Troubled Teen Industry News

Latest updates, investigations, and reports monitored by our team.

Lawsuit

Former Participant Files Lawsuit Against Operator of International Adolescent Programs Alleging Abuse

LYNN DeBRUIN • The Spokesman-Review • Jun 3, 2011
Also covered by: dailykos.com (Oct 11, 2007) sandiegouniontribune.com
Physical Restraint Humiliating Punishments Food Restriction Medical Neglect Substance Abuse Self-harm
Survivor Stories Licensing Closure Utah World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools Casa By the Sea High Impact
Facilities: World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, Casa by the Sea, High Impact
Key Figures: Robert B. Litchfield, Brent M. Facer
Read Original Article
Event

Director of Massachusetts “Shock School” Resigns After Being Indicted on Criminal Charges

Disability Rights International • May 26, 2011
Also covered by: Mass.gov (Attorney General of Massachusetts) Press Release (May 25, 2011)
Physical Restraint Humiliating Punishments
Disability Rights Staff Misconduct Trial Settlement Oversight Judge Rotenberg Educational Center Judge Rotenberg Center
Facilities: Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Judge Rotenberg Center
Key Figures: Matthew Israel
Read Original Article
Arrest

Founder Ordered to Resign from Judge Rotenberg Center Amid Obstruction Charges

WBUR • May 26, 2011
Also covered by: MassLive (Nov 14, 2023) WGBH (Nov 13, 2023) USA Today (Nov 2, 2021) archive.ph (archived) (Jul 15, 2021) NBC News (Apr 28, 2021) MassLive (Mar 9, 2020) WGBH (Mar 4, 2020) Daily News (Nov 7, 2019) Disability Scoop (Mar 13, 2019) DC Media Group (Mar 22, 2018) DC Media Group (Mar 14, 2018) Disability Scoop (Mar 13, 2018) HuffPost (Dec 22, 2016) MassLive (Jul 15, 2016) Washington Post (Oct 2, 2010) Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth (CAFETY) (Oct 1, 2010)
Safety Violations
Staff Misconduct Oversight Licensing Disability Rights Private Schools Massachusetts Judge Rotenberg Educational Center Judge Rotenberg Center
Facilities: Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Judge Rotenberg Center
Key Figures: Matthew Israel, Martha Coakley, Max Stern
Read Original Article
General

Founder of electric shock autism treatment school forced to quit (2011-05-25)

