Turn-About Ranch: Abuse Allegations & How to Get Help
Turn-About Ranch has a history of abuse allegations by former participants since its founding in 1989. If you or someone you know experienced physical or sexual abuse at Turn-About Ranch, you have legal rights and options— and we can help you understand them if you reach out to us today.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
Key Takeaways
- Turn-About Ranch is a Utah-based “troubled teen” program founded in 1989 that has a long history of abuse allegations by former participants.
- These allegations have been highlighted in the media—including the recent documentary “Teen Torture, Inc.”—and in several lawsuits filed by former participants.
- If you suffered from abuse while at Turn-About Ranch, you may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit against the program and those responsible for your harm. Contact us today, and we will connect you with an experienced attorney.
What is Turn-About Ranch?
Turn-About Ranch is a for-profit residential treatment program hosted on a working cattle ranch that purports to help teenagers with a wide range of behavioral problems. It is considered one of the original “troubled teen programs” that have exploded in popularity since the early 1990s and 2000s.
Located in the small town of Escalante, Utah, the program was founded in 1989 as a Christian-based “high-impact” residential treatment program for youths aged 13-17. However, it has since changed its approach to remove the outright Christian messaging, although many recent attendees say Christianity still influences the programming.
The program involves multiple levels that participants must complete to “graduate.” The average stay is reported to be around 100 days, although many former participants allege much longer stays.
The average cost reported for a 100-day stay at Turn-About Ranch is approximately $40,000 and is not in-network with any insurance carriers. However, the program touts on its website that it “can work with PPO policies with Residential Treatment Benefits and/or Partial Hospitalization benefits” and encourages parents to finance their child’s stay with loans from specific loan partners.
Television personality Dr. Phil has been associated with Turn-About Ranch since the early 2000s and has sent several participants of his show to the program, including Danielle Bregoli, also known as Bhad Babie. She has been a fierce advocate against the program and was featured in the 2024 HBO Max documentary “Teen Torture, Inc.”
While Turn-About Ranch advertises itself as a place where teens can find help and healing, the media, former attendees, and court cases tell a different story.
Abuse Allegations at Turn-About Ranch
Over the last decade, numerous program attendees have come forward to detail the alleged harm and abuse that happened to them during their time at Turn-About Ranch.
From the recent HBO Max documentary “Teen Torture, Inc.” to lawsuits filed by former attendees and dozens of media pieces, the abuse allegations against Turn-About Ranch can no longer be excused or hidden from the general public.
The abuse allegations against Turn-About Ranch are wide-ranging. The following are just a few of them:
- LGBTQIA+ participants were subjected to harassment and homophobic slurs by staff
- Sleep deprivation, with some participants alleging they were deprived of sleep for more than 72 hours
- Forced physical labor even after participants complained of pain
- Deprivation of showers, clean clothes, and hygiene products
- Threats of physical violence, suffocation, or restraints
- Animal abuse and neglect perpetrated by staff members
- Sexual assault and harassment by staff members and other program participants
Beyond these allegations of harm and abuse at Turn-About Ranch, there have also been reports documented in the media.
Turn-About Ranch Deaths & Abuse Allegations in the Media
The first media report of abuse at Turn-About Ranch was in 1994. However, that incident involved allegations that three teenage boys beat two employees at the facility and fled in one victim’s vehicle. Little is known about the teen’s reasons for causing severe harm to the employees, but they did plead guilty to their crimes and served sentences.
Turn-About Ranch was also featured in several episodes of the early-2000s British reality show “Brat Camp,” which followed “troubled teens” through their time at different “treatment” programs.
In 2016, another participant brutally beat two staff members, killing one, and attempted to flee the scene in a victim’s car. He was found guilty of multiple crimes. However, the teen’s defense lawyers argued he was suicidal and forced to detox from drugs while sitting in the “stone circle” for nearly a week before the attack. They asserted this caused an abnormal mental state for the teen.
