Provo Canyon School

Provo Canyon School
Location
Boy's campus: 4501 North University Ave, Provo, Utah 84604
Girl's campus: 763 North 1650 West, Springville, Utah 84663-5066

Provo, Utah

Utah

United States
Information
Funding typePrivate
Religious affiliation
Nonsectarian
Founded1971[1]
FoundersRobert H. Crist, M.D. and Jack Williams
StatusClosed
ClosedAugust 16, 2026 (2026-08-16)
CategoryResidential Treatment Center
CEEB code450320
NCES School ID
A0503514 [2]
AdministratorDave Campbell (girls campus)
Grades3 to 12
GenderMales and females
Age8[3] to 17
Capacity225 (combined)
LanguageEnglish
Schedule type
Daily bell class rotation
ScheduleMonday to Friday
Hours in school day
5.5
Campuses2
Campus type
Rural
AccreditationsThe Joint Commission, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Cognia:
WebsiteOfficial website

Provo Canyon School (PCS) was a private for-profit residential treatment center and school in Utah, United States, licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services. It provided residential treatment and educational services to children and adolescents with behavioral, emotional, and psychiatric needs. The institution operated campuses in Provo and Springville and was owned by Universal Health Services from 2000 until its closure in 2026.

In 2026, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services revoked the licenses of both campuses following investigations into the treatment and safety of residents.[4] The Springville campus was ordered to cease services by August 6, while the Provo campus was ordered to cease services by August 16.[5]

History

Establishment

Provo Canyon School was established in 1971 by psychiatrist Robert H. Crist and Jack Williams. and began operating in Mapleton, Utah, as a residential treatment center for boys.

In 1973, local residents and the Utah County Board of Adjustment revoked the facility's building permit, arguing that a residential treatment center utilizing physical restraint and locked doors constituted a correctional facility rather than a school. Founders Robert H. Crist and Jack L. Williams sued, and in Crist v. Bishop (1974), the Utah Supreme Court ruled in their favor, declaring that the facility met the generic definition of a "school" under zoning ordinances, allowing Provo Canyon School to open.[6]

In 1986, Provo Canyon School was bought by a company called Charter Behavioral Health Systems.[7] The company filed for bankruptcy in 2000, after which PCS was sold to Universal Health Services.[8]

Controversies

In 1978, three students attempted to escape from the residential treatment center, stealing a car and prompting a police chase.[9] That same year, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Juvenile Justice Advocacy Project filed a lawsuit alleging that students had been subjected to cruel and unusual punishment and denied constitutional rights. The allegations included censorship of students' mail and the use of polygraph tests and solitary confinement.[10]

In February 2024, investigative filmmaker Robert Bliss pose as a mental health technician at Provo Canyon School while secretly recording inside the facility using hidden camera glasses. UHS of Provo Canyon filed a federal lawsuit against Bliss for wiretapping and breach of confidentiality. Bliss invoked Utah's Anti-SLAPP laws (UPEPA), asserting a First Amendment right to report on matters of public concern.[11]

In June 2026, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services imposed restrictions on the Provo campus following an investigation into an incident involving a minor resident.[12] Investigators found that staff had failed to protect the resident during an assault, delayed emergency medical treatment, and failed to respond adequately to previous safety concerns.[13]

Allegations

Since its inception, the residential treatment center has been subject to a large number of individual and class-action lawsuits, particularly throughout the 1980s and 1990s.[14] These lawsuits ranged from verbal, physical, and sexual abuse, medical negligence, to violating students' First Amendment rights and invasion of privacy, to false imprisonment and battery, to intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy, and loss of parental consortium.[14][15]

2020

In September 2020, Paris Hilton premiered her YouTube Originals documentary This Is Paris.[16] in which she attributes her chronic insomnia to PTSD developed as a result of being sent to four different "troubled teen" industry programs: CEDU School in Running Springs, California, Ascent Wilderness Program in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, Cascade School in Whitmore, California, and Provo Canyon School. After escaping from the first three, she spent 11 months at PCS in the late 1990s.[17] Hilton reported that she and other students were physically and psychologically abused.[18][19] Hilton also alleged that students were administered medication without informed consent, subjected to physical restraint, transported to the facility by a teen escort company, strip-searched upon arrival, and placed in a seclusion room.[20][21][22] On October 9, 2020, Hilton and other former students organized a silent protest outside the school.[23][24]

In October 2020, Kat Von D said that she had been sent to Provo Canyon School as a teenager. She said that she had initially been expected to remain for three weeks but stayed for six months. Von D alleged that she witnessed students being forcibly medicated, sedated, isolated, and physically abused. Von D wrote that she could not "call them schools because they're not schools they're fucking lockdown facilities". Von D said that she was "spared of the sexual abuse and the physical abuse" but "definitely saw" it happen.[25]

