Former Polygamist Claims Utah Law Decriminalizing Bigamy Has Unintended Consequences

Leader of group helping those leaving polygamy says abuse rates are climbing as perpetrators feel emboldened.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The leader of a group that helps those leaving polygamy claims that a Utah law that reduced the penalty for bigamy from a felony to an infraction has had unintended consequences, leading to increased abuse rates as perpetrators feel emboldened. The founder of Holding Out HELP, Tonia Tewell, says the group has seen a significant increase in the number of people seeking help from polygamous communities since the law was passed in 2020.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex and often unintended impacts that changes to laws can have, particularly in tight-knit communities where power dynamics and abuse may be deeply entrenched. The debate over decriminalizing polygamy touches on issues of personal freedom, religious expression, and the protection of vulnerable populations.

The details

In 2020, the Utah Legislature overwhelmingly reduced the penalty for bigamy from a third-degree felony to a mere infraction. Tonia Tewell, the founder of the group Holding Out HELP, which helps those leaving polygamy, claims this has had an unintended consequence - abuse rates are steadily climbing as perpetrators feel emboldened. Tewell says the group had 160 people seeking help in 2020, but that number has grown to more than 400 a year.

  • The Utah Legislature reduced the penalty for bigamy in 2020.
  • In 2020, Holding Out HELP had 160 people seeking help from polygamous communities.
  • As of the current year, Holding Out HELP is seeing more than 400 people a year seeking help from polygamous communities.

The players

Tonia Tewell

The founder of the group Holding Out HELP, which helps those leaving polygamy.

Diedre Henderson

The Utah Lieutenant Governor who sponsored the bill that decriminalized polygamy when she was a state senator.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Our agency, instead, is seeing that people are coming out because the perpetrators who were abusing their people in the first place seem to be emboldened. Abuse rates are steadily climbing with the number of clients we are seeing here at our agency.”

— Tonia Tewell, Founder, Holding Out HELP (KUTV)

What’s next

The Utah Legislature may consider revisiting the law that reduced the penalty for bigamy in light of the unintended consequences reported by Holding Out HELP.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex and often unintended impacts that changes to laws can have, particularly in tight-knit communities where power dynamics and abuse may be deeply entrenched. Policymakers must carefully consider the full ramifications of legislative changes, even those intended to reduce penalties, to ensure they do not inadvertently enable further harm.