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Human Earth Animal Liberation
126 SW 148th St Ste C100-422 Seattle, WA 98166-1984
(877)845-3232
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HEAL HEAL’S MISSION STATEMENT HEAL is an egalitarian network of activists self-empowered to plan events, create change, and make the world a better place for all life. Our goals include the liberation of humans, nonhuman animals, and the earth! We work in cooperation with like-minded organizations that put compassion in action! |
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Teen Liberty Environment |
Human Rights Animal Welfare |
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With Chapters In: Colorado♥Illinois♥Iowa♥Kentucky♥New York Washington♥Wisconsin |
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| Prison Reform | Human Liberation | Earth Liberation | Animal Liberation | |||
SORENSoN’S RANCH SCHOOL In utah
Also see "Sorenson's Ranch: Abusing Your Kids for Over 30 Years!" One Parent’s StoryBy Anonymous (for more info,
e-mail: heal@heal-online.org) My son attended Sorenson's Ranch last year. I was led to believe that if misbehavior occurred, students would be sent to the time out room (which was staffed by a therapist). In my mind, kids would receive counseling and reflect on their negative behavior and set goals for improvements. This did not occur. I was also told that the longest a kid would have to stay in the room would be three days. I was very much misled about the actual specifics of this beh. mod/therapy and found it to be extremely punitive. After
I pulled my son out of there, I found out much more about this so
called therapeutic timeout. According to my son, he and others were
forced to sit at the edge of a bed in an orange jumpsuit for several
days (depending upon the offenses). Students could NOT EVEN lay on the
bed and stare at the ceiling or even read a self help book or the
bible during the day. They had to sit at the edge of the bed and stare
at the blank wall for one, two, three, or several days at a time.
(there was some type of wall dividers between the students).
They used to hope that one of the staff members would come in at shift
change because that one individual let them lay down on the bed during
the day. My
son was kept in this situation for ten days straight (only being
allowed to get up to go to the bathroom, go get meds, or lay down
during the night. Although students were supposed to get one hour of
exercise a day (taken on a hike), this did not regularly occur. After
ten days of staring at the wall in an orange jumpsuit, he still had to
pay for his misbehavior, returning to the lowest point level. At the
lowest point levels, students don't even attend school but do several
hours of manual labor instead (cleaning the barn, picking up trash,
etc.). Just think---all of this supposedly wonderful therapy for
approx $4,000 or more a month! Except
for a few kind staff members (especially one nice night staff member
who prayed with my crying son and other sad youth), I have nothing
good to say about this facility. It was very punitive and led by the
disciplinarian rather than the therapists. My son also said that there
was an underground drug market (students on higher levels supposedly
smuggled in cigarettes or other drugs for others--something that
likely occurs in many facilities). Consequently,
I would never ever recommend this facility to
others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Survivor Statement #1 By O. M. (Contact O.M. through HEAL at heal@heal-online.org) Everything
in my statement is true. I
give HEAL permission to use my statement.
