The Provo Canyon School in Provo has officially closed its boys’ and girls’ campuses, state officials and survivors said Friday, after the Utah Department of Health and Human Services determined the facilities were not safe for children.
The shutdown ends a prolonged campaign by former students and advocates seeking accountability for alleged abuse and neglect at the residential treatment center. Celebrity survivor Paris Hilton issued a statement Friday saying she was at "peace" and calling the closure the end of a “horrific chapter of abuse, neglect, and trauma.”
"Today, I can finally say the words I’ve been fighting to say for years: Provo Canyon School is officially shut down," Hilton said.
What changed for residents and families
State action came earlier this month when the Utah Department of Health and Human Services revoked licenses for the school. On July 17, nearly two weeks after that revocation, the school’s campuses formally ceased operations, officials and public statements indicate.
The department’s findings that the campuses were not safe prompted the shutdown and mean current residents must be relocated to other licensed facilities or arrangements approved by child welfare and health authorities. The department’s action also opens paths for further investigations and potential legal consequences tied to complaints and lawsuits that have circulated for years.
Allegations and accountability efforts
The closure follows public allegations from multiple former students. In a 2020 documentary, Paris Hilton described being sent to the school in the mid-1990s and later alleged instances of physical restraint, prolonged solitary confinement and being administered pills with unknown contents. In 2022 she and others spoke to national outlets alleging inappropriate medical examinations and other abuse.
Those accounts helped fuel investigations and legal actions. Reporting in recent years noted a lawsuit listing dozens of plaintiffs alleging abuse by staff, including claims involving a former medical director. State regulators concluded the campuses were not safe for the children in their care.
- Shutdown date: July 17 — boys’ and girls’ campuses closed.
- Regulatory action: Utah Department of Health and Human Services revoked the school’s licenses earlier in July.
- Survivor response: Paris Hilton and other former students hailed the closure as a long-sought measure of accountability.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Provo |
| Facility | Provo Canyon School — boys’ and girls’ campuses |
| State action | Licenses revoked by DHHS; campuses closed July 17 |
Officials with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services provided the licensing decision that precipitated the closure; the department’s determinations cited safety concerns for children in the school’s care. The department has not released additional comment beyond its licensing action as of Friday.
For families with current or former students at Provo Canyon School, the closure raises immediate questions about resident relocation, access to records, and legal options. Child welfare agencies and legal advocates say those affected should contact state health and human services or their attorneys to understand next steps and protections available under state law.
The shutdown marks a significant moment in a yearslong effort by survivors and advocates pressing for scrutiny of residential treatment centers in Utah. It also underscores increased regulatory attention to the oversight of youth treatment facilities in the state.
News Block will continue to follow local and state developments, including any further statements from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, legal filings related to abuse claims, and assistance resources for affected families.
