6/21/2008 7:55:00 PM My Turn: Rule of law needs to be strengthened
in polygamy crimes
Terry Goddard
Last week I took part in an unprecedented meeting of more than 50 local, state and federal law enforcement officials in Las Vegas to discuss polygamy-related crimes and new, cooperative steps to address them.
The day-long meeting received little media attention because the sensitive information being shared required closed doors. But it would be hard to overstate the meeting's importance in advancing our efforts to strengthen the rule of law in the communities of Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah.
The meeting built on the excellent cooperation established between Arizona and Utah over the past several years. Attending were top state and local law enforcement officials from Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Texas, along with the U.S. attorneys from Arizona, Utah and the Northern District of Texas. Participation by the federal officials is highly significant because some of the wrongdoing suspected by law enforcement, such as civil rights violations and financial crimes, falls under federal and not state jurisdiction.
The meeting was held in Nevada because the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) now runs many of its businesses and conducts underage marriages ceremonies in that state. This activity has occurred, in large degree, as a response to legal pressure applied to the FLDS in Arizona and Utah over the past six years. Texas, of course, is actively engaged in investigating the FLDS community now established in that state for possible wrongdoing. Our common purpose is to eliminate state or national borders as a refuge for criminal activities.
Much of the discussions focused on bringing everyone up to speed on the history of the FLDS and legal efforts underway in each of the four states. We agreed that all future prosecutions should be undertaken by whatever office has the strongest legal position, and that every prosecution should count on the full support of all other agencies -- local, state or federal -- with relevant information or expertise.
The meeting also addressed our shared concern that children in the FLDS communities may not be receiving adequate education. As many as 1,000 children in Colorado City/Hildale have been removed from public and private schools, but only a few have been registered for home-schooling. I have asked Tom Horne, Arizona's superintendent of public instruction, to determine the status of these children and what actions the state can take if they are not enrolled in school as required by state law.
Substantial progress has been made on many fronts in restoring the rule of law in the FLDS communities. FLDS leader Warren Jeffs has been convicted and sentenced to prison in Utah and awaits trial in Arizona. The Colorado City School District was placed in receivership. Jeffs and his associates were removed from control of the United Effort Trust, and a special fiduciary appointed. Six Colorado City police officers have been decertified. And perhaps most important in the long run, a safety net has been created by a broad group of government and nonprofit agencies to reach out and assist current and potential crime victims.
The cooperation pledged by participants at last week's Las Vegas meeting promises to fortify our ongoing efforts. Law enforcement stands more unified than ever in our shared commitment to protect children and prosecute crime in the FLDS communities.
Terry Goddard is the Attorney General of the State of Arizona.
Reader Comments
Posted: Saturday, July 05, 2008
Article comment by:
hmmm
hmmmm, A summit on the rule of law needing to be strengthened in polygamy crimes, organized in Las Vegas of all the places, the #1 crime capital west of the Mississippi, not counting "polygamy crimes".
Posted: Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Article comment by:
Matt in Tucson
Goddard - How many times have you sung "Happy Birthday to You?" Did you ever have permission to sing it? Looks like you have been violating copyright law, and the "rule of law" says that you should throw your own butt in jail.
Goddard is such a hypocrite. I hope others in Arizona will join me in throwing him out of office. It's time for him to leave the FLDS alone, and tackle the many real and pressing law enforcement problems in Arizona in general and Tucson in particular.
Posted: Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Article comment by:
Bob
Hmmm. So gay marriages are okay but plural marriages aren't. The former produce no children and thus violate the "go forth and multiply" command of the Bible,whilethe latter do it in spades. Hmmm. I say outlaw the former and praise the latter.
Posted: Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Article comment by:
Nan J
A Very long time ago, the US government outlawed plural marriage. This is not a new event. The only sad thing is that when they did it they blind sided legitimate plural ones - all of a sudden they were illegitimate. That was a long time ago. These guys know they violate 'law of the land' and do so on purpose. They violate a law that has been on the books for a while both biblically and secularly.
