Apr 17 2008
In Spring of 2008, Texas officials raided a polygamist compound in Eldorado, Texas. Map Some believe this is complicating efforts to address the issue in Arizona and Utah, where interventions are taking a more low-key approach.The Texas authorities say the raid in Eldorado was a response to a 16-year-old girl who called on a cellphone from the compound asking for help.
Utlimately, this resulted in 416 children being removed from their homes. The issue is that girls under the age of 16 are being married to adult men.
According to an NPR story, "In both Utah and Arizona there have been recent cases in which the authorities have won the confidence of under-age coerced brides who have cooperated with state prosecutions, most notably in the criminal case last year against Warren S. Jeffs, the prominent polygamist leader in Utah. In other instances, the authorities in those states have managed to persuade polygamist families to allow state officials and social services into their communities."
Intervening with established families in closed societies, albeit familes who are ignoring the law, is very touchy business. With the arrest of Polygamist leader, Warren Jeffs and this large-scale removal of children in Texas, all the radical polygamist families and communities are on the alert. In my opinion, the children are the most at risk during these stressful times.
Only time will tell which approach will be more successful in helping the children who grow up in these closed and oppressive environments.
