location and practice area. Finally, if a cult has created an imminent threat of harm or appears to be engaging in patently illegal activity, you should contact law enforcement.

https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/are-cults-legal-35055