Editing Peoples Temple (section)

===Early reports of abuse===

Jones began using illicit drugs after moving to California, which further heightened his paranoia.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=132}} Jones increasingly used fear to control and manipulate his followers in California. 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 injuries would come upon anyone unfaithful to him and his teachings. He constantly told his followers that they needed to be crusaders in promoting and fulfilling his beliefs.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=132}}

Through his tactics, he successfully implemented a communal lifestyle among his followers that was directed by him and his lieutenants who were part of a committee called the Planning Commission.{{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 were required to turn over all their assets to the church in exchange for free room and board. Many members working outside of the Temple were also required to turn over all their income to be used for the benefit of the community. Jones directed groups of his followers to work on various projects to earn income for the People Temple and set up an agricultural operation in [[Redwood Valley]] to grow food. Jones organized large community outreach projects, taking his followers by bus to perform work 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}} Jones also 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 a security group to ensure order among his followers and to ensure his own personal safety. The group purchased security squad cars and armed their guards with rifles and pistols.{{sfn|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|pp=203–204}}