Jim Jones

===Early reports of abuse===
Jones began using illicit drugs after moving to California, which further heightened his paranoia.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=132}} He increasingly used fear to control and manipulate his followers. Jones frequently warned his followers that there was an enemy seeking to destroy them. The identity of that enemy changed over time from the Ku Klux Klan, to Nazis, to redneck vigilantes, and finally the American government.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=132}} He frequently prophesied that fires, car accidents, and death or injury would come upon anyone unfaithful to him and his teachings. He constantly pressed his followers to be aggressive in promoting and fulfilling his beliefs.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=132}}

Jones established a Planning Commission made up of his lieutenants to direct the Peoples Temples' communal lifestyle.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=133}} Jones, through the Planning Commission, began controlling all aspects of the lives of his followers. Members who joined Peoples Temple turned over all their assets to the church in exchange for free room and board. Members who worked outside of the Temple turned over their income to be used for the benefit of the community. Jones directed groups of his followers to work on various projects for additional income and set up an agricultural operation in [[Redwood Valley]] to grow food. Large community outreach projects were organized, and Temple members were bussed to perform work and community service across the region.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=167}}

The first known cases of serious abuse in Peoples Temple arose in California as the Planning Commission carried out discipline against members who were not fulfilling Jones's vision or following the rules.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=172}} Jones's control over the members of Peoples Temple extended to their sex lives and who could be married. Some members were coerced to get [[abortion]]s.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|pp=156–163}} Jones began to require sexual favors from the wives of some members of the church,{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=172}} and raped several male members of his congregation.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=176}}

Members who rebelled against Jones's control were punished with reduced food rations, harsher work schedules, public ridicule and humiliations, and sometimes with physical violence. As the Temple's membership grew, Jones created an armed security group to ensure order among his followers and to guarantee his own personal safety.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|pp=203–204}}