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provo canyon school

(Picture by American Media, Inc.  January 25th, 2005)

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Provo Canyon School survivor's youtube about his experience.

Provo Canyon School and Abusive Behavior Modification Techniques They Employ

Additional video segments can be found under 1989, 2006, and 2007.

The Provo Lies site states that Provo Canyon School has been operating for 37 years (as of 2009).  However, from its inception it had problems.  Robert Crist and Jack Williams were repeatedly denied licensing and zoning permits from the people of Provo because the people of Provo did not want a private prison for teens in their backyard.  In 1974, Crist and Williams won their appeal and were granted license and zoning to operate their teen torture camp. 

Provo Canyon School, according to court documents, "has an additional and paramount purpose that far transcends school attributes' so that it cannot properly be so characterized, but is in reality a detention and correctional institution...plaintiffs' (Crist and Williams) advertising is designed to attract maladjusted boys with mental or emotional problems, who need detention and control in connection with their education and training; that they will take 'failing students in a fantasy world,' or who are 'adversely influenced by drugs,' boys with 'brain damage,' with 'schizophrenia symptoms.' (Crist and Williams) Plaintiffs' school offers 'residential treatment with a therapeutically designed round-the-clock living program' including 'medical care,' psychiatry,' and 'professional discipline,' along with other aspects of education. It is shown that during past operations (Crist and Williams) the plaintiffs have found it necessary in some instances to use forcible restraints such as chains and manacles on some of the boys and/or keep them in locked rooms to detain them.”

Jeffrey Lee, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in the 1970's, had this to say:

"I was mentally tortured at Provo Canyon School in the 1970's. I was held there for a year despite being 18 years of age most of that year I was made to stand against a wall silently 8 hours a day, everyday for weeks. I saw beatings also. I had my mail read and was forced to write to my parent thing other than what I felt.  That place is evil in so many ways.  I am now a professor of mathematics (no thanks to PCS)"

(520 P.2d 196. Robert H. CRIST and Jack L. Williams, dba Provo Canyon School, Plaintiffs and Respondents, v. J. H. BISHOP, Director of the Utah County Building Inspection Department, et al., Defendants and Appellants. No. 13357. Supreme Court of Utah. March 15, 1974.)

Richard Ostrow, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1975, signed the Close Provo Canyon School Petition which calls for Provo Canyon School to be closed and cites the torture of children at this facility as the primary reason it should be closed. 

George Hamilton, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1976, had this to say:

"Provo Canyon School is truly abominable.  It is an openly avowed behavior-modification center, proudly using techniques aimed at destroying the victim’s sense of self.  These were openly admitted to us in 1976, when I was there with Dave Michaels, Brent Neal, Dave Low, Bob Sealy, Kevin Coombs, and Paul Tucker."

Crane Carter, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1977, signed the Close Provo Canyon School Petition which calls for Provo Canyon School to be closed and cites the torture of children at this facility as the primary reason it should be closed. 

Michael Holdaway, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School from 1977 through 1979, had this to say:

"I was in PCS from 1977-79. I was physically abused and mentally abused for the two years I was there.  My mail was read, telephone conversations listened to and monitored. I had to take polygraph tests to determine if i was lying and put in small 3x5 rooms for days at a time. I was denied medical attention when I was severely beat up by another student and was unable to see for 3 days because my face was so swollen from the beating. I was then stuck in a 3x5 room to heal so none of the other students could see me.  stop this school."

Steven Levinson, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1980, had this to say:

"I went to Provo Canyon School from 9/80 to 5/81. I had a few times that I felt my rights were violated. I sent letters to my mother about some of the things I saw going on at the school my mother never received those letters because they would read your mail before they sent it out...I know they also read your mail when it came in I know that because the letters were always opened when I received them. I felt like they invaded my religious rights because they had no services for Jewish students. I finally got out of going to services because I finally raised a stink about it... I did hear physical abuse when I was in the locked up unit the first week I was there and it scared me. It sounds like the school has gotten worse over the years and it should be shut down for violating human rights and criminal laws."

Michael Thompson, a friend of a Provo Canyon School victim from 1980, reported:

"[A] very young boy in 1980 was sent to Provo his name was Palmer. He was a very active kid and did get into a little trouble nothing that his parents or family couldn't help him with. However the School system along with the PD recommend to his parents PCS. After 2 years the young boy didn't exist anymore. He looked more like some of my buddies form the 7th eng USMC div that were from a POW camp in Vietnam. 6 months after Palmer left the school he died. there were so many excuse[s] why however I later found out from my own investigation that what they were doing there was just outside the lines of Geneva Convention rules and regulations. Palmer was a great young kid that needed a chance in life but was given death. May his heart be at peace and for those whom treated him the way they did at PCS may you burn in hell."

