Hilton, who has previously disclosed her own experiences of sexual abuse as a teenager at a Utah boarding school in the 1990s, is backing a bill proposed by California Republican legislator Shannon Grove. The proposed legislation, known as the Accountability in Children’s Treatment (ACT), aims to enhance transparency for parents regarding their children's experiences in troubled youth programs. The bill mandates the disclosure of any serious injuries or deaths on the state's social services website.
The proposed legislation stipulates that facilities licensed by the California Department of Social Services must disclose information related to the use of restraints and solitary confinement-style rooms. Hilton, in an interview with Fox News Digital, expressed her commitment to ensuring greater transparency in these facilities. "These facilities systematically silence youth, and I am dedicated to ensuring there are greater transparency mechanisms in place," Hilton stated. She emphasized the importance of transparency in holding facilities accountable and validating the experiences of survivors like herself.
WATCH:ELON MUSK TALKS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SELF DRIVING CARS
Hilton further expressed her hope to foster a more compassionate approach to addressing the mental health and behavioral needs of young people. She argued against the practice of sending them far from their loved ones, citing her own experiences as evidence of its unsustainability.
WATCH ALAN DERSHOWITZ: "THERE IS NO CRIME IN MANHATTAN"
California has already taken measures to safeguard children, particularly those in foster care, from abuse in out-of-state facilities. This was achieved through legislation that de-certified non-California facilities and mandated the return of all youth by January 2023. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom allocated $8 million to expedite the return of children from out-of-state facilities and enhance behavioral treatment programs.
PUTIN'S LATEST POWER MOVE: RUSSIA DISPLAYS "WAR WINS" IN EYE-OPENING EXHIBITION
Grove expressed gratitude for Hilton's support of her bill, SB 1043, and asserted that the added transparency could help eradicate the longstanding issue of child abuse. Grove highlighted the harsh realities of these programs, where children are often kept in isolation for extended periods. She emphasized the need to ensure the safety and well-being of these children.
HOW DEMOCRATS' ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS ARE TURNING INTO THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE
Grove further revealed that many of these youth facilities, which are intended to provide a structured, camp-like environment, have been the subject of numerous abuse allegations. Many former attendees, now adults, have come forward with accounts of abuse, as depicted in the recent Netflix docuseries "The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping."
"BITCOIN JESUS" BUSTED: $48 MILLION TAX EVASION SCHEME UNRAVELS
The docuseries detailed the alleged abuse of troubled teens at New York's Academy at Ivy Ridge, where former students reported experiences of abduction, strip searches, starvation, sleep deprivation, corporal punishment, and solitary confinement. Hilton claimed to have endured similar experiences in her youth.
FIFTH VICTIM FOUND AND IDENTIFIED IN KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE
In a 2022 video op-ed series for The New York Times, Hilton recounted being the victim of a "parent-approved kidnapping" at the age of 16. She described being forcibly taken from her home and placed in a congregate-care facility, where she and other girls were subjected to invasive medical exams by staff members.
IT'S OFFICIAL: ALEX SOROS ATTENDS THE MET GALA WITH NEW LOVE FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE...
In 2021, Hilton joined U.S. lawmakers in supporting the bipartisan Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act. This bill, authored by Senators Cornyn, Tuberville, Merkley, Representatives Khanna, and Carter, was introduced in April and seeks to strengthen oversight of residential youth treatment programs to identify and prevent child abuse.
Hilton and Grove are scheduled to present their bill at a press conference in Sacramento on Monday.
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
