Survivor Testimony – Academy at Ivy Ridge

I went to one of these fucking places. And it was before they started making them to appeal to religious/political extremes. These things have existed for a long time, and they have their brainwashing techniques down pat.
My parents sent me to one of these places in the early 2000’s because I was suffering from severe anxiety and panic attacks. What went on there was basically a concentration camp. You may wonder why the hell would your parents send you there? That is because they rely on a referral system. People who know your parents will refer them to the school, and by doing so they get a free month/3k. That gives them all the incentive to paint the place in a perspective that is complete and utter bullshit.


Edit 2*Due to many questions on the parents’ feelings of guilt/responsibility in the matter I am adding this.
I mention brainwashing on number 10, but I failed to mention that the parents are brainwashed as well. The way this works is that there is a level system. The first 3 levels don’t require your parents to be brainwashed, but to move up to level 4 to level 7, you need your parents to participate in these special brainwashing seminars. This means that even if your parents were misguided to send you there in the first place. The moment you show you are doing well, the schools latch onto the weakness of your parent’s hopes, and brain wash them as well. This makes them great zombies to refer other parents into these schools. It also encourages parents to have the child complete the “program” which is an additional 1-2 years, which means roughly 30-70k more tuition for the schools. Ouch.


I am going to make a list now.
1) They get paid 300-500 dollars to kidnap you. Your parents elect to have this option or to send you there willingly. They don’t tell you about them, they appear at night. Tell you to get dressed. And you drive off into the sunset. You have no fucking idea what is going on until you get there.
2) The pictures/activities are bullshit. They have those recreational areas, but they are never used because it poses a greater run risk. People do run away. Most that do never succeed. Those that fail are punished by being sent to Jamaica.
3) Jamaica is the threat and boogeyman for anyone that is acting up or may act up. They have complete control over communications with your parents. They can fuck your shit up anytime they want, even for malicious purposes. The threat is that they can do whatever they want to you in Jamaica. This generally consists of beating your ass senseless, then starving you in the hot sun. Yeah, that does happen.
4) Communication is completely restricted and censored with your parents. You are allowed to write letters but they read through everything that comes in and out. They will selectively remove any letters that have your parents saying they will let you out without completing the program. This means the entire time you are there you cannot tell your parents they are beating your ass, putting you in an isolation room, nor any fears that you are being abandoned. I kept all of my letters as records. I showed them to my parents after I got out. A lot of them were missing, especially the ones about leaving the place.
5) “Why don’t you riot?” Riots do happen, but this occurs only in complete abandoning of going home. The places are locked down with magnetic bolted doors and no one is breaking them. On that note, I did have the privileged of seeing a 250 lb kid smash one of these doors, but that guy was an inhuman beast that ran faster than most of the athletic kids there. Oh, and the place I went to did riot. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_at_Ivy_Ridge
6) Supplies. No one mentioned supplies and basic needs. Everything you are supplied with is generic brand crap, but they force your parents to pay a massive premium (more expensive than premium brands)for it. They will also set stupid restrictions on the products so that people don’t “abuse” them or rather so they have a better bottom line.
7) Parents are allowed to send a care package at the place I went to, and other places I’ve heard of. They stole from your care package. I had stuff from mine stolen. They do this explicitly to demoralize you. If they know what you are looking forward to, they will take it and keep it themselves. How do I know? In the program, you go up the levels and have more freedom. The level basically mean you work as staff for the school while your parents pay them. These leveled up kids see what is going on and convey it to the lower levels. There is fucking nothing you can do about it too. They censor all communication. What are you going to do? Complain to your parents? That just means it worked. “Gotcha, bitch.”
8) Punishment. They hire crazy overweight staff (200-300lbs)that generally have a military background. They sit on you, put you in locks, and generally swing your head into the walls and door frames. You get sent into a detention room/hall. You sit there and do nothing. There have been people who sit in these rooms/halls for months/years. Remember, it cost 3k a month. Not only that, but there is sensory deprivation room for severe offenders. You get to sit there in the dark in a kneeling pose and head against the wall.
9) I’ve seen kids get sent to these place and break down. A lot of these kids were sent there under stupid pretenses. But nothing in regular life prepares you to be completely stripped of your security of returning home (censored communication) and your ability to stop abuse. You can’t do anything. You completely lack control.
10) The brainwashing program. I didn’t even get to the brain washing program. They have this program where they hire specialists, make you sleep deprived, make you write tons of crap about how fucked up you are and what you want to become. Then they force you do these socially awkward interactions to stress you out. Then do guided meditation. You are allowed to talk freely. You eat some junk food. This stuff is gold after being in there for so long. Then they brain wash your ass to complete the program. You hit the ground with a towel to let out all your anger. They teach you retarded junk psychology. Man, fuck that shit.
There is plenty of more shit, but I am tired now.
Edit.
11) Fighting back. Some of the teens do resist. But this never ends wells. The staff all have walkie talkies and are usually a shout distance away from one another. In the event there is violent resistance, you will get bum rushed by three-five 200-300 lb men that will wrestle you down and sit on each of your limbs. You learn fast either from experience or observation that you don’t use violence. The best course of action I’ve seen to the bumrush was going completely limp, it makes it hard to move you around or do anything to you. It also frustrates the hell out of them.
12) Suicide. People attempt suicide, and this just makes you get put on suicide watch. They remove your belt, and anything around that could be used as a weapon to cut yourself. Everyone uses plastic sporks already so there is no possibilities of someone taking a metal utensil and using it as a weapon.
13) Juvie kids. These places were originally designed for people from juvie. The messed up thing is that after a while, the referrer system had a snowball effect into the general population. This means that the schools are known to reform hard case of kids in the beginning, but later as the general populations gets taken it, it makes it hard to make a case to others that you aren’t an asshole teen. Some of the kids there were messed up, but with the diffusion with the general population, you got a lot of kids that just … no one deserves to be there.
14) Buddy system. People are assigned a buddy system. And the buddy is partly responsible for your actions. The buddy is usually someone with a higher ranking and privileges. This means they have much to lose, where as a new entry has nothing to lose. They will also separate friends from ever being a buddy. They also rotate buddies on a regular weekly-biweekly basis.
15) Sleep arrangements and being guarded. You sleep in 2-4 people rooms with your buddy. There is staff that are hired just to be awake at night to monitor you. If you exit your room without permission you are considered a flight risk and get bum rushed. If you need to use the bathroom, you must request it by putting your hand outside the door + waking up your buddy + waiting any existing queue. Some people just piss in a water bottle or out the protected windows.
16) Staff and fellow students outside of school. The staff use aliases. This is to prevent retribution outside of the school. It is hard to communicate with fellow students because all you know is their name and some general information. By the time you get out, you don’t know where they have gone, or if they are even still alive. I’ve contacted a few of them, but can’t find most of them.
17) Staff pay. The staff were paid minimum wage and with overtime. Most of the staff were not highly educated and were ex military. This meant they were stressed, ill prepared, and just motivated to get the quickest results possible. The kidnapping job paid very well and was lucrative to them.
Personal note. I got lucky in that I avoided pissing off the staff as much as possible, but some still harassed me just for fun. I also was on good terms with a couple of them, which allowed me to avoid the full blown shit storm of being psychologically tortured and losing my “rank/level” because some of them just wanted to fuck with me so I would crack.