Robert Hultman, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1981, had this to say:

"1981-I was the class speaker who lied to a whole graduating class of about 8 whom I don’t keep in contact with not a one. I said that I would like to go on to college but after I started in a local JC I realized that I wasn’t given an education I was given a prison sentence.  Later in life I did do time in prison (san Quentin) which was far less stressful then PCS I would give the world to see that hell burn to the ground. And for the parents that send your kid there so good by for ever just like me and almost all the kids that I know that were there and that I keep in contact with. I send a mothers day card to my mom once a year saying thanks and for the rest of my family I was a teen when they sent me away so I don’t recognize them as family I fear them as the enemy the ones that had a young troubled boy locked up not in jail but 10 times worst. Your choice, throw your kid away now and never see your grandkids or have elderly support when you need it or get through the tuff times together and be a true family forever."

Tim Keller, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1981, had this to say:

"I was forced to undergo reparitive therapy in PCS from 1981 to 1982.  Aside from the unethical therapy I was punished physically and personally witnessed the beatings of several other students.  I was shocked to learn that PCS and affiliates are still involved with these abuses > It must stop. PCS and other schools like it must be shut down for the protection of the children in their care."

Provo Canyon School loses class action suit filed by victims and led by Timothy Milonas and Kenneth Rice.  Provo Canyon School is found guilty of cruel and inhumane treatment of children.  Provo Canyon School is found guilty of violating the civil rights and human rights of children at the facility.  Federal injunctions are enacted against many of the practices (that continue today due to lack of enforcement of these injunctions) at Provo Canyon School.  United States Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit finds:

"(3) record supported finding that the school's use of polygraph machine, its monitoring and censoring of student mail, its use of isolation rooms, and its use of even physical force violated students' First and Fourteenth Amendment rights; and (4) fact that some parents approved of the "behavioral-modification" program did not compel finding that practices employed were "necessary," as required for them not to violate students' constitutionally protected liberty interests."

Mike O'Malley, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1983, had this to say:

"23 years later this school still haunts me. PCS fucked my whole life up. "Investment" - what a joke. I was never the same after that place. I left such an angry man, I never really recovered."

Covita Bade, a parent of a Provo Canyon School victim who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1984, had this to say:

"My son was in Provo Canyon School from January 4 1984-June 21 1984.  He claimed he was abused but the counselors there said he was trying "manipulation" tactics to talk us into getting him out........I now believe he was telling the truth as he never came back the same.......he has been in mental hospitals ever since. He now resides at Western State in Steillacoom, Wa"

David Doran, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1984, had this to say:

"I was sent there in 1984. I was 15 with no criminal history whatsoever, yet I was strip searched, relieved of personal possessions, and spent over a month living in a room with no windows and locked steel doors (intake). I spent 19 months there. At one point I became so depressed that I attempted suicide. I received no treatment for my wounds- only a paper towel and an order to stand 20 punishment hours for self-mutilation. After my release, I found that my stay at PCS had violated 46 out of 50 conditions of the United Nation's Declaration of Human Rights, which had the temerity to suggest that I had the right to freedom of movement, association, communication, a decent education and health care. My father manipulated the City of Santa Monica into paying thousands of tax dollars to PCS for my "care" but there were no repercussions for him, only for me.  

My time there has haunted me for many years and has also poisoned my relationship with my parents so that I have become estranged from them both, even 25 years later. I would ask that PCS be shut down immediately for the sake of future generations of Americans but I know now that will never happen - there is simply too much money at stake. PCS is one of Orem/Provo's largest employers and is a financial asset to the community. Until the people of Provo learn what injustices and abuses are occurring daily under those cute blue roofs PCS will stay open and human filth like Dr. Phil will continue to shill for the place."

Bill Billington, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1985, had this to say:

"1984-1985 false imprisonment is a complete understatement, the "school" kidnaps kids, illegally transports them across state lines, handcuffed in flight, denied medical treatment after beating me up during the kidnapping, and kept me in solitary confinement for weeks at a time without allowing me bathroom access or showers. i wasn't allowed any contact with family or friends either by phone or mail, and i was kept in an area without windows or clocks for months at a time."

