Research
A Troubled Industry
Thousands of youth are held captive by the “Troubled Teen Industry” every year. With lack of government oversight, this highly profitable industry is allowed to operate with near impunity. Children, between the ages of 5-18+ years old, can be held against their will in facilities for years. Without oversight, this approach of totalistic treatment often results in institutional child abuse.
The “Troubled Teen Industry” is a network of Private Youth Programs: Bootcamps, Residential Treatment Centers, Religious Academies, Wilderness Programs, Addiction Rehabs, Specialty Schools and Programs.
These facilities claim to rehabilitate defiant teens and instill strict values. Deceptive marketing tactics are used to convince caregivers that long-term residential treatment is the only option. These specialty programs exceed the tuition of most Ivy League Universities and burden taxpayers who unknowingly fund these institutions through federal and state public funds.
Due to the lack of Federal oversight defining comprehensive industry standards, Private Youth Programs are not properly regulated by government agencies and many Private Youth Programs operate unlicensed.
What is Institutional Child Abuse?
Many private youth programs use aversive behavioral modification models which focus on punitive measures to coerce compliance and control. These methods can be cruel, unethical, and blatant violations of human rights. Use of such negligent procedures often lead to physical abuse, sexual abuse, and psychological trauma. The use of these methods listed below and their resulting trauma is what we refer to as institutional abuse.
Physical Abuse
- Physical/Mechanical restraint;
- Use of Prone (face-down) and pressure point restraints;
- Misuse of restraint as punishment.
- Use of electroshock devices.
- Stress positioning/infliction of physically painful punishments.
- Forced labor, grueling punishments or calisthenics that result in exhaustion and dehydration.
Psychological Abuse
- Aversive Behavior Modification.
- Solitary confinement/isolation;
- locking children in cages, makeshift boxes or small, inhospitable rooms.
- Cruel and unusual punishments.
- No-Contact with Family and friends.
- Utilizing higher-level students to police and punish lower-level students.
- Lack of proper social interaction, social ostracism or prolonged periods of forced silence.
Neglect
- Denial of adequate medical care, in a timely manner, by a licensed clinician.
- Denial of necessary medical treatment and medications.
- Denied access to school as punishment.
- Policies and procedures that train staff to believe that children are “faking it” when they complain of illness and injury.
Physical Abuse
- Physical/Mechanical restraint;
- Use of Prone (face-down) and pressure point restraints;
- Misuse of restraint as punishment.
- Use of electroshock devices.
- Stress positioning/infliction of physically painful punishments.
- Forced labor, grueling punishments or calisthenics that result in exhaustion and dehydration.
Psychological Abuse
- Aversive Behavior Modification.
- Solitary confinement/isolation;
- locking children in cages, makeshift boxes or small, inhospitable rooms.
- Cruel and unusual punishments.
- No-Contact with Family and friends.
- Utilizing higher-level students to police and punish lower-level students.
- Lack of proper social interaction, social ostracism or prolonged periods of forced silence.
Neglect
- Denial of adequate medical care, in a timely manner, by a licensed clinician.
- Denial of necessary medical treatment and medications.
- Denied access to school as punishment.
- Policies and procedures that train staff to believe that children are “faking it” when they complain of illness and injury.
Sexual Abuse
- The cruel and unusual use of strip searches and cavity searches.
- Forced pelvic exams/ virginity checks.
- Sexual assault or any sexual contact between staff and student.
- Grooming for emotional or sexual relationships.
- Viewing, photographing or video taping children in undress; or showing pornographic images to children.
- Forced sexualized behavior, reenactments of sexual assault and sexual shaming.
- Any methods used for the sole purpose of “conversion therapy” of LGBTQ+ youth.
Denial of Basic Human Rights
- Admittance without consent or due process by involuntary and forceful transport to the facility.
- Denial of direct and unmonitored communication with law enforcement, legal representation, and child protective services.
- Monitored phone calls with parents and retaliation, if abuse is reported.
-
Deprivation of sleep, adequate nutrition, and access to proper hygiene.
-
Denial of clothing, including weather-appropriate attire.
- Mail censorship.
- Forced child labor or pointless menial labor (ie: moving rocks, digging graves, hauling large objects, pulling horse carts etc.)
Sexual Abuse
- The cruel and unusual use of strip searches and cavity searches.
- Forced pelvic exams/ virginity checks.
- Sexual assault or any sexual contact between staff and student.
- Grooming for emotional or sexual relationships.
- Viewing, photographing or video taping children in undress; or showing pornographic images to children.
- Forced sexualized behavior, reenactments of sexual assault and sexual shaming.
- Any methods used for the sole purpose of “conversion therapy” of LGBTQ+ youth.
Denial of Basic Human Rights
- Admittance without consent or due process by involuntary and forceful transport to the facility.
- Denial of direct and unmonitored communication with law enforcement, legal representation, and child protective services.
- Monitored phone calls with parents and retaliation, if abuse is reported.
-
Deprivation of sleep, adequate nutrition, and access to proper hygiene.
-
Denial of clothing, including weather-appropriate attire.
- Mail censorship.
- Forced child labor or pointless menial labor (ie: moving rocks, digging graves, hauling large objects, pulling horse carts etc.)
Legislation
The Urgent Need For Reform
Only an inconsistent patchwork of state to state legislation exists to regulate this multi-billion dollar industry. In order to ensure the safety of every child in this country, we must utilize both state and federal legislation to address the current inconsistencies in regulation, mandate minimum industry standards, and create regulatory systems that will be effective at protecting youth from institutional abuse.
Read more
The Problem
TTI Research & Resources
The Definition
Institutional Child Abuse
The Solution
Legislation & Initiatives
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers needed to provide support, legal services and protection to at-risk youth in residential treatment centers. If you are a legal professional, researcher, child advocate or provide any services that may help a child in need, please contact us.
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