Provo Canyon School’s Springville campus has lost its licence after the Utah Department of Health and Human Services identified serious breaches, ranging from unnecessary restraint to neglect and unsafe practices for girls aged 12‑18. The state regulator’s notice, which will force the campus to shut by 6 August, cites a “failure to provide applicable health and safety services.” The school now has 15 days to challenge the decision before the mandate is enforced.
Paris Hilton, who attended the school in the 1990s, publicly condemned the institution’s treatment methods. In a statement to the BBC she said, “Provo Canyon School failed the children in its care. I was one of those children.” Hilton’s testimony, broadcast during a 2024 Congressional hearing, has spurred a wave of calls for reform of the private “tough‑love” treatment industry.
Regulators also imposed temporary restrictions on the Provo boys’ campus, which has not been allowed to take new admissions. A separate inquiry found staff failed to protect a boy during a fight and did not seek immediate medical care for his injuries.
Provo Canyon School’s website claims it is reviewing all legal options, including an appeal, and emphasizes its commitment to “safe, high‑quality care.” However, the letter from the state to the school stresses a swift conclusion to its residential treatment licence, underscoring the regulator’s determination that the facility’s operations “failed to meet required standards.” The licence revocation reflects the growing scrutiny of private therapeutic homes and the broader movement to protect vulnerable teens from potentially abusive practices.
For more details, view the official letter from state regulators.
