As a troubled youth I was placed in this institution. There were kids and even young adults there that had been forced to stay for over four years. I witnessed and experienced horrific mental and physical abuse. This program was chased out of a number of states and eventually shut down, only to reopen under another name. Five point restraints for hours, spitting in kids faces, pushing, and screaming at them from all sides was common. I was strip searched and forced to squat as an intimidation tactic. I was forced to take 30 second cold showers and then screamed at for not washing off the soap. We urinated, defecated, and showered in open stalls while being stared at. We were walked like dogs by our belt loops. I saw others bloodied and basically tortured for not being “motivated” enough. On one occasion, an adult who was too scared to sing himself out made a run for it, smashing his hands and arms through thick, enforced glass. He was dragged in front of everyone with blood spraying from his arteries while the kids were called on to yell at him for trying to escape. There was no oversight. Parents and kids were not allowed to speak behind others backs. I was in this facility over 30 years ago and I still occasionally relive some of the really extreme, violent experiences. I am grateful for the passage of SB127 in Utah. Hopefully this increases the protections for vulnerable youth.