Posted: Monday, June 23, 2008
Article comment by:
Hazel
There is not nearly as much underage sex nor underage marriages within this group of religous people as you'll find out in the general public. What are you doing about that? I don't see any evidence of that happening. I would call it a witch hunt just because these people have a different outlook on marriage. Shame we can't be more tolerant of others.
Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Article comment by:
lbmechanix
There is enough laws on the books to go after anyone you want to. The FLDS are the most law abiding people in this country until YOU start making lawas against thier RELIGION
Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Article comment by:
Bob
It's sad to read the comments of bigots who condone the actions of the state against the FLDS. When will we ever learn to stop demonizing those different from the masses clustered under the center of the bell curve? What is being done to the FLDS was earlier done to the aboriginies in Australia and the indigenous peoples of Canada. It has also been done to Jews, Gypsies, and even Protestants. Remember the Pilgrims and the Puritans who fled such persecution and came to America? Bigots never change. They just change their targets.
And, when bigots are in government, they're a danger to all freedom loving peoples because there is a natural inclination to believe the "authorities," and jump on the bigot bandwagon.
Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Article comment by:
Carlos
I sincerely wonder if you, Mr. Goddard and all the other officials who got together to talk about "polygamy" related crimes have considered the fact that Abraham, King David, Solomon, Issac, Jacob and any number of other Old Testament patriarchs were polygamous, yet did not committ "polygamy" related crimes. I wonder if you have considered the fact that Mary, mother of Jesus, was underage (by our standards) when married to Joseph.
Take care Mr. Goddard that you do not find yourself persecuting persons whose only "crime" is to have more than one wife. A "crime" not deemed so by God Himself it would seem. You may find yourself on the wrong side of what God allows!
Polygamy does not lead to more crimes anymore than monogamous marriage does. It is the individual who decides to abuse children and do other things which are not right. It is not the fact that one may be polygamous or monogamous.
If you ever start thinking that polygamy and crime is as closely connected as stealing and drug abuse perhaps you should read your Bible, if you are a true Christian, and ask yourself why God condoned what we so readily condemn.
Carlos (American in Canada)
Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Article comment by:
Elvis
If the FLDS are not educating their children adequately, if they are practicing underage and/or unwilling arranged marriages, and if anything else adversely affecting child welfare is taking place, then the law needs to deal with them, and anyone standing in the way is on the wrong side.
Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Article comment by:
Ann Mere
I think that the FLDS sounds like a conspiracy to avoid prosecution for crimes (involuntary servitude, child abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, child neglect & abandonment, welfare fraud, fraud in awarding of government contracts, to name a few).
I applaud government efforts to stop this so-called religious front in wholesale law breaking and prosecution evasion.
The FLDS is the mafia of the West, and needs to be stopped by all government agencies cooperating and moving fast because the cockroaches are running for cover now that the light of justice is shining on them.
Ann Mere
L.A.
Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Article comment by:
Julie
If the "rule of law" means more of what we saw in Texas, I don't want any part of it.
Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Article comment by:
SLIPPERY-SLOPE
=
SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA (LOGICAL) REASONING CAN BE COPYCAT IN OTHER STATES AND IS APPLICABLE:
(X) TO POLYGAMOUS MARRIAGES, AND
(X) TO TEXAS [FLDS] CUSTODY CASES.
SIGNED: RECKIPS
=
Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Article comment by:
Boise Leon
I got my copy of The Primer that you and Mark revised in June 2006 and it has been very helpful. I am putting together a book and need to know who instigated the FBI most wanted listing and who authorized the first and second $50k rewards. Gary Engels was unclear on the details when I asked him at that time. Accuracy is important to me. A good contact would be helpfull
Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Article comment by:
millard6
Sounds like a government conspiracy to first demonize and then destroy a peaceful religious group. This guy should be investigated for links to hate groups that have been smearing the FLDS.
Hey Goddard, how about going after Jews who mutilate the sexual organs of young boys. See how easy it is to smear a religion by the choice of hate words to describe circumcision? It's the same way with the FLDS and the witch hunters who are hate them.