2023

In March, a fight involving students injured three people, including staff member Dennis Torrens, who later died. Police investigated whether the assault contributed to his death. In April, police investigated a reported sexual assault following a referral from the Division of Child and Family Services.[26]

2026

On August 15, 2026, YouTuber Ben Schneider, known as Reckless Ben, published an undercover investigation of the residential treatment center. Schneider and a collaborator, Sheldon, entered the Provo campus while posing as a prospective student and employee, respectively.[27] Schneider, who was 30, posed as a 17-year-old prospective student whose father wanted him admitted because of his purported "gay thoughts". He was accepted and the facility sought approximately $49,400 in tuition for his first month.[28] According to Schneider, he alleges that staff were discussing physical restraints, verbal and physical treatment, isolation, inadequate education, and poor food conditions.[28] Schneider left the facility by climbing over a fence; staff initially reported his disappearance but later contacted his supposed father, also Schneider, about the outstanding tuition.[28]

Governance

Provo Canyon School was a private, for-profit residential treatment center. It was owned by Universal Health Services from 2000 until its closure in 2026.[8]

On July 6, 2026, Utah Department of Health and Human Services announced that they had revoked the license for the residential treatment center, citing failure to maintain the health and safety of clients, for engaging in unnecessary restraint and aggressive physical contact with clients, failure to report critical incident occurrences within one day, failure to ensure clients were treated equally and failure to adequately train staff. The Springville campus was subsequently ordered to terminate all services by August 6, 2026.[29]

On July 17, 2026, Utah's DHHS announced it was revoking the license for its primary campus in Provo.[30] This was due to the facility failing to protect students from harm and abuse, for depriving students from water and rest, and for physical abuse. The facility terminated all services on August 16, 2026.[31]

On July 27, 2026, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Universal Health Services, which operated Provo Canyon School, had filed appeals.[32]

Notable alumni

  • Paris Hilton – media personality and businesswoman; at age 16, she attended PCS for 11 months and was released in early 1999, around the time she turned 18.[33][34][35][36]
  • Kat Von D – tattoo artist and television personality; at age 15, she attended PCS for six months in 1991.[37]
  • Benjamin Paul Schneider – YouTuber and investigative content creator; at age 30, he attended PCS for two days in 2026 while posing as a 17-year-old student.[38][39]