Nicole, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1986, had this to say:

"I was in PCS from 1986-1988.  I went there when I had just turned 14 years old.  I stayed there for 2 years, by the time I left I had become so accustomed to being abused, pinned down, drugged up and locked up in the time-out room in my bra and underwear that I actually became institutionalized.  The abuse that occurred there was on a daily basis.  They make the school seem as if it will be fun for the children once they are there after a few weeks.  However, there was no fun involved.  After I left Utah I was much worse than when I went there.  I also never lived at home again with my parents.  I survived a terrible childhood and am amazed I am even alive today.  PCS caused great emotional scars for me.  I also developed claustrophobia and panic attacks after I was there from so frequently being locked in the time-out room, standing all day or being mistreated by the staff members there.  If we (the kids there) looked at them wrong, walked wrong, or talked wrong they dialed a code 911 which was real fun to have huge men come in your unit and tackle you often times causing extreme physical harm to your body.  It has been 18 years since I was there and I still have bad nightmares to this day.  I now have children of my own and I now understand that my parents sent me there in desperation trying to protect/help me, they were truly afraid that I would otherwise die.  However, in retrospect PCS damaged me more than ever and destroyed our family for years since I was sent there.  Each day my heart breaks at the thought that PCS is still open and for every person that is there.  It should be shut down.  The school lies, manipulates and convinces parents that their children will "say" all these bad things about PCS to get out of there and that it is not true but it is.  Parents please believe that it is a living hell for each child there.  I was so drugged up on Thorazine and many other drugs by the time I left I was incoherent daily and locked in the time out room for 3 weeks straight when my parent's finally came and pulled me out of PCS.  The school decided to highly medicate me instead of deal with any emotional outbursts, feelings, or thoughts of my own.   PLEASE SHUT IT DOWN!"

There are many more survivors and families victimized by Provo Canyon School who have reported fraud, abuse, and torture.  To see over 1000 voices speaking out against Provo Canyon School, visit the petition at www.heal-online.org/sign.htm

Michael Maul, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1987, had this to say:

"I attended Provo Canyon School between the years of 1987 and 1989. During my stay I witnessed staff utilize excessive physical force to punish non-threatening children. One 100 lb minor was suffocated by the weight of a 400 lb staff member. Another small minor was rammed into the wall, knocked completely off his feet, by a 250 lb BYU football player who was a staff member at Provo Canyon School. This school needs some serious outside regulation."

Joe Stanton, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1988, had this to say:

"ATTENTION PARENTS - ATTENTION PARENTS ---- If you truly love your child you will not be deceived by PCS.  Their tactics and lies are evil in more ways than one.  I was locked up at PCS in 1988/1989.

 FALSE ADVERTISING---------------------------------

PCS mislead my parents in the 80's and I am sure they are doing the same now.  PCS has pamphlets that show the numerous activities that the child will take part in once at the school.  This simply does not happen.  Neither does the therapy sessions that are meant to help the child.  PCS is not truly a "school."  Although the teachers could be just as vindictive as the counselors who were hopped up on steroids, employees of PCS saw school as a privilege for the child.  The counselors would often not allow children to attend classes so that they would always have some kids to punish during the day.  I was at PCS for fourteen months and probably attended class about six of those months.  

ABUSE - PHYSICAL AND MENTAL-----------------------

For minor misbehavior or no bad behavior at all, the child would be made to stare at a wall anywhere from three to ten hours a day.  For many children including myself, this would result in dizzy spells.  This was mainly because of the room that this was taking place.  It was in a unit of the school that had locked doors and no windows.  During my stay there was a time when I stared at a wall ten hours a day for six months straight.  There were other eight foot by eight foot rooms that were used for solitary confinement.  I was locked in solitary for over 24 hours once, and I have seen friends locked in for over three days for what counselors would regard as a "poor attitude."  PHYSICAL ABUSE would often occur as well.  Almost daily you would see a small child slammed to the floor by a 250+ pound BYU football player.  Of course these goons had absolutely no credentials to work these positions.  Most of them were not bright and resort to violence when they were frustrated with a child.

INSURANCE FRAUD-----------------------------------

This may be an area that does not receive as much focus as the other complaints by former students.  However, this is something that is very disturbing and very real.  According to the staff members at PCS, your child is so fucked up and such a mess until the time when your insurance begins to run out.  You will be told that your child is (magically) transformed into a well-adjusted person only when your insurance is gone and you are no longer of any value to them.  Another disturbing fact is the financial compensation that Psychiatrists across the United States would receive for referring parents to PCS.

I have dozens of disturbing stories regarding my stay at PCS but it is probably best that I do not get into all of the specifics in this forum.

EVERYTHING WE SPEAK OF IS TRUE--------------------

As someone who endured fourteen horrible months in such an evil place, I see it as my duty to educate parents about what PCS is truly all about.

