Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Troubled California Teens Gain Protections Under Law Championed by Paris Hilton
gvw_calmatters
By CalMatters
Published 3 months ago on
December 18, 2024

Paris Hilton advocated for a new law bringing transparency to youth treatment facilities in California. (CalMatters/Miguel Gutierrez Jr.)

Share

Author Profile Picture
Lynn La
CalMatters

Beginning Jan. 1, hundreds of state-licensed residential treatment centers for children and youth up to age 21 operating in California must comply with a new law that brings greater transparency — particularly when they use restraints and seclusion rooms.

After restraining a youth, or putting them in a seclusion room, the facility is required to provide a report to both the youth and to their parent or guardian. The report must include a description of the incident; which staff members were involved; the rationale behind their actions; how long the incident lasted; and other details.

A copy of the report must be provided to the California Department of Social Services within seven days. The department is required to review reported incidents for any health and safety violations and, if needed, investigate the incident.

Another provision of the law, requiring the department to make data about these incidents publicly available on its website, doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2026. Then, parents or guardians weighing the difficult decision to send their children to these facilities can access information about any potential misuse of restraints and seclusion rooms.

One of the most widely-recognized champions of the bipartisan measure as it advanced through the Legislature was Paris Hilton. In April, the hotel heiress, socialite and media personality visited the state Capitol to advocate on behalf of the legislation, and recount the physical and emotional abuse she experienced while living at youth treatment centers in California and other states.

A vocal critic of the “troubled teen industry,” Hilton praised the passage of the law in August.

“For too long, these facilities have operated without adequate oversight, leaving vulnerable youth at risk,” Hilton said in a statement. “I hope our state is the standard for transparency and accountability in these facilities moving forward.”

In 2021, California prohibited sending troubled youth, including foster children, to out-of-state, for-profit treatment centers after reports of rampant abuse. As an alternative, youths can be sent to short-term therapeutic facilities licensed by the state’s social services department. A year later, California passed a law to fund crisis residential treatment facilities for children on Medi-Cal.

About the Author

Lynn La is the newsletter writer for CalMatters, focusing on California’s top political, policy and Capitol stories every weekday. She produces and curates WhatMatters, CalMatters’ flagship daily newsletter with more than 150,000 subscribers.

About CalMatters

CalMatters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom committed to explaining California policy and politics.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Used Popular Game ‘Among Us’ to Exploit Minor Pled Guilty

DON'T MISS

Fresno Nonprofit CEO Sandra Celedon Files to Run for Assembly

DON'T MISS

Ontario Slaps 25% Tax Increase on Electricity Exports to US in Response to Trump’s Trade War

DON'T MISS

Bakersfield Man Who Made Bomb Found Near Community Pool Pleads Guilty

DON'T MISS

Fresno City Attorney Janz Launches Probe Into Attack Campaign Mailer

DON'T MISS

New Atmospheric River Expected to Boost Sierra Snowpack

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Two and Seize 15 Firearms in Gang-Related Investigation

DON'T MISS

The Populist vs. the Billionaire: Bannon, Musk and the Battle Within MAGA

DON'T MISS

LA District Attorney Says He Won’t Support Resentencing the Menendez Brothers

DON'T MISS

Study Tells CA Legislators to Declare War on Red Tape. Will They Do It?

UP NEXT

Small Earthquake Rattles Southern California

UP NEXT

Bakersfield Man Arrested for Aiming Laser at Kern County Sheriff Helicopter

UP NEXT

California’s Demographic Landscape: Who’s Coming and Going?

UP NEXT

Newsom Condemned by Fresno County Democrats Over Transgender Remarks

UP NEXT

California’s List of Failed Tech Projects Just Added an Agency

UP NEXT

Newsom Breaks From Democratic Stance on Transgender Sports

UP NEXT

Cuts Could Close Campsites and Trails in California, Forest Service Memo Says

UP NEXT

Wired Wednesday: How Tariffs Could Impact California’s Agriculture

UP NEXT

Instead of Policing Student Use of AI, California Teachers Need to Reinvent Homework

UP NEXT

Have Federal Agents Served Warrants at California’s Capitol? The Legislature Doesn’t Want You to Know

Bakersfield Man Who Made Bomb Found Near Community Pool Pleads Guilty

7 hours ago

Fresno City Attorney Janz Launches Probe Into Attack Campaign Mailer

7 hours ago

New Atmospheric River Expected to Boost Sierra Snowpack

7 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Two and Seize 15 Firearms in Gang-Related Investigation

9 hours ago

The Populist vs. the Billionaire: Bannon, Musk and the Battle Within MAGA

10 hours ago

LA District Attorney Says He Won’t Support Resentencing the Menendez Brothers

11 hours ago

Study Tells CA Legislators to Declare War on Red Tape. Will They Do It?

11 hours ago

Visalia Men Arrested for Homicide After Deadly Attack at Apartment Complex

11 hours ago

Visalia Head-On Crash Kills One, Leaves One Injured

11 hours ago

Washington Post Columnist Quits After Her Opinion Piece Criticizing Owner Is Rejected

11 hours ago

Fresno Man Used Popular Game ‘Among Us’ to Exploit Minor Pled Guilty

A Fresno man pleaded guilty Monday to sexually exploiting a minor, admitting he coerced a 15-year-old in Missouri into sending explicit imag...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

Fresno Man Used Popular Game ‘Among Us’ to Exploit Minor Pled Guilty

7 hours ago

Fresno Nonprofit CEO Sandra Celedon Files to Run for Assembly

People wave flags and hold signs during a protest outside of the U.S embassy in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
7 hours ago

Ontario Slaps 25% Tax Increase on Electricity Exports to US in Response to Trump’s Trade War

7 hours ago

Bakersfield Man Who Made Bomb Found Near Community Pool Pleads Guilty

7 hours ago

Fresno City Attorney Janz Launches Probe Into Attack Campaign Mailer

7 hours ago

New Atmospheric River Expected to Boost Sierra Snowpack

Fresno police arrested two suspects, Jesus Cardenas, 26, and Frank Alvarez, 40, and seized 15 firearms during a long-term investigation into illegal firearm manufacturing and trafficking, with two suspects still at large. (Fresno PD)
9 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Two and Seize 15 Firearms in Gang-Related Investigation

10 hours ago

The Populist vs. the Billionaire: Bannon, Musk and the Battle Within MAGA

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend