Utah Boarding School Faces Licence Revocation
A Utah-based boarding school, where Paris Hilton previously alleged she suffered abuse, has lost its licence. State regulators identified numerous compliance issues, including unwarranted restraints, aggressive physical interactions, and neglect at the Provo Canyon School's Springville campus, dating back to 2025.
Paris Hilton, a notable socialite and advocate for reform, has actively campaigned for the closure of this facility, even providing testimony to Congress about her experiences there during the 1990s. She expressed that the school "failed the children in its care."
Regulatory Findings and School's Response
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) concluded that the school did not meet the necessary health and safety standards for its clientele. Consequently, the school's residential treatment licence has been revoked, mandating the cessation of all services by 6 August. Provo Canyon School has a 15-day period to contest this decision.
In a statement to media, Hilton, 45, remarked, "For more than fifty years, children came forward with stories of abuse, neglect, and trauma. Today, the state confirmed what survivors have known all along: Provo Canyon School failed the children in its care. I was one of those children." She emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, "When survivors refuse to stay silent, change is possible."
School authorities indicated they are "evaluating all available legal and administrative options, including an appeal." They asserted their ongoing commitment to providing "safe, high-quality care and support for adolescents and their families."
Ongoing Controversies and Temporary Restrictions
The institution has faced mounting pressure for closure from former students, including Hilton, leading to complaints lodged with the state's licensing body last month. Additionally, health officials imposed temporary restrictions on the school's boys' campus in Provo, Utah, in June. This campus is not permitted to accept new admissions currently, though it continues to operate for existing residents.
An investigation revealed that staff at the boys' campus failed to safeguard a student during a physical altercation and delayed providing necessary medical attention for his injuries.
Paris Hilton's Advocacy and Personal Experience
Paris Hilton spent nearly a year at the Springville campus in the 1990s when it was under different management. Her experiences, which she detailed in a 2020 documentary about her life, included allegations of physical assault, enforced medication, and solitary confinement in behavioural reform programs.
Hilton has spoken about the long-lasting impact of these experiences, stating in 2021, "My parents were promised that tough love would fix me and that sending me across the country was the only way." Her advocacy extends to efforts aimed at reforming the "troubled teen industry." She has testified before Congress and various state legislatures to push for protective laws for teens in private, for-profit treatment centers.
Source: Original Article