Though I feel that sites like this are a positive thing for former students, friends, and family, I am also very aware of the amount of power and wealth held by PCS (PCS was owned by The Charter Corporation when I was there).  I have knowledge of payoffs that PCS has made to former students in order to stay out of court.  The class action lawsuit (twenty+ students) that I was a part of in the late 90's was only thrown out by the judge due to the statute of limitations law.  Previous to that ruling PCS had tried to settle with all of us for about $5,000 which was an incredible insult.  We are talking about an evil facility that is absolutely petrified of receiving bad press and going through a huge trial.  They know that if they ever go to court and the truth comes out they will be forced to pay up big time.

I have always been consistent in saying that as much as it would be nice for me to receive financial compensation for what PCS put me and my family through, I would rather not receive a dime if it meant that PCS would be shut down.

By the way, there are hundreds more former students out there that don't even know that this forum and ones like it exist.

THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS--GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS--"

There are many more survivors and families victimized by Provo Canyon School who have reported fraud, abuse, and torture.  To see over 1000 voices speaking out against Provo Canyon School, visit the petition at www.heal-online.org/sign.htm

Angela Smith, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1989, shares on video:           

                  For more of Angela's story, visit www.heal-online.org/teenperil.htm or www.heal-online.org/provocanyon.htm. 

Courtney Guckes, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1990, had this to say:

"This inhumane place needs to be shut down!!!!  It’s absolutely disgusting that this abusive and neglecting center is still open. Why does America stand for this kind of abuse to its children?? SHUT IT DOWN! How can anyone justify shooting a child up with Thorazine, or sexually abusing a child, or denying a child medical attention. I've seen all these happen in my 11-month stay there in 1990-1991. God help those that are in there now, and those of us that are left to deal with the "demons" since we have left."

Sam Condron, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1991, had this to say:

"I was shipped under guard to a "therapeutic facility" from Germany and arrived after dark in 1991.  Over the course of the next 3 years I spent over a year in their "care" being released (3 times) only when my military insurance (Tricare) ran out.  Not having a degree in psychology I don't know for sure, but I don't think that having a 15 year old build dinosaurs out of play-dough really counts as therapy.  I was repeatedly during my time there stripped naked and placed in 5 and 6 point restraints, and subjected to verbal abuse as well as being injected with "calming medications" like Thorazine.  If you have never experienced this, it feels rather like having a hand opened from a fist under the muscle tissue of you posterior.  On each stay there I was treated with such disdain that I repeatedly attempted suicide in their time-out rooms.  It was not unusual to have sleep patterns interrupted by the night nurses playing "soothing music" (screeching whale calls) at volumes too loud to allow for sleep.  If I didn't comply implicitly with staff directive in what they viewed as an appropriate amount of time I was physically thrown to the ground and sat on by nurses and security staff using techniques that would have a police officer suspended or military personnel court marshaled.  Time-out and quiet rooms where used as threats and punishment areas where beatings could and would occur.  The only growth I received while there was a preparation for life behind bars.  I was repeatedly called a liar and a thief and required to clean the same areas 4 or more consecutive times over the course of a few hours before they were deemed clean enough.  The therapeutic milieu  was generally consisting of groups where we were told about our flaws and that we were incapable of improving.  I was placed first on the children's dorm (I was 12 and 13 while others on the unit were 10 or under) where I was repeatedly left completely unattended.  When placed on the teenagers dorm it was not unusual for acts of sexuality between patients to go on unnoticed by staff.  When caught for engaging in inappropriate activities the punishments were severe.  Swearing resulted in my being placed on a talking restriction for days and weeks at a time.  Physically acting out (which ranged from being out of my room at the wrong time to fighting) resulted in my being taken down and restrained for multiple hours regardless of the infraction.   Group punishment was encouraged by therapists.  Any phone calls, inbound or out, were monitored, and for saying things the staff didn't like, I found myself berated, called a liar, at times beaten, and restrained without access to toilet facilities.  THIS AND ALL LIKE FACILITIES NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN FOR VIOLATIONS OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.  My Therapist, Dr. Dave Dodgin, needs to have his license revoked, if it hasn't been already, for encouraging inhuman treatment."

Dana, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1992, had this to say:

"I moved on from this many years ago. I endured the torture of this school for 18 months (91-92). What I've read here is true (I have my own war stories). I even realized tonight while going over some of these stories, how much abuse I blocked. I am shocked they are still in business."

Lisa Cummins, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1992, had this to say:

"I was a patient there from May 1991 until December 1992. That experience made my issues worse instead of better. Please stop the cycle and close down the school."

