The state's Safe Passage grant request was turned down by the U.S. Justice Department. The grant funded its domestic violence outreach to polygamous communities over the past three years.

The new grant sought $900,000 to continue that effort. Now, officials are vowing to do the best they can without that money.

The Safe Passage program worked on a parallel track to the Safety Net Committee, which brought government officials, social service providers and representatives of polygamous communities together over the past three years to build networks and understanding.

Given that, I found some comments in the new grant application surprisingly inaccurate.

Among the points that gave me pause:

''Approximately 80 percent live in isolated and remote rural areas. Most have chosen to live as far away as possible from mainstream society because bigamy is a third-degree felony and they worry they will be arrested and their families separated.''

Comment: The majority of fundamentalist Mormons, and thus plural families, live in the Salt Lake Valley.

''Fear of the government keeps most children from polygamist families isolated in home school or church-operated schools with an emphasis on religious curriculum. Some polygamist communities encourage education, but these communities are in the minority; many children do not attend public schools at all, especially beyond the 7th grade.''

Comment: Many children from plural families attend public schools. The majority of polygamous communities encourage education, including higher education. Only one community, the FLDS, places a lower priority on education. Even so, some children there do complete a high school level education and a number go on to college -- at least in the Canadian branch.

''Former polygamists report that domestic violence, child abuse, incest, forced marriages and daughter swapping are the rule and not the exception: A group of polygamist leaders from Hildale and Colorado City recently told Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff that marriage to 15 and 16-year-old girls is a 'gray area.' ''

Comment: I don't think any of the communities condone such behavior. The comment from leaders in the FLDS communities, I believe, is from 2002 or so. I guess that's recent. I wonder what members of the Apostolic United Brethren and Centennial Park groups think of this broadbrush characterization of their communities.

''Some are not used to eating fast food.''

Comment: Gee, are people allowed to skip fast food in America? Anybody remember what Warren S. Jeffs was eating when he was arrested? A fast-food salad. Perhaps they deserve an award from the U.S. Surgeon General, who is on an anti-obesity campaign.

''The sheer size of the families creates a life of poverty for many polygamists. Families range from 15 to 50 children per unit -- the average being 28.5 children.''

Comment: What's the basis for ''many'' and the definition of poverty? Maybe there is not a Game Boy in every child's room, but based on the kids who showed up at the rally a couple years ago, none looked starved or poorly clothed or even downtrodden. Anybody seen the homes in Centennial Park? Even Carolyn Jessop describes trips to Disneyland and Hawaii while she was in the FLDS.

Labels: Safe Passage Grant, Safety Net Committee

Paul Murphy, spokesman for Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, told me Friday he is working to find a legislator to carry a bill that would create a new full-time coordinator for the Safety Net Committee.

Murphy has served as the coordinator of the committee since its inception three years ago. The committee facilitates the exchange of information between polygamous communities, government officials and service providers.

Now, Murphy is ready to cry "uncle."

''It requires 50 hours a week and I just don't have that,'' he said.

Murphy said the position could be housed in Human Services or in the Community and Culture office, which acts as a liaison with the state's minority groups.

The AG's Office has already transitioned management of the federal Safe Passage Grant, used to assist those leaving polygamous families or communities, to the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault. The state received a $700,000 grant initially but has run through that money. UCASA has reapplied for the grant and is awaiting word on whether it will be renewed.

Labels: Safe Passage Grant, Safety Net Committee

Nine years ago, former Utah Attorney General Jan Graham laid out the blueprint for what is now the state's approach for dealing with Utah's polygamous communities. She described a five-point program, much of which is now the foundation of Utah's Safe Passage Program.

Graham proposed:

-- A toll-free victims 24-hour hot line for those within polygamist groups.

-- A victims' shelter designed for women and children leaving polygamous relationships.

-- A detailed review of child-endangerment laws and policy headed by the Children's Justice Advisory Board.

-- An educational neglect task force to examine truancy and withdrawals of minors living in polygamous families who are removed from school against their will.

-- Domestic-violence training in polygamist groups.

''Claims of religious freedom are no defense to the crimes of statutory rape, incest, sexual misconduct with a minor and child abuse,'' Graham said. ''We know that for potential victims of domestic violence or child abuse, knowledge is power. Our program informs people they have a legal right to be free of abuse, and how to get help if it happens.''

Several notable items on this list are still lacking, such as an educational task force that would investigate whether children are being properly educated -- particularly within the FLDS community.

My question: What's the hang up? Is there a problem or not?

Labels: education, FLDS, Jan Graham, Safe Passage Grant, Safety Net Committee