Utah revokes license of Provo Canyon School after Paris Hilton abuse claims

Utah revokes license of Provo Canyon School after Paris Hilton abuse claims

The state of Utah has revoked the license of Provo Canyon School, a boarding school where Paris Hilton alleged she was abused as a teenager. The school's license was revoked due to multiple noncompliance issues, including failing to provide applicable health and safety services for clients, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services cited wide-ranging citations, which go back to 2025, including failing to increase staff-to-client ratios, engaging in an unnecessary restraint and aggressive physical contact with a client, neglecting care, and not verifying employee information or submitting background checks for applicants in a timely manner. State health officials imposed temporary restrictions on the school in May, saying staff did not seek immediate medical care for a student with serious injuries.

Paris Hilton, who spent almost a year at the school in the late 1990s, alleges that staff members beat her, watched her shower, fed her unknown pills, and locked her in solitary confinement without clothing. She has been a vocal advocate for reform in the troubled teen industry and has testified about her experiences at the school in Congress and state legislatures around the US.

Hilton expressed her relief and validation after the state's decision, saying "the little girl in me who was told she would never be believed feels so validated today. We were telling the truth. We always were." She also emphasized that "no institution is too powerful to be held accountable" and that "when survivors refuse to stay silent, change is possible."

According to Shannon Thoman-Black, director of the division of licensing and background checks at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, "It is actually incredibly unsafe if we were to go in and just stick a sign on the door and say, 'Everybody out.'" She added, "We have the responsibility to make sure these kids get discharged into safe places."

The school has 15 days to request a hearing before the Department of Health and Human Services. If the school does not appeal, all services at the campus must be terminated by August 6. The owners of the school may not reapply for a new license for five years.

Provo Canyon School is described on its website as a psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth ages 12 to 18. The school is under new ownership, and the administration has said it cannot comment on anything that came before the change, including Hilton's time there.

Hilton's advocacy has helped pass laws to protect teens in Utah and 15 other states. She has also spoken out about her experiences at the school in her 2020 documentary "This Is Paris" and has continued to push for reform and accountability in the industry.

The state's decision to revoke the school's license is seen as a major victory for Hilton and other survivors of abuse at the school. As the situation continues to unfold, Hilton and other advocates are likely to remain vigilant and push for further reforms and accountability in the troubled teen industry.

In a statement, Provo Canyon School said, "We disagree with the state's decision to revoke Provo Canyon School's Springville Campus license and are evaluating all available legal and administrative options, including an appeal." The school added, "Our priority remains providing safe, high-quality care and support for adolescents and their families, and we remain committed to serving those in need."

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that the school's closure is carried out in a safe and orderly manner. The revocation of Provo Canyon School's license serves as a reminder that institutions can be held accountable for their actions and that survivors of abuse will not be silenced.