Paris Hilton urges Congress to crack down on abusive teen reform schools

Paris Hilton calls on Congress to take steps to protect children and young people living in so-called “reform” facilities. On Thursday, a group of Democrats in Congress confirmed they were working with Hilton to create laws to tackle abuse in facilities for youth in need. Last year, Hilton spoke about the abuse she experienced while enrolling at Provo Canyon School in Utah, a boarding school and “teen treatment center.” She first appeared in the YouTube documentary “This is Paris” and later in a comment in the Washington Post. This week, after months of campaigning, Hilton reported again on her experience in the US Capitol. In a speech to lawmakers and lawyers, she described on BBC News how she is still battling insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder years after leaving school. She spoke of emotional and physical abuse, solitary confinement, and being forced to take medication, raid on the “multibillion-dollar troubled teenage industry” and its “system-wide lack of transparency and accountability”. “Every day in America, children are abused physically, emotionally, and sexually in community facilities. Children even die from those responsible for their care.” Hilton went on to describe how the Accountability for Congregate Care Act would make provisions to protect young people’s rights in residential facilities. California Democrat Ro Khanna confirmed that he and several colleagues in the party are drafting laws to set standards related to hygiene, nutrition and safety. “This is not a messaging bill – this is a bill we need to pass,” he said. Following the Hilton revelations, many former youth facility residents came forward to share similar stories. Last week, the National Disability Rights Network released a high-profile report on the industry describing systemic physical, sexual and psychological abuse in numerous facilities.

Paris Hilton calls on Congress to take steps to protect children and young people living in so-called “reform” facilities. On Thursday, a group of Democrats in Congress confirmed they were working with Hilton to create laws to tackle abuse in facilities for youth in need.

Last year, Hilton spoke about the abuse she experienced while enrolling at Provo Canyon School in Utah, a boarding school and “teen treatment center.” She first appeared in the YouTube documentary “This is Paris” and later in a comment in the Washington Post.

This week, after months of campaigning, Hilton reported again on her experience in the US Capitol. In a speech to lawmakers and lawyers, she described on BBC News how she is still battling insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder years after leaving school. She told of emotional and physical abuse, solitary confinement and being forced to take medication.

“My parents were promised that a hard love would cure me and that the only way to get me across the country was to send me across the country,” said Hilton in a speech that prompted legislative crackdown on the “multi-billion dollar teenage industry” and their ” system-wide deficiency “urged transparency and accountability.”

“I wish I could tell you that what I experienced was unique or even rare – but unfortunately it is not,” she continued. “Every day in America, children are abused physically, emotionally, and sexually in community facilities. Children even die from those responsible for their care.”

MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images

Paris Hilton speaks during a press conference on upcoming legislation to protect children in community care facilities at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on October 20, 2021.

Hilton went on to describe how the Accountability for Congregate Care Act would make provisions to protect young people’s rights in residential facilities. California Democrat Ro Khanna confirmed that he and several colleagues in the party are drafting laws to set standards related to hygiene, nutrition and safety. “This is not a messaging bill – this is a bill we need to pass,” he said.

Following the Hilton revelations, many former youth facility residents came forward to share similar stories. Last week, the National Disability Rights Network released a high-profile report on the industry describing systemic physical, sexual and psychological abuse in numerous facilities.

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