Eric Walstrom, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1993, had this to say:

"I spent about 5 months at PCS in 1993. PCS is a profit driven institution that employs unqualified, unsuitable staff. Humiliation and total suppression of individuality were inherent to the program, and the official punishments ranged from uselessly standing in complete silence for hours to violent restraint and seclusion in cold cement cells. Most of the students were medicated, often recklessly. All of these practices were protected by the students' total isolation and the facility's systematic censorship of mail and phone calls."

Jason Schrager, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1994, had this to say:

"I was a student of the Provo Canyon School for two years ranging from 1992-1994. In fact I graduated from there. I wish that I had heard about these suits earlier as I would have jumped at the chance to be involved. I too was mistreated at the hands of provo canyon. I was made to stand "TR" for hours at a time in investment. People went crazy there! I too was punished for things I did not do and physically and more so mentally abused by staff members. I witnesed things there that I will never forget. I actually watched a staff member "Dale" I think his name was get in a fight with a 15 year old in the school area. The student left Dale with a shattered eye socket and a broken Jaw. We got to stand there and watch him bleed and then got punished because we didn't try to stop it. Rather than therapy for the trauma we had been through. Anyway, please contact me if you have any questions. 561-350-1147"

Provo Canyon School was sued in 1995 by David Taylor.  Provo Canyon School was found liable in this lawsuit.  However, Taylor's mother was found more at fault by the jury than the program itself for his injuries.  Because Provo Canyon School was conveniently under "new ownership" at the time of the lawsuit, they avoided prosecution on appeal.  However, the same director and staff were running the notoriously abusive program from its inception through 1995 and beyond.

Another Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1995, had this to say:

"I was at PCS for 3 months in 1995-1996 and was subjected to mental and physical abuse. If i knew about the 4 year law suit earlier, i would have filed one myself. Please close it down to save children who need care and do not get it through this organization."  (Requested anonymity.  Statement verified and supported.)

Provo Canyon School was sued in 1997 by Steven Spencer Porter.  Porter filed a lawsuit based on the following violations:

This lawsuit was dismissed solely due to the statute of limitations running out.  Porter had been released from Provo Canyon School in 1992 and turned 18 in 1996.  The court decided that the statute began at the time of his release and dismissed the case. 

Adrianne Stombs, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1997, had this to say:

"I was only thirteen years old when admitted to PCS. They said I was just touring it. Then as soon as I was behind closed doors they put me in a room with a woman whom I have never met before. She told me I was staying there and couldn't say goodbye to my mom. I was pretty scared. At the time I was a rebellious teen girl, with an attitude. By the time I left there I was an adult. They diagnosed me with an illness I am sure doesn't even exist. They called it oppositional defiant disorder. They forced me to speak of things painful to the thought let alone the tongue. My therapist had me admitting to things I had never done. He had a way with words. I was punished because of a physical ailment. I was unable to bend at the knee so I couldn't bend over to clean the bottom of my shower. I sat on the investment unit for a long time just because I was impaired. I saw things I never should have seen at thirteen. Suicide attempts, unexplainable psych illnesses. Feces rubbed on the floor and walls ,constant screams and cries in the night.(I heard dial nine in my sleep for years after leaving there) I am from Las Vegas and almost 8 years ago I was sent to PCS as a guinea pig for an insurance company thinking of covering the program on their rehabilitation policy. I smoked pot. And at 13 not very often. I was not crazy. My mother was misinformed about my treatment. In fact it seemed there were always secrets. I left there in February of 1997. I was too scared to leave my house until November that same year. Nine months I sheltered myself from the world. Trying to hide from the world I viewed in there. I saw things at that young age that most people living full lives never see. In the end being around the older girls only educated me of the drugs I had yet to conquer. After my nine month hibernation I emerged only to hide the pain I felt, the shame I felt. Everyone treated me like I was crazy I figured why not act the part. Besides that, from the day I was admitted to PCS and to this day now, I am different.

I think differently. I was an outsider to my peers, with memories that made me somewhat queer. I was quiet and withdrawn. I didn't think anyone would even begin to understand. I kept quiet. It ate at my soul.  I let my self-esteem run my life for the next 5 years. I battled a massive addiction to methanphetamines. Hell, I fought with addiction to everything. I was finally incarcerated into a state facility. I didn't need it, but I deserved it. I did not deserve PCS. I am and have always been a strong willed leader of a person. I have a kind soul and a genuine heart. No one will ever be able to take that away from me again. No one will ever coerce me to believe otherwise. Today I am a mother of a 2 year old little girl. I don't have the perfect life but I try everyday. I still think of those screams I still remember the girl who pulled out her hair whenever she got mad. I bet they have forgotten me. (the staff and counselors). I believe they admitted me there for money and knew I was an average brat of a girl."