Several individuals featured on episodes of the “Dr. Phil” program were also sent to Turn About Ranch, including Danielle Bregoli. Danielle has been a fierce advocate for shutting these programs down and discussed her experiences, alleging she was denied clothing, showers, and food. Bregoli allegedly witnessed the sexual assault of another participant and claimed staff members retaliated against the victim after she reported the incident. Bergoli further alleged she was at Turn-About Ranch when the 2016 killing occurred and said the incident caused additional trauma for the participants.
In February 2024, a woman named Hannah Archuleta filed a lawsuit against Turn-About Ranch, alleging that an employee sexually assaulted her at age 17.
Released in July 2024, the HBO documentary series “Teen Torture, Inc.” critiqued the entire “troubled teen” industry. It includes firsthand accounts from survivors who were sent to facilities, including Turn-About Ranch and Provo Canyon School, for supposed “treatment.” These survivors recount experiences such as being waterboarded, stripped, restrained, and placed in solitary confinement.
Turn-About Ranch Reviews
Overall, Turn-About Ranch has a review score of 1.9 on Google Reviews, with over 300 reviews submitted. Many of these reviews were not submitted by program attendees, but quite a few were. The Google Reviews reveal shocking allegations from program attendees and their parents. Here are some of the negative reviews:
- “I just want to first say I am 29 now. I was here as a teenager. This place is physiological abuse. I also now work with kids. I know for a fact that Turn-About Ranch is not what I do at all. If I were to do half of these things. I would not have a job. When I got older, I realized that this place legitimate child abuse…”
- “Sent here at 14. I sustained burns on my hands and my family had to advocate for medical care. Within a few weeks I dropped from 115 lbs to 85. Don’t send your kid here – I almost died.”
- “I was sent here in the summer of 2016… I am 25 years old now. At the time, I did not see any issues with the methods used, but now that I am an adult and am a social worker, I beg that you please do not send your children here…”
- “This is a horrible place. I urge you not to send your kids there. My mom sent my sister and I here. Both my sister and I suffered abuse, including being demeaned and degraded, humiliated, and manhandled, including having bruises and getting frostbite on my feet from having my shoes taken away while it snowed in the winter…”
There are far fewer Turn-About Ranch reviews on Yelp, and its score is 3.3 as of publishing. However, there are still reviews from attendees with shocking allegations. It also appears Yelp has hidden many negative reviews for one reason or another. Here are some of the negative reviews:
- “I attended TAR in 2010. My counselor (don’t remember his name) was completely absent. They were supposed to meet with you weekly. In the 100 days I was there I think we met 4 times. He was also oddly comfortable with urinating in front of me… This place is certainly not a place to send your child. It’s a child labor camp. If any families experienced any positive changes in their children after returning home, I promise it is entirely out of the fear of being sent back…”
- “Our daughter went to TAR in July 2018 and was there for a little over 100 days. We ended up here because we were in crisis mode with her and had to make a quick decision. We were not sure what we were getting ourselves into. This place requires careful consideration. The 100-day program (all-in) was about $60k… The program was absolutely no help to our daughter…”
- “…On multiple occasions, he witnessed staff members harass and touch girls. I did a little research and it turns out this has been happening, and nothing has been done to stop it…”
- “….director Max taking me out for “private 1 on 1” walks in the desert to press me about my sexual activity while caressing my body to “heal”…Reports of sexual assaults and harassment, in addition to rape perpetrated by boys at TAR resulted in staff asking the group of males if they sexually assaulted/raped a female, to which they replied no (of course).
There are additional negative comments and reviews regarding Turn-About Ranch across social media, including Reddit, where participants and their family members discussed the alleged harm they and their loved ones suffered.
If you or someone you know attended Turn-About Ranch and experienced sexual or physical abuse, you have rights and options to seek help and healing.
We are here to listen and advocate for you.
Rights and Options for Individuals Impacted by Abuse at Turn-About Ranch
Turn-About Ranch has operated since 1989, and thousands of participants have attended the program. Dozens to hundreds of survivors have now come forward with allegations of physical and sexual abuse against the program on social media, in news reports, and in lawsuits.
While parents may think they are helping their children by sending them to Turn-About Ranch or another “troubled teen” or “wilderness therapy” program, the horrific experiences related by survivors highlight the harm that can happen in these programs.
