Provo Canyon School Licence Revoked After Abuse Allegations

Mon Sep 14 2026 07:24:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Utah’s Provo Canyon School has had its licence cancelled amid accusations of abuse, neglect and inadequate safety, following claims by former student Paris Hilton.

Utah regulators have revoked Provo Canyon School’s licence after a review revealed unnecessary restraints, aggressive contact and neglect of students. Former student Paris Hilton, who has long campaigned for reforms, said the facility failed all children in its care. The school is to cease all operations by 6 August, giving it only 15 days to appeal. Authorities continue to investigate the campus, aiming to protect remaining residents.

Provo Canyon School Licence Revoked After Abuse Allegations

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services has cancelled the residential treatment licence for the girls’ Provo Canyon School after an audit uncovered a pattern of restraint, violent contact and neglect among the student body since 2025. The decision will force the Springville campus to stop all services by 6 August, giving the school 15 days to file an appeal.

The call for the revocation comes after former student and public figure Paris Hilton spoke on the case. In statements to the BBC and in congressional hearings, Hilton said the school “failed the children in its care,” and that “for more than fifty years, children came forward with stories of abuse, neglect, and trauma.” She added that she was one of those children and that the state’s decision rectified a long‑standing injustice.

State regulators cited that staff had used unnecessary restraints, engaged in aggressive physical contact and failed to provide adequate health and safety services. An investigation also revealed that school staff had not protected a boy during a fight, and that medical attention was delayed.

Provo Canyon School describes itself as an intensive psychiatric youth residential treatment centre for girls aged 12‑18. Officials say that legal and administrative options, including an appeal, are being evaluated and that the priority remains “providing safe, high‑quality care and support for adolescents and their families.”

The same state agency has restricted the boys’ campus in Provo, citing similar concerns. While it has been allowed to operate, no new admissions are permitted until the investigations are complete.

Hilton has also been active in advocating against the so‑called “tough‑love” industry. She has testified before Congress and state legislatures on the need for reforms to protect youths in private, for‑profit treatment centres. The current revocation adds momentum to her campaign, as survivors and advocates push for stricter safeguards across the nation.