Utah state authorities have revoked the operating licence for Provo Canyon School, a boarding facility that has faced decades of abuse allegations, notably from socialite and media personality Paris Hilton. The decision, which came into effect on Monday, 12 July 2026, cites the school's failure to provide essential health and safety services for its clients, marking a significant development in the long-running controversy surrounding the institution.
The state's Department of Health and Human Services highlighted multiple instances of non-compliance at the school's Springville campus. These issues, which date back to 2025, include insufficient staff-to-client ratios, the use of unnecessary restraints and aggressive physical contact with a student, and a general neglect of care. Furthermore, the school was cited for failing to verify employee information and submit timely background checks for applicants. Temporary restrictions had already been imposed in May 2026 after staff reportedly did not seek immediate medical attention for a student with serious injuries.
Paris Hilton, 45, who spent nearly a year at Provo Canyon School in the late 1990s, issued a statement on Tuesday, 13 July 2026, expressing her relief and validation. She stated, "For more than fifty years, children came forward with stories of abuse, neglect, and trauma. Today, the state confirmed what survivors have known all along: Provo Canyon School failed the children in its care." Hilton has previously alleged that during her time there, staff members subjected her to beatings, watched her shower, administered unknown pills, and confined her in solitary isolation without clothing.
Hilton has been a prominent advocate for stricter regulations in the 'troubled teen industry', testifying before the US Congress and various state legislatures. Her efforts have contributed to the passage of laws aimed at protecting young people in Utah and 15 other American states. The Provo Canyon School, described on its website as a psychiatric residential treatment facility for youths aged 12 to 18, is now under new ownership. The current administration has previously stated it cannot comment on events predating the change in ownership, including Hilton's time at the facility.
The revocation letter from the state mandates that all services at the Springville campus must cease by 6 August 2026. The school has a 15-day window from the effective date of the revocation to request a hearing with Utah's health and human services department, should it wish to appeal the decision. In June 2026, Hilton returned to the school to support two families who have filed lawsuits alleging mistreatment of their children at the facility.