theguardian.com • May 25, 2011
Also covered by: articles.boston.com (May 25, 2011) foxnews.com (Jul 28, 2023) sltrib.com (Jul 28, 2023) apnews.com (Jul 28, 2023) washingtontimes.com (May 27, 2023) washingtontimes.com (May 23, 2023) chicagotribune.com (May 10, 2023) washingtontimes.com (May 9, 2023) foxnews.com (May 6, 2023) businessinsider.com (May 5, 2023) chicago.suntimes.com (May 5, 2023) tucsonsentinel.com (May 4, 2023) staradvertiser.com (May 4, 2023) washingtonpost.com (May 4, 2023) jezebel.com (May 4, 2023) pressherald.com (May 4, 2023) usatoday.com (May 4, 2023) washingtonpost.com (May 4, 2023) macon.com (May 4, 2023) apnews.com (May 4, 2023) nydailynews.com (May 4, 2023) news.yahoo.com (May 4, 2023) kansascity.com (May 4, 2023) omaha.com (May 4, 2023) ocregister.com (May 4, 2023) washingtonpost.com (May 4, 2023) newser.com (May 4, 2023) kcci.com (Jan 23, 2023) kcci.com (Jan 18, 2023) wtkr.com (Nov 20, 2022) grenierlawgroup.com (Nov 3, 2022) studybreaks.com (Aug 16, 2022) westport-news.com (Sep 24, 2021) helenair.com (Sep 23, 2021) stltoday.com (Aug 9, 2021) helenair.com (Jul 12, 2021) Breaking Code Silence (May 23, 2021) wvrecord.com (Nov 16, 2020) wchstv.com (Nov 13, 2020) wvnews.com (Nov 13, 2020) vtdigger.org (Sep 20, 2020) mynbc5.com (Sep 17, 2020) vtdigger.org (Sep 15, 2020) tamakilaw.com (May 26, 2020) Union-Bulletin.com (May 22, 2020) The Wenatchee World (May 21, 2020) union-bulletin.com (May 20, 2020) kxly.com (May 20, 2020) healthline.com (Mar 11, 2020) theguardian.com (Mar 5, 2020) science20.com (Mar 4, 2020) benzinga.com (Mar 4, 2020) tspr.org (Feb 28, 2019) tspr.org (May 11, 2018) desmoinesregister.com (May 11, 2018) thehawkeye.com (Dec 23, 2017) foxnews.com (Dec 22, 2017) thehawkeye.com (Dec 21, 2017) tspr.org (Dec 21, 2017) tspr.org (Dec 14, 2017) kcrg.com (Nov 28, 2017) thehawkeye.com (Nov 23, 2017) kwqc.com (Sep 12, 2017) tspr.org (Sep 11, 2017) time.com (Sep 8, 2017) globegazette.com (Sep 8, 2017) abcnews.go.com (Sep 8, 2017) law.com (Aug 24, 2017) al.com (Feb 22, 2017) weartv.com (Dec 7, 2016) local15tv.com (Dec 7, 2016) Des Moines Register (Sep 24, 2016) desmoinesregister.com (Apr 13, 2016) https://www.kcrg.com (Mar 16, 2016) desmoinesregister.com (Mar 16, 2016) wqad.com (Mar 15, 2016) Daily Gate City (Mar 15, 2016) abcnews.go.com (Mar 15, 2016) Des Moines Register (Mar 14, 2016) https://www.kcrg.com (Mar 8, 2016) Daily Gate City (Mar 4, 2016) Daily Gate City (Mar 4, 2016) wqad.com (Mar 3, 2016) Daily Gate City (Mar 3, 2016) Iowa City Press-Citizen (Mar 3, 2016) Des Moines Register (Feb 23, 2016) Daily Gate City (Feb 22, 2016) who13.com (Feb 19, 2016) Des Moines Register (Feb 18, 2016) kcrg.com (Feb 18, 2016) https://www.kcrg.com (Feb 15, 2016) KCCI (Feb 15, 2016) ndtv.com (Feb 15, 2016) hln.be (Feb 14, 2016) RT International (Feb 14, 2016) wqad.com (Feb 13, 2016) CBS17.com (Feb 13, 2016) New York Post (Feb 13, 2016) TribLIVE.com (Feb 13, 2016) Mail Online (Feb 13, 2016) Press Herald (Feb 13, 2016) Des Moines Register (Feb 13, 2016) therepublic.com (Feb 13, 2016) culteducation.com (Feb 13, 2016) https://www.kcrg.com (Feb 8, 2016) Des Moines Register (Feb 7, 2016) Des Moines Register (Feb 6, 2016) Daily Gate City (Feb 5, 2016) pinalcentral.com (Feb 4, 2016) Daily Gate City (Feb 3, 2016) dccc.org (Feb 3, 2016) berkshireeagle.com (Feb 2, 2016) abc15.com (Feb 2, 2016) dccc.org (Feb 1, 2016) wwlp.com (Jan 31, 2016) Daily Gate City (Jan 29, 2016) KHQA (Jan 29, 2016) abcnews.go.com (Jan 29, 2016) rollcall.com (Jan 29, 2016) KHQA (Jan 28, 2016) Daily Gate City (Jan 28, 2016) kwqc.com (Jan 28, 2016) abc15.com (Jan 26, 2016) abc15.com (Jan 26, 2016) vice.com (Mar 23, 2015) nbcnews.com (Apr 25, 2014) ac360.blogs.cnn.com (Mar 12, 2013) ksl.com (Feb 21, 2013) disabilityrightsintl.org (Jun 5, 2012) theguardian.com (Jun 2, 2012) huffpost.com (Mar 29, 2012) goddiscussion.com (Mar 28, 2012) spencelawyers.com (Oct 12, 2011) 219mag.com (Aug 24, 2011) wbur.org (Jul 26, 2011) wbur.org (Jul 26, 2011) abcnews.go.com (Jun 29, 2010) npr.org (Sep 4, 2007) archive.boston.com (Sep 4, 2007) thetutorgroup.com (Sep 3, 2007) telegram.com (Sep 2, 2007) mindfreedom.org (Aug 26, 2007) motherjones.com (Aug 20, 2007) nospank.net (Aug 20, 2007) nypost.com (Jun 14, 2007) nydailynews.com (Jun 13, 2007) nospank.net (Jun 21, 2006) archive.boston.com (Jun 15, 2006) nospank.net (Jun 14, 2006) nospank.net (Aug 28, 2005) Daily Herald (Aug 20, 2005) Deseret News (Aug 19, 2005) wwaspsinfo.net (Aug 19, 2005) ag.ny.gov (Aug 18, 2005) wwaspsinfo.net (Aug 18, 2005) closethayerlearningcenter.com (Apr 15, 2005) stuartaddresslaw.com (Jul 10, 2001) nospank.net (Apr 29, 1999) newson6.com desmoinesregister.com missoulian.com missoulian.com ac360.blogs.cnn.com missoulian.com billingsgazette.com mtviewmirror.com newspapers.com vice.com narpa.org royalgazette.com
Judge Rotenberg Educational Center
Facilities: Judge Rotenberg Educational Center
Read Original Article
Arrest

