Utah authorities have withdrawn the license of a boarding school where Paris Hilton claimed she experienced abuse during her teenage years, stating that the school did not fulfill necessary health and safety requirements for its clients. The actions taken by the state, effective as of Monday, pinpoint various instances of noncompliance at the Provo Canyon School’s Springville campus. The school has a 15-day window to request a hearing before the Department of Health and Human Services.
Numerous citations dating back to 2025 were issued, which highlight failures such as inadequate staff-to-client ratios, unnecessary physical restraints and aggressive interactions with clients, neglect of care, and delays in verifying employee information and conducting background checks for applicants. State health officials previously imposed temporary restrictions on the school in May due to staff negligence in promptly seeking medical attention for a student with severe injuries.
Paris Hilton, in a statement provided on Tuesday, expressed solidarity with survivors, emphasizing that the state’s actions confirm the long-standing knowledge that Provo Canyon School neglected the children in its care. Hilton, who spent nearly a year at the school in the late 1990s, alleged mistreatment by staff, including physical abuse, invasion of privacy, administration of unidentified medications, and solitary confinement without proper attire.
Shannon Thoman-Black, the director of licensing and background checks at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, announced during a media briefing that the facility is mandated to cease operations by August 6. The school’s owners are barred from reapplying for a new license for five years, with ongoing weekly inspections and compliance monitoring by the department to ensure the wellbeing of the children under its care.
Utah licensors have been urged by Hilton to permanently close the school. She has actively advocated for reform by sharing her experiences in congressional and state legislative testimonies, contributing to the enactment of protective laws for teenagers in Utah and other states. The troubled-teen industry, dominated by private, for-profit residential facilities catering to children with behavioral challenges, has had a significant presence in Utah.
The Provo Canyon School, described as a psychiatric residential treatment center for youths aged 12 to 18 on its website, did not provide an immediate response to inquiries from the Associated Press. The state’s directive mandates the termination of all services at the campus by August 6. In a recent visit to the school in June, Hilton showed support for two families pursuing legal action over alleged mistreatment of their children.
Under new ownership, the school’s administration refrained from commenting on past incidents predating the change, including Hilton’s stay at the facility.