36 Comments

  1. Fellow survivor

    Total mind fuck and my high school diploma revoked to boot! Still smoking the kind -pd(respect/wisdom family 2003

    Reply
    • steven

      I was in respect in 2004-05 and also there during the riot

      Reply
      • Nathan lovelady

        I was seeing if anybody knows how to obtain old files from when I was at ivy ridge. I was in the brave family. My dorm parent was Mr. Josh. A Spanish guy at Mr . Burnham. A fat ounce of shit. George Tulip and the whole gang. I heard if a woman who is storing recovered files and was seeing if any key k ew how to contact her.

        Reply
    • Andrew

      Still living with the hell this caused me. Still cry when I think about it, still jumpy and aggressive for days after I think about it.
      I still remember the names, the faces, their voices, their laughter, the feeling of them pulling my hand behind me and putting a knee into my back.
      I just wanna move on, and I do from time to time. But sometimes I’m still that terrified 14 yr old kid

      Reply
      • Brian Duffy

        Feb 1 2007- March 18 2007

        Reply
    • Lacy

      I was there before the riot. Oct 2002 to nov 03. Worst experience of my life and the worst part my mom sided with the school in the lawsuit years later saying it wasn’t educational purposes she sent me for. Still boils my blood. I’ll never trust her or my father again. She did mislead him to sign the paperwork but still i will never fully forgive and will never ever forget. Those seminars where they make you stand in front of ppl choosing who dies and who lives still gives me shivers. That place was torture and I was one of the ones that pretended to be a robot just to not get voted up bc I “wasn’t being real enough”. It was the worst experience of my life.

