Utah revokes license for Provo Canyon School following abuse allegations
Utah regulators have ordered the Provo Canyon School to close by August 6, 2026, citing multiple violations including the use of unnecessary physical restraints.
The state of Utah has revoked the operating license for the Provo Canyon School campus in Springville, a move that requires the residential facility to cease all services for its youth population by 6 August 2026. The decision follows a series of state-issued noncompliance citations against the school that began in 2025.
Regulators at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services determined that the facility failed to provide required health and safety services for the children in its care. Investigative findings cited multiple violations, including the use of unnecessary restraints and aggressive physical contact with residents. Additional regulatory concerns included the school’s failure to maintain mandated staff-to-client ratios, a neglect of medical care, and deficiencies in verifying employee information or conducting timely background checks for applicants.
Media additions
The facility, which functions as a psychiatric youth residential treatment center for individuals aged 12 to 18, is currently under different ownership than when Paris Hilton attended the school in the late 1990s. While current administrators have stated they cannot comment on operational history preceding the change in ownership, they have expressed disagreement with the state's decision. "As this is an ongoing matter, we are limited in what we can say at this time. 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 facility has 15 days from the effective date of the revocation to request a formal hearing.
Hilton, 45, has been a vocal advocate for the closure of the facility, drawing from her own experiences there. In June 2026, she returned to the Springville campus to support two families who filed lawsuits against the school.
Following the revocation, Hilton celebrated the regulatory action in a public statement.
"Today, the state confirmed what survivors have known all along: Provo Canyon School failed the children in its care. I was one of those children. I know what it feels like to cry for help and believe no one is coming. Today, children still inside that facility know someone is finally coming to protect them."
Paris Hilton, via BBC
The state has established a plan to maintain oversight while the campus winds down its operations. Shannon Thoman-Black, director of the division of licensing and background checks at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, confirmed that the department will conduct weekly inspections to monitor compliance and ensure the safety of the residents during the transition. "It is actually incredibly unsafe if we were to go in and just stick a sign on the door and say, 'Everybody out,'" Thoman-Black said. "We have the responsibility to make sure these kids get discharged into safe places." She also said the owners “may not reapply for a new license for five years.”
Chronology of Recent Regulatory Actions
- May 2026: The Utah Department of Health and Human Services imposes temporary restrictions on the Springville campus after finding that staff failed to seek immediate medical care for a student who had sustained serious injuries.
- June 2026: Two families file lawsuits against the school alleging medical neglect. Paris Hilton joins families in a public protest at the Springville site.
- 6 July 2026: Utah state regulators formally revoke the operating license for the Springville campus.
- 6 August 2026: The campus must terminate all services for its residents.
The broader "troubled teen industry" has faced increasing scrutiny in Utah, which has long hosted a network of private, for-profit residential centers. Hilton’s advocacy has included testimony before Congress and support for legislation enacted in 15 states aimed at increasing transparency and reform.