I
WAS FIRST HOSPITALIZED FOR THREE MONTHS WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED AS I DID
NOT GET ALONG WITH THE 'GUARDS' SO THEY HAD 12 OF THE LARGER KIDS (I WAS
16 AND SKINNY WHEN I ARRIVED, BUT I REFUSED TO BE TRAMPLED) BEAT ME AT
ONE TIME CRACKING MY RIBS AND BRUISING EVERY INCH OF MY BODY. I TRIED TO
LET MY FAMILY UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT THE MAIL OF COURSE WAS
CENSORED AND I WAS BEATEN AGAIN BUT MANAGED TO FIGHT BACK AS I HAD NOT
LEFT THE WEIGHT ROOM. I KNOW KIDS WERE RAPED, BUT I NEVER HAD THAT
PRIVELEDGE, THANK GOD. I
ESCAPED 3 TIMES, BUT WAS CAUGHT TWICE BY THEIR BOUNTY HUNTERS BRIBING
FICKLE HALF FRIENDS... AND TURNED MYSELF IN THE THIRD TIME WHEN I
REALISED I DID NOT WANT A LIFE ON THE RUN. LUCKILY THEY WANTED NOTHING
TO DO WITH THE SPOTLIGHT, AND HAD ME RAPIDLY EVICTED FROM UTAH FOR LIFE
- OH DARN. I
WAS ALSO SENT ON THE IDAHO SURVIVAL PROGRAM THAT WENT HAND IN HAND WITH
SORENSONS. I ALMOST DIED THERE, BUT TWO GIRLS FROM SEATTLE SAVED ENOUGH
FOOD TO SEE ME THROUGH UNTIL THE NEXT WEEKLY FEEDING. I DON’T REMEMBER
THEIR NAMES, I HAVE TRIED TO FORGET THIS PERIOD IN MY LIFE, BUT I OWE
THEM MY LIFE AS I DO KNOW TWO KIDS WERE ABUSED TO DEATH THE MONTH BEFORE
OUR 'EXCURSION'. THEY
INVENTED TORTURES FOR ME ESPECIALLY, INCLUDING TWO WEEKS ON A DIRT MOUND
IN MY BOXER SHORTS WITH TWO BOWLS OF RICE DAILY AND NO HUMAN CONTACT, I
WAS MADE TO SLEEP IN A CHAIR AT THE END OF A HALLWAY AT NIGHT, THEN BACK
TO THE MOUND, WHERE 'FELLOW STUDENTS' WERE ENCOURAGED TO THROW CLODS AND
ROCKS AT ME. THEN IN WINTER I WAS MARCHED DAWN TO DUSK BACK AND FORTH IN
THE SNOW WHERE I DEVELOPED FROST NIP AND MY RIGHT FOOT IS STILL DEVOID
OF FEELING. ONCE AGAIN A BOWL OF RICE FOR BREAKFAST AND ONE FOR DINNER -
THEY FINALLY RELENTED WHEN I WAS IN HIGH FEVER AND TALKING TO MYSELF, AS
I LATER WAS TOLD. SOMEBODY
SMUGGLED DRUGS IN, AND Again i was TORTURED IN SIMILAR FASHION UNTIL I
ADMITTED AFTER 3 WEEKS JUST TO MAKE IT STOP. THE HEAD OF LEGAL AFFAIRS
EVEN RISKED HIS JOB TO EXPLAIN 'COERSION' AS HE KNEW I WAS NOT GUILTY
BUT A SCAPEGOAT FOR THEIR INABILITY TO FIND THE TRUE CULPRITS. HE WAS
THE ONLY ONE WHO EVER ATTEMPTED ANY HELP, BUT I FEEL HE WAS ONLY FEARING
THE CONSEQUENCES IF DISCOVERED. THE
WAY THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE DRUGS WAS A BEAUTY IN ITSELF, A BOY WAS SO
HIGH HE ADMITTTED HIS 'LOVE' FOR A CERTAIN COUNSELOR, AND WAS BEATEN TO
WITHIN AN INCH OF HIS LIFE WHILE THE GUARDS 'DIDNT NOTICE' OF COURSE.
I AM PROUD OF WHO I AM AND EVERY THING THAT MADE ME THIS WAY,
EXCEPT THIS PERIOD. I GREW UP IN HAWAII, WAS PRETTY INNOCENT, BUT FOR A
GOOD THREE YEARS AFTER I WAS EXPELLED FROM UTAH I WAS INCREASINGLY
VIOLENT AND BECAME ADDICTED TO HEROIN, A DRUG I HAD NEVER TRIED BEFORE
UTARD. I
WISH I KNEW OF THE FOUR YEAR PERIOD, BUT ITS BEEN ALMOST 18 YEARS NOW.
