Escaping Justice

overlooked deaths in the troubled teen industry

Since 1934, there have been over 300 preventable deaths of youth and adolescents in Troubled Teen Industry programs. The vast majority of these children never get justice, and the programs responsible never face a single consequence, legal, civil, criminal, or otherwise. Families of these lost children passionately demand punishment and action over the course of years to find justice for their kids, only to be silenced by the American legal system that repeatedly sides with the programs in favor of protecting the financial stability and social reputation of those who own and operate Troubled Teen Industry programs.

By Nora Ashleigh Barrie

April 12, 2023

We Survived the Troubled Teen Industry

survivor accounts

While it is unknown how many adolescents enter the Troubled Teen Industry each year, it has been reported that there are 120,000-200,000 children confined to Industry programs at any given time. Current regulations do not require these numbers to be reported, leading to significantly lower reported enrollment rates of students in the Troubled Teen Industry. Since Industry programs became commonplace beginning in 1970, there have been millions of youth shuttled in and out of facilities, resulting in millions of Troubled Teen Industry survivors now living as adults in the United States.

By Nora Ashleigh Barrie

October 4, 2022

Whiteout in the West Desert

my story of survival IN A UTAH WILDERNESS PROGRAM

On December 22, 2003, I was awoken at 4am by two people looming over my bed who I had never seen before in my life. I was told I could go "the easy way or the hard way". I was then kidnapped from my home by juvenile transporters hired by my parents to traffick me into the Troubled Teen Industry. I was put on a plane and abandoned at the headquarters of my first program, Outback Therapeutic Expeditions, located in Lehi, Utah. I was driven into the isolated expanse of Utah's West Desert and left there. Seven teenage girls and myself spent the following 26 days fighting for survival.

By Nora Ashleigh Barrie

November 13, 2022

The Troubled Teen Industry: A Photo Essay

A visual story of life in the troubled teen industry

The Troubled Teen Industry uses vast and varied methods of gaining compliance from children including outdated therapies, isolation, severely limited freedom, various restraint methods, strenuous exercise, harsh conditions, and more. Because of the use of these tactics, survivors of the Troubled Teen Industry have all experienced their own versions of odd, confusing, and questionable punishment. These experiences and memories result in intriguing and unbelieveable stories. In programs where students are permitted cameras, there is photographic evidence of these experiences.

By Nora Ashleigh Barrie

October 10, 2022

EDUCATION

> An Introduction to the Troubled Teen Industry

> A Brief History of the Troubled Teen Industry

INVESTIGATION

Program ​Information

Program Closures

LEGISLATION

COngressional

missouri

utah

montana

SURVIVOR VOICES

survivor spotlight

SITE REFERENCES

SITE MAP