Seth Pegues, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1998, had this to say:

"i am in total support of having pcs shutdown.  i was a "guest" there from june 1998 thru oct 2000 and witnessed and was subject to all types of abuse, physical, mental, verbal and spiritual.  the first 20 minutes there i witnessed a measly 120 pound kid get his face smashed repeatedly into the bench in investment resulting in 37 stitches to his chin and continuous beatings even after he had passed out.  i was denied medical attention after having surgery and denied my meds.  SHUT THIS PLACE DOWN!!!!  i am a soldier and it astonishes me that everyday i risk my life for a country that supports these types of places.  it hurts me. 

sincerely, stewart s. pegues, PFC u.s army"

Amanda Fry, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 1999, had this to say:

"I was sent to Provo in 1999.  It's 2005 and I am still haunted by that place.  I had just turned 13 years old.  I felt as though i was being held prisoner.  What had I done to deserve this?  Everything I did there was considered to be "wrong".  Nothing was ever good enough.  The floor was never clean enough.  The sheets were never tight enough.  The toilet was never shiny enough.  There was still dust on the window sill after having cleaned it 3+ times.  I remember one time a peer (who has also signed this petition) and I cleaned the isolation rooms, both on our knees scrubbing the hard concrete floor.  I was not allowed to talk to my parents and the 10 minute phone calls that I did have every other week were monitored.  The staff and therapists made me carry around a coin and with every statement that I said I was made to flip the coin; the side of the coin determined whether I was lying or not.  I had to do this for at least a week.  What they had done is a very high level form of cult abuse.  Their whole program is inhumane.  I'm sorry, but being stripped down of your clothes, tranquilized, and strapped to a bed then told by one of the staff members that you are "ruining her night because she was supposed to meet up with her friends to go somewhere" is not what I think of as humane.  We were punished for everything.  I kept quiet for a very long time.  There is so much more shit that went on that i struggle to talk about today.  I was looking through this petition and found at least 4 names of girls that were at Provo Canyon School with me.  That, in itself is helping me to realize that everything that I remember is true and did happen and that Provo Canyon School should be shut down.  I am in shock that it is still running today.  I do not understand how the United States of America can overlook such a place and just let it stand as though it is doing no harm.  Provo Canyon School should be done away with."

Nadia Stanton, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 2000, had this to say:

"I attended Provo Canyon School between the years of 2000 and 2001. The emotional, mental and physical torture I experienced there has haunted me since the day my father finally came to the campus, saw the truth for himself and took me out immediately. That was 4 years ago and still to this day I have nightmares of screaming girls being drug into the cold concrete rooms they called "observations". They would be drugged against their will with a shot in the butt and put to sleep. I remember being told to "get on a chair" where I sat for about 2 hours straight before any staff acknowledged me. Finally, one of the staff came over to speak to me. The first words out of her mouth were

"You are a disease and anyone you speak to...anyone you look at...anyone that gets near you is bound to catch your disease."

After that she put me on a "no talk" standing order where I was unable to speak whatsoever for 2 months straight.

Today I am 19 years old and have been out of Provo Canyon School for 4 years. I live 10 minutes outside of Hollywood and am working with a Miramax producer who is very much interested in my story. Right now we are almost finished writing the screenplay and will be working on a film within the next year or two. If that doesn't open up the eyes of parents across America I don't know what will."

Steven Brown, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 2001, had this to say:

"i was at pcs from 2001 to 2002 the place is totally fucked up there are some staff there that are trying to do the right thing but for the most part its all abuse, i got my ass kicked by the staff daily, yes i was fucking up and doing bad but that is no reason to beat kids, one of the worst things i saw was a kid get his nose broke when he was hit in the face with a walkie talkie in the gym for pushing another kid that staff was suspended for one day that's bullshit.  i want pcs to get shut down too…there was a lot  of ass kickings and mental torture, and there was solitary confinement and that was also fucked up when u were left in there for days…"

Chris Madero, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 2002, had this to say:

"i was there for 8 months in 2002-2003...i cant sleep or eat..my stress is killing me.. i still have nightmares and lawyers just told me i am out of statute..oh well life goes on i didnt want their blood money anyways...if you feel the same as me contact me...if you remember me contact me...if you need help contact me"

Alexis Reichman, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 2003, had this to say:

