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FLDS Proceedings Costly To State; Investigations Continue

By Howard M. Friedman

CNN reported yesterday that it has cost Texas well over $7 million to remove FLDS children from the YFZ Ranch, litigate the case and eventually return the children. The state spent $5.2 million to provide food, shelter and counseling (mostly employee overtime and transportation.) As of May 20, legal costs for the state exceeded $2.2 million, with the burden falling mainly on two county governments. Additional appeals took place after that. Meanwhile WFFA News reports that the investigation continues and that criminal charges against some FLDS men are possible. In a Findlaw column yesterday, law professor Marci Hamilton pointed out that the Texas Supreme Court decision returning the children to their parents made it clear that the state has broad continuing jurisdiction in the case.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 04, 2008 (boomark / email).