Even a child who has been purportedly healed or helped by the program may experience long-term effects from the type of actions alleged by former participants. In fact, many former participants report they only started behaving well to escape the program, leaving them even more traumatized.
Your rights and options to seek help and healing depend on various factors. Chief among them are the applicable statutes of limitations, which set the deadlines for filing criminal charges and civil lawsuits.
In Utah, the statutes of limitations for civil and criminal cases are more survivor-friendly than those of other states. However, they are also relatively complex. For example, Utah generally has no statute of limitations for criminal charges for certain sex crimes, such as rape and sexual abuse of a child. However, lesser offenses have statutes of limitations, but the deadlines may be extended for certain cases if the conduct occurred when the victim was a child or if the perpetrator resides in Utah.
Utah also has no statute of limitations for civil suits against the perpetrator for intentional or negligent sexual abuse suffered as a child. However, for civil suits against a non-perpetrator, like filing a suit against Turn-About Ranch itself, the deadline for filing suit is four years after the victim turns 18 or four years after the victim discovers the sexual abuse, whichever is later.
Thus, for those who experienced abuse at Turn-About Ranch, speaking to an experienced attorney as soon as possible is critical. Helping Survivors can connect you with an experienced and trauma-informed attorney who can help you understand your rights and options if you contact us today.
You may choose to avoid the official legal process and seek help and healing through mental health support or other ways to move forward. However, you may have legal options to pursue justice if you wish.
File a Civil Lawsuit Against Turn-About Ranch, Individual Perpetrators, & Affiliates
Several Turn-About Ranch attendees have already filed civil lawsuits against the organization for sexual assault and other physical harm they endured while attending the program.
A civil lawsuit enables survivors to seek monetary compensation for the harm they endured, which they can use to seek counseling and other supportive services. Filing a civil lawsuit can also create a public record documenting the alleged harm so others can learn of it, including other program attendees who may want to come forward.
In general, the steps for filing a lawsuit against a teen wilderness therapy organization include the following:
- Document the Incident – Write down everything you can remember and take screenshots of any evidence.
- Speak with an Attorney – Ideally, you should consult an experienced troubled teen sexual assault attorney as soon as possible. They can help guide you through all of the steps and processes.
- Review and Sign a Fee Agreement – Law firms generally take these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if and when you receive compensation, whether through a settlement or court verdict. Under such an arrangement, you will not pay anything upfront to file a lawsuit against a teen wilderness therapy program.
- Law Firm Files Claims Against Turn-About Ranch – The law firm will draft the initial complaint against Turn-About Ranch and the other parties responsible for your harm.
- Court Appearances and Filings – If there are any required court appearances or filings, the attorney will handle these. You may not need to attend most proceedings. However, you will likely need to appear at trial if the case goes that far.
- Discovery Process – This is the process of gathering and exchanging evidence and information about your case. Discovery may include depositions, during which the witnesses and parties involved provide oral testimony under oath. If you must testify at a deposition, your attorney will prepare you to ensure you are comfortable with the process.
- Settlement Negotiations – Throughout the entire case, both sides will engage in negotiations to reach a fair and just settlement.
- Trial Proceedings – If the parties cannot reach a settlement, the case may proceed to a jury trial. An experienced law firm will fiercely advocate for you and try your case if necessary.
Report Abusive Turn-About Ranch Staff to Law Enforcement
If you experienced sexual abuse at Turn-About Ranch, you have a right to file a report with law enforcement. After filing a report, the process is largely out of your hands—survivors have little control over what happens next. However, just filing this report creates a paper trail documenting the harm. If others eventually come forward, the paper trail you’ve created can be useful in prosecuting the offender.
However, a majority of sexual offenders never get prosecuted for a variety of reasons. Just because an offense is not prosecuted does not mean the harm didn’t happen and that you do not deserve to seek help and healing beyond the legal system.
This resource can help individuals understand the criminal legal process. To learn more about the criminal process or filing a civil lawsuit, or if you just generally need to talk to someone about surviving harm at a troubled teen program, contact us today.
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