"From age 13-15, i was held in this horrid place.  So many things are seen but not heard.  Many of the torture that had occurred to me and multiple other patients there cannot be put into words because of how painful it was.  They really need to actually start helping kids rather than making things worse.  I convinced my parents to transfer me to another facility because of the horrible treatment i was receiving.  For two years i was belittled because i spoke negatively about the program.  Finally i broke down and was brutally honest to my wretched therapist and brainwashed parents.  This insanity needs to end! I 100% agree with closing down this facility.  I was confined in the place for 22 months beginning on November 13, 2002 and recently ending on September 4, 2004.  Therapy was more like discipline session.  Therapists had all the power.  How are you supposed to trust someone with helping you when they are constantly placed in the role to discipline you?  For approximately 15 months of my stay, I was residing on investment, the disciplinary unit.  I endured numerous amounts of hours sitting in isolation in sweats with no communication to anyone because I was very fed up with not being taken seriously with how i felt about the program to anyone.  Because I happened to be very impulsive as well, i was placed on a standing order in which i was forced to write down every single word, sound, and non-verbal expression down on paper before i did it.  That was a part of my program for four months straight!  Not once was i taken off of that.  Then because i didn't work on certain specific issues that i had, i was put on another standing order that was to carry a box with all my issues written on the outside.  That is breaking confidentiality and very cruel because i was never allowed to put it down unless asleep.  I really think that they falsely advertise Provo Canyon School because by manipulating desperate parents to get their kids help.  In the video they show numerous things that do not even exists at the school.  I have no more to say on this but i thank you for giving me the time to express myself on this issue.  It is quite crazy because i never thought that anyone would feel the same as i do and actually want to do something about it." 

Annie Santillan, a parent of a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 2004, had this to say:

"I picked up my son on Saturday, July 17th in Utah, I pulled him out of the program, I was more and more frustrated the more I read on PCS.  He came home with a swollen eye, cuts all over his hands and right finger swollen and bruised, knee cut up and swollen and bruised.  It was just as I had read in all the emails/internet.  He was threatened and spoken to in such a manner that made my stomach turn.  His life was threatened as well.  My son did get into a physical fight with another student, and stopped immediately, but it did not stop the staff from throwing him down twisting his neck and throwing him into the "Observation Room", which by the way he spent the entire night, cold and smells of urine and who knows what else, just smells really bad and very cold.  Just so you know I never mentioned anything to my son about what I had read, I simply asked him to describe what he went through, now remember he was there for only 13 days, and witnessed 12 year old boys being punched in the nose and made fun of on a daily basis, how therapeutic is that? There a person there by the name of Levi who told my son on many occasions, that "his _ss was his, it is his way or the freeway, and don't be surprised he if he was to get shot", like killed, and calls the boys in the unit all really really bad names.  This place is incredible and can't believe that children are suffering.  My son said that there are a lot of court ordered boys in there so they don't even have a chance.  Also, that all calls are monitored and they are told before they talk to their parents that they better not manipulate us by saying they want to go home or anything negative about PCS.  Please let me know how and what to do to help take this place out of business."

Andrew Walter, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 2005, had this to say:

"In A program where kids are coming in with emotional problems, they dont need to constantly be called stupid mother fuckers and told to shut the fuck up, eventually you just learn to fake it till you make it. I was physically as well as mentally abused, not to mention i was stripped of my identity and individuality and it just needs to stop, As long as parents keep sending their kids there is no way to stop PCS. We need to find a way to make this information more readily available to the public."

Sarah Kimbrough, a Provo Canyon School survivor who was held captive at Provo Canyon School in 2006, had this to say:

"I was in provo canyon school from november 15th of 2004 to april 20th of 2006- through my whole 17 months of being in provo canyon I was incapable of succeeding in the program because of there completely inacurate methods of curing my symptoms... I was violated not only emotionally but physically while being locked up at pcs... I of course do have to take responsibility for the tid bit of childish and completely rebelious acting out that I did and deserved punishment for but I really dont think it's necissarily considered apropriate to regularly give haldol to a 15-16 year old girl just because I told someone to fuck off!!!! I never graduated, and I was not pulled AMA... for the last 6-8 months of my stay I refused to eat and durring that 6 month period I was force fed, contained in the observation room and there were numerous times that I was not alowed to wear clothing while in the observation room... That place is fucking sick and I hope dr. crist and his assistants all burn in the fate of there own fucked up wrong doings... I'm still very much affected by what I went throuh there and I dont my life will ever be the same as before i went to pcs"

Jen Walker--Provo Canyon Truth ('04-'05 & '06-'07) Survivor Statement Pt 1	Jen Walker--Provo Canyon Truth ('04-'05 & '06-'07) Survivor Statement Pt 2
Jen Walker--Provo Canyon Truth ('04-'05 & '06-'07) Survivor Statement Pt 3	Jen Walker--Provo Canyon Truth ('04-'05 & '06-'07) Survivor Statement Pt 4
Jen Walker--Provo Canyon Truth--Survivor Statement Pt 5 Special Note: The Heritage Schools in Provo, UT are confirmedly abusive.  HEAL does not endorse any locked down/illegal facilities.  HEAL supports teen rights.  See www.heal-online.org/heritage.htm for info.