SO I GET TO SUFFER MY MEMORIES WITH NO OUTLET. I OFTEN THOUGHT OF GOING
BACK AND FINDING CERTAIN OF THE WORSE BASTARDS, AS I AM SURE THEY ARE
SNUG IN THEIR LITTLE VILLIAGE, RELATED TO THE COPS AND JUDGES IN
RITCHFIELD AS ALWAYS. I
WAS SO DESPERATE TO ESCAPE THE FIRST TIME I WALKED THE 18-23 MILES TO
RITCHFIELD IN A SNOWSTORM WEARING A FLANNEL SHIRT AND CONVERS - AND
STOLE A CAR, THE FIRST TIME I BECAME A TRUE CRIMINAL. THAT
NIGHT I WOULD RATHER HAVE DIED IN THE COLD THAN GET CAUGHT, I JUMPED
INTO SNOWBANKS WITHOUT A THOUGHT OF THE HORRIBLE COLD EVERY SET OF
LIGHTS THAT CAME DOWN THE ROAD SEARCHING FOR ME. I TRIED SUICIDE SIX
TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESFUL DUE TO BEING WATCHED AND FORCE FED. I AM A
FAMOUS ARTIST NOW WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD, OUT OF LUCK FOR THE FIRST
THREE YEARS OF FREEDOM, AND OUT OF MY NATURE FOR THE NEXT FIFTEEN. THE
HEROIN ADDICTION IS ALSO 13 YEARS PAST, I AM NOT AN ADDICTIVE CHARACTER,
I WAS 'SELF MEDICATING' AND TRYING TO FORGET BEING IN THE PIT OF HELL
AND THE DEMONS I SAW THERE. I
HEAR STORIES OF PEOPLES SOB TALES, BUT I KNOW 88-89 WAS FAR WORSE THAN
ANY TIME SINCE THEN. THAT WAS WHEN THEY WERE 'IMPECCABLE' AND COULD RUN
RAMPANT WITH THEIR SICK AND TWISTED CHILD ABUSE AND SEX FANTASIES. SHORTLY AFTER MY DEPARTURE IS WHEN THE FIRST ACCUSATIONS AND
DISMISSALS SURFACED, I HEARD FROM MY FRIEND TRACY ZAHORYN, WHO WAS
SEVERAL YEARS YOUNGER, ALLOWED TO LIVE OF CAMPUS IN A GUARDS HOUSE, AND
LATER BECAME A FAMOUS MODEL IF YOU CATCH MY DRIFT. I
HOPE TO GOD WHAT I FEAR HAPPENED TO HER DID NOT, SHE WAS SO SWEET WHEN I
MET HER, AND SO JADED WHEN SHE CAME BACK TO THE REAL WORLD. THERE
IS SO SO MUCH MORE, BUT THESE FEW MEMORIES MAKE ME WANT TO SCREAM AT
LIFES INJUSTICES, BUT I CAN DO NOTHING BUT HURT MYSELF. Survivor Statement #2 By
Mike
Horgan Everything in my statement below is true. I give HEAL
permission to use my statement. I
was "being reformed" at Sorenson's Ranch School in 88 - 89.
I read this other persons (Alumni)
letter and felt obligated to write my fair warnings as well.
I wanted to cry while reading the other alum's words.
The sad thing is the types of things the person described in
their report happened allot and to so many kids.
I realized I have repressed a lot of shit inside over the years
and have not wanted to think about those big abusive Mormons.
Judgmental, Prejudiced, Cruel, but at the same time they truly
believe in their cult and think they are doing the right things to help.
At my low, I also helped steal a car and try and break out, 2
attempts, I also marched through the wilderness program in Idaho
with a bunch of fucking heroin addicts from around the country, some big
black guy from Compton broke my nose… I had religion stuffed down my
throat, forced to do allot of shit...
But what was bad was the night time… we hurt people.. for the
first 6 month's I got beat down a bit, I was 14, some kids were 19 even
one 20 year old (court ordered). So
with the time you stop getting beat and you start beating others.
Fuck it right, it was sink or swim.
I remember being strip searched, repeatedly, they (Staff) were
always looking for contraband. We
did have some good weed on occasion...
They would call it "restraining" us... if you sat
quietly and refused to follow an order the staff would slam you on the
ground and whoop your ass.... this happened often and I couldn't figure
out what good it did. I
am aware of sexual abuse.. there was allot of bad shit going on... but
like I said the Mormon Cult truly believes they are saving us poor
little bastards. Too any of
my friends who happen to run into this letter, sorry for any bad
memories.. I turned out well, hope you made it out ok the same… And there were definitely some good "counselors",
There were also some devious fuckers… I love my kids way to much to
send them to a place like that... P.S. Learned how to be really fucking sneaky and manipulating… love you all, Mike Horgan 1988 - 1989 Survivor Statement #3 By
Liz
Everything in my statement is true. I give HEAL permission to
use my statement. I read the testimonials on here, and wanted to respond... I
was first sent to SRS in 1990. Things did get better from 1989 to now,
but not by much... I remember all too much, things I wish I could
forget. There were still so-called counselors with nothing more than a
high school diploma and their "SICK AND TWISTED CHILD ABUSE AND SEX
FANTASIES," as O.M. put it. I was there, with a short break for
about a year, from 1990-1994. I have since found recent survivors and
heard that there are still horrible abuse stories coming out of there.
