Utah authorities have invalidated the license of a boarding school in response to deficiencies in providing essential health and safety services for clients, as revealed by Paris Hilton’s claim of mistreatment during her teenage years. Effective Monday, the state’s action against Provo Canyon School in Springville is based on numerous instances of noncompliance dating back to 2025. Issues highlighted include failure to maintain proper staff-to-client ratios, inappropriate use of restraints and physical force, neglect of care, and delays in conducting background checks for staff applicants.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hilton, a former student at the school in the late 1990s, expressed solidarity with other survivors, emphasizing that the state’s intervention confirms the long-standing failures of Provo Canyon School in caring for its students. Hilton recounted experiencing physical abuse, invasion of privacy, forced medication, and solitary confinement without clothing during her time at the facility.

The Director of Licensing and Background Checks at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Shannon Thoman-Black, announced that the school must cease operations by August 6 and is prohibited from reapplying for a new license for five years. Continuous monitoring and compliance inspections will be conducted to ensure the safe discharge of all children under the school’s care. Hilton has actively campaigned for the school’s closure and has advocated for legislative measures to protect teenagers in Utah and other states where the troubled-teen industry operates.

Provo Canyon School, a psychiatric residential treatment facility for adolescents aged 12 to 18, has not responded to requests for comment. Hilton revisited the school in June to show support for families pursuing legal action over alleged mistreatment of their children. The school’s current administration refrains from commenting on past incidents, citing the change in ownership.