Head of Rotenberg Center agrees to leave post in deal with prosecutors archived copy

Patricia Wen • Boston Globe • May 25, 2011
Physical Restraint Humiliating Punishments
Group Home Disability Rights Staff Misconduct Trial Settlement Judge Rotenberg Educational Center Stoughton Group Home
Facilities: Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Stoughton group home
Key Figures: Matthew Israel, Max Stern, Glenn Cunha, Martha Coakley, Kenneth Fishman, Isaac Borenstein
Read Original Article
General

Home - Thenervousbreakdown

The Nervous Breakdown • Apr 29, 2011
Synanon
Facilities: Synanon
Read Original Article
Expose

Lawyer: 11 now claim abuse at Camp Good News

Craig Salters • Taunton Gazette • Apr 12, 2011
Child Sexual Abuse Suicide
Sexual Misconduct Staff Misconduct Licensing Suicide Survivor Stories Massachusetts Riverview School Camp Good News American Camp Association Sandwich Community School
Facilities: Riverview School, Camp Good News, American Camp Association, Sandwich Community School
Key Figures: Charles "Chuck" Devita
Read Original Article
Closure

Online Activism Contributes to Closures of Unregulated Residential Youth Programs

Maia Szalavitz • TIME • Apr 5, 2011
Physical Restraint Seclusion Humiliating Punishments Peer Violence Child Death Suicide Medical Neglect
Wilderness Therapy Closure Oversight Legislation Survivor Stories Maine Elan School Sagewalk Wilderness Program Mount Bachelor Academy Aspen Education
Facilities: Elan School, Sagewalk wilderness program, Mount Bachelor Academy, Aspen Education
Key Figures: Sharon Terry, David Connerty-Marin, Yellow Light Breen
Read Original Article
Closure

Unlicensed Teen Mentor Program Closed by Costa Rican Authorities Amid Mistreatment Allegations

Tico Times • The Tico Times • Apr 1, 2011
Also covered by: ticotimes.net (Apr 1, 2011)
Humiliating Punishments Seclusion Physical Restraint
Closure Licensing Staff Misconduct Survivor Stories Costa Rica Teen Mentor World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) Dundee Ranch Academy
Facilities: Teen Mentor, World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS), Dundee Ranch Academy
Key Figures: Robert Walter Lichfield, Narvin Lichfield, Robert Browning Lichfield, Brande Ridd
Read Original Article