SALT LAKE CITY – The celebrity Paris Hilton made a surprising appearance at the Utah State Legislature to testify in favor of a bill regulating the so-called ‘troubled against’ schools.
Hilton speaks in favor of Senate Bill 127, which will place the treatment centers that deal with youths who are facing addiction, behavior, and other issues, including government oversight, including regular reports to the state on how they use restrictions.
In an emotional testimony before the Senate Judiciary and Law Enforcement Committee, Hilton described being taken out of her home in the middle of the night and sent to treatment facilities for juveniles, where she was abused and sometimes kept in solitary confinement.
“That little room covered with scratch marks and smeared blood without a bathroom is one of the most vivid and traumatic memories I’ve ever experienced in my entire life,” she said. “Children were regularly detained at Provo, beaten, thrown into walls, strangled and sexually abused.”
Hilton, who has been a model, reality TV star and singer, was outspoken her experience at Provo Canyon School, where she claims to have been abused in the nineties. Hilton has repeatedly called for the school to be closed, including support for an online petition. The school’s new owners said took over the facility in 2000 and can not speak to her experiences there.
She attributed her celebrity status to the closure of so-called ‘troubled teenage schools’, arguing that they insult children whose parents often spend thousands of dollars to treat them.
“I’m proof that money is not protected from abuse,” Hilton said.
.@ParisHilton describes being taken from her home and flown to Utah in the middle of the night.
This was not her first time in a facility. She describes being in other states in it. @ jakkals13 #utpol #leg
– Ben Winslow (@BenWinslow) 8 February 2021
Senator Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, is implementing the bill that would allow the Department of Human Services in Utah to conduct surprise inspections, request facilities to report when they are holding a child in check or a chemical restriction use, and to oversee the government more. they. At present, Utah law is incapable of allowing any place inspections, which, according to Hilton, allows them to disguise abuse.
No one spoke against the bill. Some who also attended juvenile treatment centers described similar abuse.
“The same treatment model is currently being used across the state,” said Caroline Lorson of the Breaking Code Silence group, which is advocating against these schools.
Jeff Netto said he experienced similar abuse in a juvenile treatment center at age 13.
“This is not Utah,” he cried. “This is not how Utah behaves, this is also not how we treat our children.”
READ: Former teenager at Utah School for Difficult Teens supports Paris’ allegations of abuse
Senators were amazed at what they heard.
“Honestly, we did not protect you,” Sen said. Derek Kitchen, D-Salt Lake City, told witnesses. “And I’m sorry about that.”
Senator Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, asked if the bill was far enough. Sen. Mike Mike, R-Alpine, asked if they should ban these facilities directly.
The bill was unanimously passed to the committee and is now going to the full Utah Senate for a vote.
Sen. McKell said a national group representing some treatment centers said he supported more oversight. After the trial, nervous McKell praised Hilton for giving her celebrity status to address the issue in Utah.
“I appreciate her using her voice in a meaningful way,” he told reporters.
Hilton said she was pleased to see the bill pass from the committee, but insisted it was just a start.
“This bill will definitely help a lot of kids, but of course there is more work to be done and I’m not going to stop until change takes place,” she told reporters.