Notable staff

References

  1. ↑ Caring for kids with special needs: Residential treatment programs for children and adolescents. Princeton, NJ: Peterson's. 1993. p. 446. ISBN 9781560791683.
  2. ↑ "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for Provo Canyon School". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  3. ↑ Miller, Jessica (September 20, 2020). "Provo Canyon School's history of abuse accusations spans decades, far beyond Paris Hilton". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on 2022-12-31. Retrieved 2024-08-31. Kayla Smith was 8 years old when her parents, in coordination with her California school district, sent her to Utah in 2010.
  4. ↑ Jones, Abigail; Trauntvein, Sorina (June 18, 2026). "'Strict conditions' placed on Provo 'troubled teen' facility after staff allegedly failed to report medical incidents". KTVX. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  5. ↑ Hobson, Amelia (July 6, 2026). "DHHS revokes license of Provo Canyon School's Springville campus amid lawsuit over misconduct and neglect". KTVX. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  6. ↑ Crist v. Bishop, P.2d (Utah Supreme Court 1974).
  7. ↑ Schreifels, Jessica Miller (September 20, 2020). "Provo Canyon School's history of abuse accusations spans decades, far beyond Paris Hilton". The Salt Lake Tribune. ISSN 0746-3502. Archived from the original on 2022-12-31. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  8. 1 2 Story, Louise (August 17, 2005). "A Business Built on the Troubles of Teenagers". The New York Times. ISSN 1553-8095. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
  9. ↑ "3 Juveniles Apprehended After High Speed Chase". Daily Herald (Utah). September 26, 1978. ISSN 0891-2777. OCLC 52526615.
  10. ↑ "Provo Canyon School 10/6/1981". The Los Angeles Times. October 6, 1981. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  11. ↑ UHS of Provo Canyon, Inc. v. Bliss, 2024 WL 4279243 (U.S. District Court for the District of Utah September 24, 2024).
  12. ↑ Loftin, Josh (June 18, 2026). "Strict conditions placed on Provo Canyon School license by Utah regulators". Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
  13. ↑ Schreifels, Jessica (July 17, 2026). "Utah closes Provo Canyon School's original campus, saying it used abusive discipline, unnecessary restraints and humiliated kids". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
  14. 1 2 Milonas v. Williams, 691 F.2d 931 (10th Cir. September 13, 1982).
  15. ↑ "The Cases Against Provo Canyon School". HEAL Online. Archived from the original on 2006-08-13. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
  16. ↑ Kambasha, Michelle (September 15, 2020). "This Is Paris: Hilton documentary puts the reality in reality TV". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  17. ↑ Miller, Jessica (August 22, 2020). "Paris Hilton says she was abused while at Utah facility for 'troubled teens'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  18. ↑ Yasharoff, Hannah (December 10, 2020). "After alleging abuse at her old school, Paris Hilton isn't backing down". USA Today. Archived from the original on 2021-02-17. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  19. ↑ Nolan, Emma (January 19, 2022). "Paris Hilton Reveals 'Living Nightmare' of Provo Canyon School in Podcast". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2022-10-10. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  20. ↑ Leasca, Stacey (August 22, 2020). "Paris Hilton Breaks Silence Over Abuse She Claims She Experienced at Boarding School". Yahoo Life. Glamour (magazine). Archived from the original on 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  21. ↑ Kaufman, Amy (September 15, 2020). "Surviving abuse bonded Paris Hilton and these four women for life". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 2165-1736. OCLC 3638237. Archived from the original on 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  22. ↑ Dunphey, Kyle (May 12, 2022). "After championing teen treatment reform in Utah, Paris Hilton meets with Congress to push for national oversight". Deseret News. Archived from the original on 2022-10-10. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  23. ↑ Mccombs, Brady; Whitehurst, Lindsay (October 9, 2020). "Paris Hilton protest calls for closure of Utah school". KSAT-TV. Associated Press. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
  24. ↑ Corinthios, Aurelie (October 9, 2020). "Paris Hilton Planning Peaceful Protest of Utah School with Survivors of Alleged Abuse". People (magazine). Archived from the original on 2020-10-10. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  25. ↑ Ushe, Naledi (October 6, 2020). "Kat Von D says she went to same 'tortuous' boarding school as Paris Hilton, suffered 'major PTSD'". Fox News. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  26. ↑ Harkins, Paighten (May 16, 2024). "Provo Canyon School staffer died after campus assault — one of several recent police calls to Springville facility, records show". The Salt Lake Tribune. ISSN 0746-3502. Archived from the original on 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  27. ↑ "Reckless Ben infiltrates school linked to Paris Hilton abuse allegations". The Express Tribune. August 16, 2026. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
  28. 1 2 3 Schreifels, Jessica (August 19, 2026). "YouTuber 'Reckless Ben' went undercover at Provo Canyon School. The program is now weighing action against him". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2026-08-27.
  29. ↑ Hobson, Amelia (July 6, 2026). "DHHS revokes license of Provo Canyon School's Springville campus amid lawsuit over misconduct, neglect". KTVX. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  30. ↑ Mailloux, Mallory (July 17, 2026). "Utah officials shut down embattled Provo residential treatment facility". Deseret News. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
  31. ↑ Jones, Abigail (June 17, 2026). "DHHS also revokes license of Provo Canyon School's Provo campus for failing to protect clients from harm and mistreatment". Yahoo News: KTVX Salt Lake City. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  32. ↑ Schreifels, Jessica (July 27, 2026). "Controversial Provo Canyon School is fighting to stay open". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  33. ↑ Schreifels, Jessica Miller (August 22, 2020). "Paris Hilton says she was abused while at Utah facility for 'troubled teens'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  34. ↑ Roberto, Melissa (August 22, 2020). "Paris Hilton details alleged abuse at Utah boarding school for the first time: 'Continuous torture'". Fox News. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  35. ↑ Knutson, Jeff (December 7, 2003). "The Real News – Paris Hilton: I need a disguise". University of Illinois Chicago Flame. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  36. ↑ "Paris Hilton's teen lover threatens to expose their love letters". Thiandian News. November 15, 2007. Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  37. ↑ Krause, Amanda (October 5, 2020). "Kat Von D says she was 'kidnapped and locked up' at the same boarding school Paris Hilton attended". Business Insider. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  38. ↑ Severino, Ericka (August 19, 2026). "Reckless Ben Infiltrates Celebrity Teen Rehab Facility and Exposes Illegal Practices, Causing It To Shut Down". Fashion times. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  39. ↑ AOL (August 17, 2026). "YouTuber Reckless Ben goes undercover to expose school linked to Paris Hilton's abuse allegations - AOL". AOL. Retrieved 2026-08-29.
  40. ↑ "Key to His School's Success? Its God, Founder Says". The Los Angeles Times. July 13, 2003. p. 21. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Retrieved 2023-12-06.

40°10′40″N 111°38′21″W / 40.17778°N 111.63917°W / 40.17778; -111.63917

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