      Reply
      • Stephen

        I was at Ivy Ridge for 7 months in 2001 after being transferred there from Bexr juvenile justice Academy where both me and my olde brother spent 18 months, my older brother aged out, and I was transferred when I was 14 years old. I’m 40 years old now and I still have nightmares of these places, the physical torture and molestation that I went through will Haunt me for the rest of my life.

        Reply
        • Thomas Erickson

          My sister was there from December 2004-June 2005. Does anyone know if people are putting together a civil lawsuit. She’s already contacted the NYS DA about some of the horrors she experienced/witness.

          My email is terickson81949@gmail.com

          Reply
    • Eric Little

      There is a Netflix show called the program about the horrible shit that went on at ivy ridge. I got “transported”/kidnapped at age 14 and spent 21.5 months in that hell hole i was in the honesty family and would like to tell some more about the grewsum parts of things that went down In that hell. Call me if you can 443 466 8952

      Reply
  2. frank

    I was there during that riot

    Reply
    • Adam m

      I was there during thr right too. Pride family haha

      Reply
      • Brian Duffy

        I was one of four kids who ran and got caught by state police three days later. Beat the night staff and got away with it too. Best part, three weeks in jail was like a five star hotel compared to the torture center.

        Reply
  3. Lauren

    Me too. Was there from jan 2006 to November 2006. I remember everything. Crazy how after the fact everything comes to light.

    Reply
    • Mom

      I sent my son to this school thinking it would help him and I never knew what was really happening there. Years later he told me he was raped there by multiple staff members and so many other horrible things. I hope every one that worked there dies a slow and miserable death. Total torture for what they did to all of you. I’m so sorry

      Reply
  4. Sack

    I was in loyalty in 2004-2005 it was a nightmare I wonder were everyone ended up. I was lucky enough to leave b4 the riot

    Reply
    • Adam m

      I was there during the riot. Pride family haha

      Reply
    • Williams

      I’ve been reading up on this and watched the documentary I love every single one of you for Being an strong person & surviving, whoever went too that horrible place as a kid or ever and have too live with all the nightmares , trauma my heart goes out too every single one of you oh and my girl who made the documentary solutes too you! Your not scared anymore they will not own any of you anymore 🫶🏾 Fck them i hope they get wit the program !

      Reply
    • Jessalynn ZD

      didn’t leave a way to be contacted in the comment I just left.. here’s my email for any info or survivors to reach out to me with. godsnolimitsoldier27@gmail.com

      Reply
  5. Dominique

    I was in valiant in 2002. Was there for 3 month 21 years ago and i will never forget smh I see no lies ( I was 11)

    Reply
  6. M

    I was in there they totally screwed my mind up. So sad reading this … I use to say when I grow up I wanted to be one of the counselors in their to help the kids from being so abused. They never let me shave always keep ur head down. They wouldn’t let you look in mirror and made fun of you and said you were ugly. Along with ceremonies thank god they got exposed

    Reply
  7. Bones

    I was there. Faked an appendicitis so they could take me to the hospital, and my plan was to run. Turns out the doctor took my appendix out anyways and when I woke up from surgery my family was there. Told them what was happening and they pulled out of there. Still have the scars, both mentally and physically.

    Reply
    • Mt92

      Was there in 2005 “Success family” I was 13 years old, they put me on suicide watch for tearing up around Christmas for missing my family. They threw me in intervention for 2 weeks straight after they found out my mail to my mom slipped through the cracks where I told her everything going on at the hellhole…she demanded to speak with me on the phone, and they refused to allow it…long story short she flew up to Syracuse within a week, and picked me up in a limo. As I walked out I told Finlinson that I’d pray he gets prison raped once I go to the law with the many stories of blatant child abuse I endured, and witnessed.

      Reply
      • Christy hernandez

        And I hope that these disgusting ADULTS who worked there are held accountable for what they did. Idgaf who says they were doing their jobs, they tortured you all and never thought of the consequences. Most will never face justice, but they all should. I can’t understand why Noone ever said this isn’t okay and reported it or felt the evil in what they were doing. I’m not surprised in the least but feel completely sick inside. There are good people and bad, but ivy ridge and their affiliates are evil and many others do the same.
        You are all beautiful, wonderful, strong people, and I hope that you all know that.

