Utah has revoked the operating license of the Provo Canyon School in Springville, effective Monday, due to severe health and safety violations. This decision follows numerous complaints from former students, including Paris Hilton, who has publicly accused the facility of abuse. The school now has 15 days to comply with the state’s order to cease operations.
Details of the School's Closure
The closure was announced by Shannon Thoman-Black, director of the division of licensing and background checks at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Provo Canyon School faced scrutiny after state officials identified multiple compliance issues, including:
- Inadequate staffing levels
- Unnecessary restraint and aggressive physical contact with students
- Neglect of students
- Failure to conduct timely background checks on employees
In May, temporary restrictions were imposed on the school after staff failed to provide immediate medical care for a student with serious injuries.
Paris Hilton's Advocacy for Reform
Following the announcement, Hilton released a statement celebrating the decision. She expressed that the closure validates the experiences of many who have suffered at the school:
“Today, the State of Utah revoked Provo Canyon School’s license for its Springville campus. 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.”
Hilton, who detailed her own experiences in the documentary This Is Paris, has become a prominent advocate for reform in youth treatment facilities. In 2023, she supported legislation aimed at increasing oversight and transparency in such programs.
The Impact on Current Students
Hilton's statement highlights the ongoing struggles of children currently in the facility. She stated:
“Today, children still inside that facility know someone is finally coming to protect them. The little girl in me who was told she would never be believed feels so validated today.”
The closure of Provo Canyon School marks a significant moment in the fight for accountability in youth treatment facilities, echoing the voices of many survivors who have long sought justice.
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Hollywood Reporter. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
