Paris Hilton, a media personality and fashion icon, is sponsoring the Accountability in Children’s Treatment (ACT) bill in California. This bill, put forward by Republican lawmaker Shannon Grove, aims to increase transparency for parents about the whereabouts of their children during their stay in troubled youth programs. The bill requires facilities licensed by the California Department of Social Services to disclose information regarding the use of restraints and solitary confinement-style rooms. Hilton, who has spoken out about her own experiences of abuse at a boarding school in Utah, hopes to bring attention to the abusive and traumatizing practices that occur in such facilities.
The state of California has previously taken steps to protect children, many of whom are in foster care, from abuse in out-of-state facilities. Legislation has been passed de-certifying non-California facilities and ordering the return of all youth by January 2023. Governor Gavin Newsom allocated $8 million to facilitate the immediate return of children and strengthen behavioral treatment programs. Hilton’s support for Grove’s bill, SB 1043, aims to provide an extra layer of transparency in order to address the issue of child abuse that has persisted for decades.
Grove highlighted the fact that many youth facilities are meant to provide a camp-like environment for children, but reports of abuse have surfaced in recent years. These cases of abuse were featured in the Netflix docuseries “The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping,” which depicted the abuse of troubled teens at facilities such as New York’s Academy at Ivy Ridge. Former students reported various forms of abuse including abduction, strip searches, starvation, and solitary confinement. Hilton shared her own traumatic experiences in her youth, underscoring the need for greater oversight and accountability in such facilities.
In a New York Times video op-ed series, Hilton revealed that she was a victim of a “parent-approved kidnapping” when she was 16 years old. She described being taken from her home and subjected to invasive medical exams by staff members at the congregate-care facility. Last year, Hilton supported the bipartisan Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, co-sponsored by U.S. lawmakers. This bill, introduced in April, aims to enhance oversight of residential youth treatment programs to identify and prevent child abuse. Hilton and Grove are set to present their bill during a press conference in Sacramento, furthering their advocacy against institutional child abuse and calling for greater transparency and accountability in youth facilities.
Hilton emphasized the importance of transparency in holding facilities accountable for their actions and providing validation and support for survivors of abuse. She aims to inspire a more compassionate approach to addressing mental health and behavioral needs in youth, advocating against sending them far away from their loved ones. Grove expressed gratitude for Hilton’s support, highlighting the urgent need to address the issue of child abuse in troubled youth programs. Through their advocacy efforts, Hilton and Grove are working to ensure that children in such facilities are protected from harm and receive the care and support they deserve.