        Reply
  8. Jordan

    Where Mike finesse? Like to cut his throat!

    Reply
  9. Jordan

    He was a tough guy. Big man tossing around kids… I ain’t a kid no more but got plenty of toys for him an all the little bitches that liked to fuck with little boys!

    Reply
  10. William

    Was anyone here sent to Ivy ridge academy ? Inwas there 2004-2005 . Place was horrible beat the hell out of me and some guys I made friends with got sent to those small all white rooms with a piece of paper and pencil and had to write over and over why i was there blah blah . I havnt spoken about this place in long time
    Pretty much since I got out until a certain smell reminded of it and I started looking into it and found this page .

    Reply
  11. Karissa

    I went from Dec 2002 to Dec 2003

    Reply
  12. Christy hernandez

    I am so so so sorry for the experience you all suffered at ivy ridge. I didn’t have the best childhood and was sent to juvenile and boys town and my fathers home and many others. My trauma is deep but this literally broke my heart. I cry for you. I feel your pain. I want to help anyway I can. This shit goes on today everywhere.

    Reply
  13. Sophia kovacs

    I will never in my life forget the experience I had here it was horrible, absurd, traumatized for the rest of our life

    Reply
  14. CMantha Overton

    My heart goes out to all of the victims of ivy ridge.
    I watched the documentary last night.
    I was in tears. I can’t believe they were doing this to young beautiful children. It makes me so angry. I wish I could hug every single one of you, I wish someone was there to protect you.
    None of you EVER deserved this treatment.
    I pray in Jesus name that these perpetrators are punished for their actions lord.
    I love you all, keep pushing and spread love, I am so sorry this happened to you guys.

    Reply
  15. Jessalynn ZD

    If there are any other schools like this, please inform me. I plan to take a stand against all this horrendous crap that no one knew about until this came out on Netflix. May YaH help all of you that went thru any part of this; my heart goes out to all of you. I hope that angels surround you all of your lives and you heal from the wounds esp the unseen ones. I love y’all and KNOW GOD WiLL have HiS WAY WiTH THoSE that hurt you.

    These people that ran that program had demonic forces ruling them and remember they reflected the way they viewed themselves at all of you.

    NONE of what happened to any of you, prior and within, WAS YOUR FAULT. Y’all are beautiful children / now adults of God and you deserve pure love and guidance.

    I hope to be someone to help any of you; if y’all feel like opening up. I know I’m a stranger to you but I hope to be an angel in disguise. Take care and please reach out if you ever need a listening ear.

    Help me take down any of the left over places that may be open.. never should a child (or person in general) be abused or treated unkindly.

    Reply
    • Tyler C

      I was here from Oct 04- Oct 06, for the riot all that. I was in four families in my time here, Freedom, Unity (during the riot), Courage and then Success. I actually ended up graduating at 18 not because I ever really followed the rules or worked the program the staff just couldn’t take me anymore so they pushed me through, it’s always been the one silver lining for me, they didn’t break me I broke them 🤣

      Reply
  16. Michaela

    Hello. I am a true crime podcaster. I want to help continue to shed light on these ‘schools’. My job is to advocate for the victims and survivors of any of my true crime episodes. If anyone would like to help me by giving me any information about what went on or tell me your story, please feel free to email me at beautyandcrime22@gmail.com.

    In no means do I want to open any wounds, so if you do not want to talk to me I will not push or anything. If you do want to share I can make anything anonymous or cite you by name. I want to help by getting the knowledge out there to help get these ‘schools’ shut down and see if any justice can be done.

    Reply
  17. Brandon Wooten

    They wouldn’t have wanted me there. I know, it sounds like I’m talking s*** And you can’t really say that without being there. I never went through anything like this, but I’m telling you right now. Watching the documentaries. I know for a fact if I was there. I would have been one of the ones that were beat to death because I would have rebelled 110%. F*** ivy ridge and f*** the staff there. They can suck a Dick and go to hell.

    Reply
  18. Elizabeth

    Just finished binge watching the documentary on Netflix, and read a ton of the comments above. My heart goes out to all of the survivors. If there’s anyway I can help, please let me know! I’m in Fort Worth, Texas.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.