TheRapist Larry Winn remains on staff and abuse still occurs on a regular basis despite Provo Canyon's Lies.

Certain recent wrongs have already been covered up in Utah.  Did staff drug and rape teenage girl at Provo Canyon School in 2008?  Reportedly.  Staff involved were fired and are reportedly facing prosecution.

However, this really doesn't support the notion that they are a "new" program.  In fact, their own websites celebrate their full 30+ years of "successfully" torturing, ahem, "treating" children.  And, this 30+ years of experience, as you have read above is nothing more than fraudulent, institutionalized torture for profit at the hands of unscrupulous child predators. 

In addition, Provo Canyon School's "new owners", Universal Health Services, has many skeletons in their closet regarding abuse, rape, and wrongful death at facilities they operate.  Click here to learn more about UHS.

Please listen to the survivors and families who've been duped, harmed, and/or lost their loved ones due to the torture and nightmares that are Provo Canyon School.  Do not subject any child to this torturous institution. 

Read the latest article on Provo Canyon School, dated January 15th, 2009.

"I was a patient at Provo Canyon School for 2 years. I was admitted during December 2006 and released in December of 2008. I was stripped of my rights and made me feel as though I was a robot and needed to tell on people to survive there. The center is unfair in their punishments and they don't believe many of the patients and play favorites. When I was released to a level 12 I felt as though I was going hot to cold but let go of what I knew and felt as thought I had hatched from an egg and now feel myself and much stronger and realize what PCS had done to [me] that was not right. "

TheRapist Larry Winn (many of the same employees and executive officers as prior to UHS takover, see chart)

From an e-mail from John Ortiz of Utah Dep't of Licensing dated March 3rd, 2009:

"Thus far as the licensor of Provo Canyon School, I have placed the program on corrective action for not being in compliance with those [licensing] requirements as I would and do with any program I review."--Mr. John Ortiz, Licensing Specialist, Department of Human Services, Utah.

As of March, 2009 Provo Canyon School is still not compliant with Utah's licensing standards.  After over thirty years of torturing children, we've come to wonder how this could be allowed to go on.  Jeff Smith, who sits on the Utah Dep't of Human Services Licensing Board is a co-owner of Logan River Academy.  Logan River Academy is also co-owned by Robert Crist (founder of Provo Canyon School and reportedly still involved with the program as of February, 2009).  If nothing else, this tight economic connection between the Dep't of Licensing Board and abusive programs in Utah is a prima facie conflict of interest and evidences the trouble with Utah programs and any real oversight in Utah. 

Please do not subject your child to Provo Canyon School.  If they can't improve enough to stop violating licensing requirements and abusing children, then why throw good money after bad?  If your child is at Provo Canyon, bring them home.  If you are considering Provo Canyon, don't.  Don't be scammed by these fast-talking child-torturers.  

Janet C., parent of current (June, 2009) Provo Canyon victim, wrote this to HEAL:

"But my child 14 (brain damaged) has been beat up by staff, and I turned them in now... He is also being sexually harassed by older peers.  A lot more.  HE HAS TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF. PLEASE HELP HIM."

June 17th, 2009:  Four young adults escape the abusive facility known as Provo Canyon School.   If you find them, please give them sanctuary and contact HEAL for information on how to legally help them.  These boys have been tortured.  They should not be returned to Provo Canyon School under any circumstances.  Please do not turn them over to complicit authorities.  Help them contact their families and contact us for information about legal resources to protect these young men from further human and civil rights violations.   (Click here to contact HEAL.)

HEAL receives multiple (thousands) requests from parents asking for help to rescue their children from Provo Canyon School and similar facilities every year.  Please don't put yourself or your child at risk of serious injury, loss, or death.  Keep your children at home and seek local community-based solutions proven to be effective. 

Jack Williams (co-founder of Provo Canyon School and Cinnamon Hills Youth Crisis Center) died on Friday, December 18th, 2009 of an undisclosed terminal illness in Utah.  What will bring all survivors much grief is that he died without ever facing justice for his crimes against humanity.  At best, he is gone forever.  At worst, well...