(ETH) – Bigamy is no longer a felony in the state of Utah after a recent law effectively decriminalizing the practice, went into law. The practice of Bigamy is when two people marry while at least one of them is already legally married according to a recent report from CNN.
Bigamy has been a third-degree felony for decades and legally punishable for up to five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine, but the new law makes it an infraction, putting the offense on par with getting a traffic ticket. According to the report, The bill was just signed into law by Governor. Gary Herbert in March and but just took effect on Tuesday.
Polygamy has been practiced in Utah by certain religious groups since before it became a state and continues to persist to this day. Even though this practice has been illegal for quite some time under state and federal law, the Utah attorney general’s office refuses to prosecute the offense, except when it’s committed along with other crimes.
The new law makes the attorney general’s policy official. Supporters of the law say that reducing the penalty for bigamy removes barriers that previously prevented potential abuse victims from coming forward for fear of prosecution. MORE
