SPRINGVILLE, Utah — A controversial Utah school's campus in Springville had its license revoked by the state following an investigation that showed staff failed to protect the juveniles who attended the school.
On Tuesday, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services notified the Provo Canyon School in Springville that its license is revoked.
It happened after reality TV star Paris Hilton attended the school as a former student and earlier this month offered support to families suing the school.
"For more than fifty years, children came forward with stories of abuse, neglect, and trauma," Hilton said in a statement. "The state confirmed what survivors have known all along: Provo Canyon School failed the children in its care."
Shannon Thoman Black, the director of licensing and background checks for DHHS, says her mission is to ensure vulnerable Utahns are “safe, protected and treated with dignity.”
But that allegedly was not happening at the Provo Canyon School Springville campus.
WATCH: Parents, families celebrate closure of controversial Provo school campus
The allegations were revealed and outlined in a letter to DHHS following observations made by Nate Crippes and others with Utah’s Disability Law Center.
Crippes said it was difficult to document.
“There were things I saw there that kids were kind of living in conditions, I think that were worse than you might see in a jail or a prison," he said.
That letter from the disability law center was delivered to DHHS on June 16. Black said state officials immediately began their own investigation.
“No child should be hurt in a program that is meant to protect them. Particularly programs that require the authorization of the state to operate," she said.
Paris Hilton lends support to families who filed lawsuits against Provo Canyon School:
Black said state investigators then interviewed Provo Canyon school staff members and clients, reviewed medical records and internal Provo Canyon documents and camera footage
She went on to say that multiple violations were uncovered and, as a result, DHHS decided to immediately revoke the residential treatment license of Provo Canyon School Springville girls' campus.
Crippes acknowledged it’s a drastic step but also said it was necessary.
“But I think when you have a place that repeatedly has shown they can’t keep children safe and provide the care that they need, I don’t think they should be operational," he said.
The owners of the facility, Universal Health Services, have 15 days to file an appeal. They have until August 6 to remove all the clients from that school.
"We disagree with the state's decision to revoke Provo Canyon School's Springville Campus license and are evaluating all available legal and administrative options, including an appeal," school officials told FOX 13 News. "As this is an ongoing matter, we are limited in what we can say at this time. Our priority remains providing safe, high-quality care and support for adolescents and their families, and we remain committed to serving those in need."
