Polygamy crimes are prosecuted
 
Opinion
The Spectrum
 
Let me begin by acknowledging Flora Jessop for sounding the alarm about the need for help for some people living in polygamous communities. She was one of the first to speak out and reach out to some of the victims who did not know where to turn for assistance. But in her zeal she is now demonizing the people she says she wants to help and ridiculing any effort to help besides her own.

In her Wednesday editorial to The Spectrum, Jessop claims that Utah and Arizona are not willing to prosecute cases involving victims from polygamous communities. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Prosecutors have and will continue to prosecute crimes within these communities like anywhere else. However, we can't bend the laws, change rules or alter the justice system because the perpetrators happen to be polygamists. No matter what they believe or where they live, victims of crime can be assured they will be heard and helped. Perpetrators can also be guaranteed that they will be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Jessop also belittles Utah and Arizona for creating the Safety Net Committee, calling it "misdirected and unproductive" and a platform for legalizing polygamy. She is both wrong and hypocritical. The Safety Net Committee was started three years ago to bring government agencies, non-profit groups and others together to open up communication, break down barriers and coordinate efforts so that people in polygamous communities have equal access to justice, safety and services. The Safety Net meetings have been very helpful to find out what was needed and to learn from the people we are trying to serve. The committee is not trying to legalize polygamy and anyone who has attempted to discuss it has been admonished to take those discussions elsewhere. We have been meeting monthly for three years and Jessop has only attended a few meetings. At that time she did bring up some good issues but she has been mostly absent and has missed out on all the good work being done by numerous government agencies and concerned citizens. There are many issues and the "one size fits all" approach will not resolve all of them. We welcome her and others to come and point out problems but also offer ways to resolve them.

The Safety Net Committee was also instrumental in securing the Safe Passage Grant, a federal grant to help victims of domestic violence from polygamous communities. As of June 2006 nearly 500 victims have been helped, 119 people have received legal help, emergency shelters have provided 105 bed days and transitional housing has provided 2,456 bed days. The public awareness campaign has distributed 125 domestic violence brochures, 1,000 safety plans, 650 grant brochures, 5,000 abuse cards, 475 hard copies of the Primer, 12,000 quarterly domestic violence newsletters and placed the Domestic Violence Link Line number on 4 billboards. This does not include the work by other government agencies and non-profit groups who have educated thousands of people and helped numerous victims without fanfare. It is hard to understand why Jessop condemns the committee and the grant she herself has used to help victims.

Many of the people who have been working to help victims have been reluctant to enter into this public fray with Jessop because the debate doesn't help a single victim. Instead it confuses and angers those we are trying to help, destroys trust and puts up one more communication barrier that everyone is trying to break down. It also deters others from wanting to help because they could become the latest target of unjustified ridicule. The sad thing is that Jessop's distortions hurt her own credibility and make people less inclined to believe her the next time she cries "Wolf!"

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and the Safety Net Committee.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published October 8, 2006
 
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