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What: Hearing on “Crimes Associated with Polygamy: The Need for a Coordinated State and Federal Response”
Who: Harry Reid, Gregory Brower, Brett Tolman, Terry Goddard, Greg Abbott, Stephen Singular, Dr. Daniel Fischer, Carolyn Jessop
Where: Senate Judiciary Committee
Brett Tolman saying groups are already working together to stop polygamist groups
The group agreed that the federal, state and local prosecuting and investigating agencies have proving and affective working relationship and that we can do a better job at sharing information. We shared information in this meeting and have continued to do so that is atypical than any of other group or taskforce I have known or been apart of. The group has been communicating on e-mail and the special interest group on law enforcement and online websites and central database for online information has been created. We have already experienced and continue to expect to experience great results from these new avenues of communication. Some have suggested using a special taskforce to deal with these specific polygamist issues. With respect to crimes dealing with these specific polygamist groups however, I believe there is already substantial communication and coordination amongst federal and state officers, indeed just as much as a normal taskforce could be in place.
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Brett Tolman saying it’s hard to track down polygamist groups
Moreover, although taskforces are an effective mechanism to combat many types of criminal conduct, they just may not be a good fit in this particular context. Polygamist communities are highly self-contained and insular which makes it difficult for law enforcements infiltrate. Moreover, whether it is due to loyalty or sincere religious belief, they are certainly uncooperative with law enforcements.
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Terry Goddard on how there is a great deal of work lying ahead in these investigations
It’s been far too long that Warren Jeffs and his FLDS predessessors as well as other leaders of other polygamist organizations have ignored and violated the law. Utah and Arizona are working to restore that group of law and ColoradoCity and Hilldale to aid victims of abuse. What has taken a century to build will not change over night... but step by step we are making important changes. A great deal of work still lies ahead of us and it is enhanced on the local, state and federal cooperation and additional resources promised in the proposed legislation will make a big difference in investigating and prosecuting crimes and preventing future abuse in these communities.
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Greg Abott on issues for federal prosecutors to consider when dealing with polygamist groups
There are important issues for federal prosecutors to consider. Given the nature of the FLDS, and the nature of the crimes that may have been committed there are a number of areas where cooperation and coordination could be particularly affected and I’ll outline these very briefly. Consideration should be given to the full application of federal laws, such as the Mann Act to prosecute crimes committed against underage girls, born or placed into the FLDS as part of the systematic victimization of young women within the sect. Consideration should also be given to the full authorization of federal laws, to investigate potential white collar crimes by FLDS members and their leadership. This activity spans state borders and which federal law enforcement is experienced and qualified to evaluate and prosecute. There should also be cooperation and coordination among state and federal law enforcement on the collection, review and evaluation and sharing of evidence that has been gathered throughout the states and federal government.
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Brett Tolman on what is needed for agencies to be successful when dealing with polygamist groups
What is needed is constant communication and sharing of evidence and information, not only now in the state that they reside in but now in multiple states and international authorities. I am proud to say now senator that we now have more communication and information sharing in this area that I have seen in any of the successful taskforces that are out there presently.
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