The Rehabilitation Project Force: Scientology's Prison Camps

In the Sea Org, members must be absolutely focused on and dedicated to the advancement of Scientology. They must be prepared to do anything for the CoS and never feel the slightest bit of doubt. To maintain this state of absolute discipline, L. Ron Hubbard saw fit to institute the Rehabilitation Project Force, a secretive, totalitarian organization designed to destroy any sense of self or dignity in those who show resistence to Scientology teachings.

One Scientology website describes the RPF as "a rehabilitation program offered only to members of the Sea Organization -- a religious order consisting of full-time staff members who have signed a pledge of eternal service to Scientology and its goals." The site also states that those within the RPF "work eight hours per day" and "both study and receive religious counseling on a daily basis to address areas of difficulty in their personal lives." The website is dedicated to providing an alternate perspective for those who have spoken with critics, yet most of its explanation are no longer than a few paragraphs and do nothing to address the testimonies of ex-Scientologists and other holes in their arguments. The reader may notice that the above quote says nothing about the wages of those within the RPF or just how these "counselors" are expected to treat any information they obtain during discussions of the Scientologist's "personal lives."

Critics are much lengthy in their descriptions of the RPF. Among those issues that one is likely to hear about either from an ex-Scientologist or a critic is the total isolation of members. Those within the RPF program are not allowed to speak to anyone outside the RPF, go anywhere by themselves, send any letters directly outside the RPF, or go anywhere that is not an RPF designated area. RPF designated areas may be extremely isolated from the rest of the world, however they are more often in Scientology buildings or areas owned by Scientology so that the labor of RPF members do not go to waste.