As a former resident of the school, I can attest to the horrors endured
by many including myself. Those physical restraints they were doing in
1989 and when I was first there, were actually illegal as they didn't
have a license to be doing them. They've since obtained one and are
still performing them, but then? I watched them kill a teenage boy with
one of their "restraints." He was beaten to death by at least
3 overgrown, overweight men. His head was split open, and he never
returned from the hospital. Before it was a school for the more
privileged of children (monetarily speaking), it was home to kids who
were a ward of the state, and often not even the state of Utah. I was
under the impression for many years that it had been cleaned up, and was
now a good school. How they could have fooled me, after enduring what I
did (as I know to be true for recent survivors as well) I'll never know.
If there are any parents out there considering to send your
child to Sorenson's Ranch School, PLEASE contact me first. I promise to
put you into contact with other survivors, both past and present... This
is not a place for a child. If you love your child and are fearful for
their safety, this is NOT the answer. My parents sent me away because of
a "bad attitude," and when I returned I was much worse. After
watching my friends get handcuffed and shackled to the school's fence
for hours, even days and weeks (sometimes in nothing more than their
underwear and a sleeping bag in the snow for fear they would try to run
away), being fed nothing more than rice cooked in chicken broth only
ONCE a day, having been tortured by "counselors" while on
their camp-outs, raped repeatedly by someone I/we should've been able to
trust, I was returned to my parents ready to try everything I had
learned while attending SRS. I was quickly sent back as my parents were
unequipped to handle what they had paid to create. Don't let this happen
to you... You will undoubtedly be racked with the guilt my parents are
still unable to face. Don't let this happen to your family. If you think
things are bad now, I can guarantee Sorenson's and places like it will
only make it worse. SRS Survivor 1990-1994
Survivor Statement #4 by Lukas Larson
Everything in my statement is true. I give HEAL permission to
use my statement.
My name is Lukas Larson. I'm 26 now, and 10 years ago I spent
10 months at Sorenson's. I have never been able to talk about
my experiences at this place without breaking into tears, and
writing this right now is no exception. I just got out of a
therapy session today where my therapist and I decided to google
Sorenson's and found this website. I'm glad to hear that I am
not the only one who is brave enough to speak out about what
this place does.
I was a very troubled child. I came from an abusive family with
drug addicted parents. I had an undiagnosed behavioral disorder
that prevented me from doing well in school, and that issue
alone led to abusive discipline from my parents. I was stripped
of everything my parents could take from me, and so I finally
ran away from home. I was tracked down by bounty hunters and
taken to Sorenson's. I was into punk rock, and looked the role.
I was stripped of my clothes and was given some clothes that
were far too small with shoes that were about 3 sizes too big.
I was not allowed to speak to my parents for 3 weeks after my
arrival at which time they informed me that I would be there
until I was 18. At 15 years old this is eternity. I escaped in
the middle of the night shortly following that phone call and
spent about 24 hours in sub-freezing weather trying to make it
through the mountains. The attempt was futile as I was tracked
down by some of the staff and was introduced to the "behavior
modification" practices first hand. I was strip searched for
one of many times while I was there, and forced to wear an
orange jumpsuit and sit in isolation for 1 week. I was in a
room and was not allowed to lay down, talk, read, or do anything
but stare at the wall. During this time I was not allowed to
bath, and was not fed on the regular routine that the others
were kept on. I was hungry, dirty, very cold, and was planning
my suicide at 15 years old.
I got out of isolation, which they DO call isolation in there,
but I noticed that they tell parents it is "behavioral
modification time out." It's complete bullshit, and I have yet
to tell any professional about this that does not consider it
criminal child abuse. Needless to say I never killed myself,
but that was only in fear that I would get caught. Another kid
in there was found after drinking a bottle of toxic surface
cleaner, and after was transferred to a even stricter and
abusive place where he wouldn't be able to try that again.
