Additional Coverage:
Utah Revokes License of Provo Canyon School Amid Abuse Allegations
Utah authorities have revoked the license of Provo Canyon School’s Springville campus, a boarding school where socialite Paris Hilton has alleged she was abused during her teenage years. The state cited the school’s failure to provide adequate health and safety services as the basis for the action, which took effect Monday.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services outlined multiple violations dating back to 2025, including insufficient staff-to-client ratios, unnecessary physical restraints, neglect of care, and delays in conducting employee background checks. The state ordered the school to cease all services by August 6 and gave the facility 15 days to request a hearing.
In May, the school faced temporary restrictions after staff reportedly failed to seek immediate medical attention for a student with serious injuries. Shannon Thoman-Black, director of licensing and background checks at the department, emphasized the importance of a safe transition for students, stating that an abrupt closure without proper discharge plans would put the children at risk. She also noted that the school’s owners cannot reapply for a license for five years and that ongoing inspections will continue.
Provo Canyon School, now under new ownership, describes itself as a psychiatric residential treatment center for youth aged 12 to 18. In response to the revocation, the school issued a statement disputing the decision and considering an appeal, reaffirming its commitment to providing safe and quality care.
Paris Hilton, who spent nearly a year at the school in the late 1990s, has publicly accused staff of abusive practices including physical assault, invasive monitoring, forced medication, and solitary confinement without clothing. Hilton hailed the license revocation as a victory for survivors and a crucial step toward removing vulnerable children from the facility. She has actively campaigned for reform, testifying before Congress and state legislatures and advocating for protective laws in Utah and other states.
Hilton recently visited the school to support families pursuing lawsuits over alleged mistreatment, underscoring ongoing concerns about the broader “troubled teen” industry. Utah has long been a central hub for private residential programs aimed at youth with behavioral challenges, a sector frequently scrutinized for its oversight and treatment standards.
The state’s decisive move to shut down Provo Canyon School’s Springville campus marks a significant development in efforts to address abuses in residential treatment facilities and protect at-risk adolescents.