$6000 a month these parents paid.. with those sorts of resources I highly doubt those kids were sent there sight unseen or without thorough checking it out by most who sent their kids there.
I have little doubt that these “troubled youths” which anymore often just means spoiled brats, didn’t like the program.
Was their abuse? Maybe… but I sure wouldn’t assume as you have that parents willing and able to spend $6000 a month to try to help their rebellious children, just shot em off without any research into the place.
kids with problems are easy victims. hard labor is good for kids but if you are working a kid from first light to last light the situation screams possible abuse. I say don’t take anyone at their word that it was abuse investigate.... I am sure that some of these places were great at helping kids, but some probably were abusive places and crimes were committed on children at those places.