This place makes many claims of it's treatment success, but I
never saw any of it. There were a great number of very troubled
children, but in this environment, treatment was not the right
word. Children were beaten for just talking back, but it was
not called beating. The called it "restraining," but
restraining from what? These children who presented no threat
to themselves or anyone else had their faces forced onto the
pavement or dirt and had their arms bent back around until they
screamed, begging them to stop. The used this method to prevent
leaving any marks that could be used as proof of their actions.
It didn't always work though. Many children still ended up
with black eyes, and scrapes and bruises with torn muscles and
ligament strains, but that didn't matter, because no one was
allowed to report to anyone what was happening. I sent many
letters describing what was happening, but only to find out
after my release that they were not even sent. I personally
suffered the least of most of these children because I was so
weak and scared that I just never opposed anyone in that place.
I was however beaten by several of the other kids there on a
regular basis. The old "kick the dog" expression, where a kid
gets beat up by his bigger stronger father and only has the dog
to retaliate against. Well, I was the dog. I would walk into
the my room (which were not much more than slums) and would have
a blanket thrown over my head and was beaten by fists, feet, and
frequently a broom stick. They called this a "blanket party,"
and it was done this way so you couldn't identify any of the
attackers. Despite reporting all of these incidents, no
precautions were ever made to protect any of the weaker
children. I believe that they thought this was just extra
encouragement for us to behave and get out of there.
During the 10 months I spent about 3 or 4 hours a day, but
sometimes 8 or 9 doing hard manual labor. This included
saturdays, and sometimes sunday. They would send us around to
the surrounding farms to haul hay for other people, which they
DEFINITELY were paid for. This is a crime! There are child
labor laws for a reason. School was optional if we had time,
but was certainly not encouraged. The place is run by
fundamentalist Mormons who don't place education as a high
priority. We were run through workouts that would drop most
adults before completion. If we couldn't finish it or refused,
then we were put into isolation. I trained myself outside of
the general workout so I could successfully complete it and
avoid more isolation. I made it out with only 2 weeks under my
belt, but there was a kid who spent 40 consecutive days in
there.
I got out before I was 18 by lying and manipulating everyone
around me, but it wasn't easy. They know when you are
placating. If they even sense that they will enforce discipline
for your dishonesty. I gradually changed the tone of the
letters I was sending people, telling them how "good" I was
doing. Once I got out though, the facade came down. I couldn't
hold in all the pain and anger I had for my parents and what
they did. To this day I am still somewhat of an outcast from my
family, and I accredit this place with that alienation. The
mindset you enter to manipulate people never goes away. I still
have fear of telling anyone in my life how I feel, or what is
going on, fearing that they will find a way to use in against
me. With therapy, I'm learning to let down my guard, but I will
always carry the pain inflicted there.
It doesn't surprise me that there are so few people speaking of
the abuse that took place, not because they don't consider it
abuse, but because they are so afraid. We were told we were
lying the whole time we were in there, and they convinced our
parents that this is just part of the process of behavioral
modification, and that we are just acting out. It's been 10
years, and I'm still feeling the pain of abandonment and abuse.
When I went there I had never done drugs, and was proud of it.
When I got out I began a spiral of severe addiction and suicide
attempts and destructive behavior that I never would have
occurred if it were not from the trauma inflicted upon me by the
redneck, bible wielding, child abusers at that place. I hope
that this gets through to at least one person who chooses to
find a better solution and spare their child the nightmares and
years of therapy. I have nothing to gain from this, except
acceptance that I've done something to help. I'm not promoting
any competing treatment facility. I'm just telling my story.
In case you all are wondering, I am living a healthy life now.
I'm drug and alcohol free for over 4 years now, and am getting
a degree. None of my current success in life could be
attributed to the abuse I suffered, but from loving and trusting
people who encouraged my growth and healing.
Anyone who wishes may contact me and I would be happy to talk to
them. This includes other survivors, or parents who are
thinking of sending their kids to this place.
If you would like to submit your statement about Sorenson's Ranch, contact us for information. |
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