I was placed at Provo Canyon School by the state of California. I had run away from an abusive home, and had a lot of behavior problems stemming from the abuse so California decided to send me to Provo.
Some of my memories are vague, but I do remember being restrained. Plastic cuffs around my wrists attached to a cot. I remember the first time I was placed in restraint I had such horrible flashbacks from the abuse I’d suffered that I screamed at the top of my lungs for a full 4 hours. Four hours was the limit they allowed for such restraints.
I was often placed in *seclusion”, a locked bare brick cell for days. For mild infractions I’d be forced to stand for 25 minutes at a time, with a 5 minute break to sit, or use the bathroom.
I regularly saw a psychiatrist who prescribed high doses of medication. Thorazine was one. For those who don’t know Thorazine is a strong sedative medication. I was given a dose in the morning before school and before bed. It made me so sleepy I got into trouble for falling asleep in class. At one point I decided I didn’t want it. My therapist had the nurse grind it into powder, and I was forced to eat it without water.
Structure was a big deal. I’d stand in line with other students for 20-30 minutes until our line was perfect before being allowed to eat or go to the gym.
At the time I didn’t realize this was abuse. Being beaten, raped, and starved was the abuse I knew. But I still have night terrors about the school, as well as the nightmares from the abuse at home. I never sleep straight through the night. Then there are the panic attacks, and in ability to go into a crowded store.
Name:
Rachel M.
Program:
Provo Canyon School
Location:
UT, United States
Years Attended:
1990 – 1993
I am so sorry you had to go through this. I hope one day you may be able to find safety and sleep soundly. I send my deepest love to you, and other victims like you.
My name is Brent I was forced to be there around 2001 at the boys campus of pcs. Every day there was abuse. When I got there I was basically strip searched and they put me in a place called investment. They eventually through me in a freezing cold brick room with only sweat pants and a shirt on. I cried but after about a year the tears dried up. I used to say if u were not crazy when u got there u would become crazy. I saw abuse violence fear based mind control and strict punishment for even the smallest infraction. This place was run by Mormons and was very controlling like a cult basically. Every aspect of my life was controlled by fear of abuse. What I saw in there and what the many other people like me who were forced to suffer there we will hopefully never remember. May Jesus heal our hearts and minds and help us to expose the abusive cash for kids industry that exists. All the abusers and the corporation uhs will stand in front of jesus when they die and I hope they don’t go to hell but most of them are statistically. I forgive them all and I would have ran away when I went home to California I was just doped up and I didn’t know how to survive on the streets. I would have gladly ran away and lived until 18 as homeless but if I hadn’t gone through it I would not be the same person I am today. I may have never asked Jesus to save my soul and heal me if I didn’t go through the trauma
im so sorry u went through this. thank you for sharing your story. sending so much love and prayers your way <3
These people should be in prison !! I can’t believe our government hasn’t put guide lines up for places like this ! I think they should all be burnt to the ground!! This is such bullshit !!
My niece was put in Carolina springs academy!! She was in there only for a week ! My sister realized she made a mistake n went n got her child out of that hell hole! The linchfields should be hung from a dam rope until dead !! By the way where can I find these bastard so I can hang the mother fuckers!! This is bullshit !!
I finished watching the Netflix documentary last night, and I am frankly appalled–except that that is not a strong enough word. I am sorry for you and all of the others who went through this torment. I am a teacher in an evangelical Christian school (just a school–not “therapeutic” or anything), and I want to assure you that for most evangelicals nothing could be farther from what we believe about teaching or discipline or helping kids with problems. Please know that there are many loving schools and programs out there–some Christian, some not–that actually want to help kids, not control them. Peace to you and all the others.