The popularity of Netflix’sThe Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnappingcan be attributed to multiple elements. The documentary itself is well constructed, with a well-planned blend of emotional recounting of abuse with investigative work. At the same time, the disturbing content ofThe Programmakes it one of the most difficult to watch, which has also attracted true-crime fans fascinated by the more harrowing stories that come out of the genre.
The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
Katherine Kubler, director of the docuseries and a past ‘student’ of Ivy Ridge, which used cult methods and abuse to discipline kids, is thorough in her approach to breaking down the school’s history. WatchingThe Programwill offer an informed and thorough look at the events that occurred and the greater scope of neglect in the reform system. Still, with how big an issue abuse in the reform school has become, there are real-life details that are missing fromThe Program; here are 8 of them.StreamThe Programon Netflix.
8There are Between 120,000–200,000 Young Kids in the Reform System
The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnappingclosing episode, “Follow the Money,” touches on many other reform systems that have been outed for abusive practices. This included the Challenger Foundation, an organization established by Steve Cartisano, which ran a wilderness therapy program also covered on theNetflix original true-crime seriesHell Camp: Teen Nightmare. However, the overall scale of the reform school system is rather stifling.
The Industry Is Estimated to be $23 Billion Annually
According to theAmerican Bar Association, there are 120,000–200,000 young people who reside in some type of group home, residential treatment center, boot camp, or correctional facility. This does not account for private placing, which is further estimated to be an additional 50,000. It is obviously a profitable business, with the American Bar Association further saying that the industry is estimated to bring in $23 Billion each year.
Highlighted by the for-profit company, Sequel, topping 200 million annually as of 2017. There are many organizations, with many of them facing problems or scandals with their treatment of children, but the amount of money to be made, which includes Medicaid, Medicare, and approximately 500 additional federal, state, and local programs, which, in the case of Sequel, received $800 a day per child in their care.
Related:15 Disturbing Documentaries That Aren’t True Crime
7Allegations of Abuse Carry a Statute of Limitation
One heartbreaking revelation inThe Programcame from one of the students who discussed how she was groomed and sexually exploited during her time at Ivy Ridge by a female staff member. This was one of the few examples that popped out throughout, but in this case, it was mentioned that she could not say her abuser’s name in the documentary. Frustratingly, the chance of those involved in abuse are unlikely to face any repercussions for their actions; with the school closing in 2009, the statute of limitations may have expired.
After Five Years in New York, it Can be Difficult to Prosecute Abuse
Allegations of abuse have different statutes of limitations depending on the State. The statute of limitations in the State of New York, where the crimes occurred, is five years (as per New York Family Law Group). However, serious crimes, like sexual assault, can be eligible for a longer window.
This is regarding criminal cases, with civil cases having a different and wider window for the case to be brought to court. Of course, legal issues are complex and need to be handled by the system, but it seems that many of the victims inThe Programmay have challenges facing their abusersin the legal system.
6The Staff at Ivy Ridge Blamed the Students for The Riot That Took Place
The riot that took place at Ivy Ridge was one of the highlights of the series, particularly with Quentin recounting the chaos. He even noted that they got sidetracked by the desire to get food (starvation was a common disciplinary action). This was further followed up by some of the news and the subsequent sweeping of the event under the carpet. However, keeping in mind the staff’s unwillingness to hold themselves accountable (as seen in various interviews inThe Program), the staff blamed the students.
The New York Times reported on the incident in 2005, with the following quote: “Administrators say the uprising was not a result of systemic problems in the academy but of the mixture of combustible characters in a severe disciplinary environment meant to rehabilitate teenagers who have run afoul of the law and their parents.”
As more allegations come out about reform programs and the abuse that can come from them, it is baffling how quick extreme actions can be justified against teenagers by saying they were “misbehaving,” particularly when the students of The Program ranged greatly in the actions that got them sent away.
5Reform Schools Have a Long History of Abuse Predating Synanon
WhileThe Programtouched on other organizations of abuse under the Synanon cult, one of the most famous cases of abuse in the reform school system that was well documented, was established and controversial long before the opening of Ivy Ridge. Ivy Ridge was open from 2001 to 2009, while Dozier School for Boys operated from 1900 to 2011, with its darkest period from 1940 to 1975. While the schools are unrelated and unaffiliated, to analyze the scope of problems in the system, many people point to the infamous Marianna, Florida school as the most negligent case of abuse in the American school system.
Death Was Not Uncommon at the Dozier School for Boys
The Florida School for Boys, also known as the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, or shortened to Dozier School for Boys, was known for its extreme abuse. It gained a notorious reputation for beatings, sexual assault, torture, and eventually murder of students by the staff. This was always ‘known,’ but not adequately investigated until 2016, when The University of South Florida reported to have found 55 graves on the site (via NPR).
A subsequent investigation in 2019 discovered 27 more potential unmarked graves. The crimes against the boys at Dozier, known as the ‘White House Boys," who survived the shack where beatings were orchestrated, have become well documented withmultiple documentariesand online essays chronicling the school’s history.
Related:Best True Crime Documentaries on HBO Max
4Another WWASP School Founder Was Successfully Convicted
Further looking at the scope of abuse in the troubled teen industry, The Program touched on several notable schools as part of the broader WWASP organization; laying out the crimes at several institutes. However, they did not mention one particular scandal that did end up seeing one of the co-founders of a WAASP school, Randall Hinton of Royal Gorge Academy, facing repercussions for his actions. A small victory, but given the amount of people involved in the industry getting away with their actions, it acts as hope that others will face similar justice.
School Royal Gorge Academy Was a WWASP Run
As per theresource page for WWASP survivors, Hinton, who admitted to pepper spraying a teenager “more than two times a day,” went up against a jury of his peers in August 2007 on four assault charges and two false imprisonment charges against the students of the Royal Gorge Academy. Of these charges, he was found guilty on one count of each.
While a minor victory, the degree of abuse that has been documented is exponentially larger in scale than what he was convicted for, it is still a step forward to finding justice for those abused by Hinton, even facing a paltry 25 days in jail and one year of probation.
3Synanon has a Bizarre and Frightening History of Intimidation through Violence
In the “Follow the Money” episode ofThe Program, the docuseries goes over many aspects of the history of Synanon and its connections with Ivy Ridge. However, this also leaves out some of the more absurd instances of intimidation and violence imposed by the group to keep their name from being ‘dirited.’
This started early on in the company’s history, having a group deemed the “Imperial Marine,” who were responsible for over 80 mass beatings that resulted in plenty of hospitalized teenagers. This included one ex-member, Phil Ritter, who was beaten so severely that his skull was fractured, and he subsequently fell into a coma with a near-fatal case of bacterial meningitis.
Using a Rattlesnake to Attack a Lawyer
However, the most bizarre story in Synanon’s history is when they put a rattlesnake in the mailbox of Paul Morantz, an attorney who had successfully sued the group (via New York Times).
Morantz was hospitalized for six days, and this led to an investigation of a search of the ranch in Badger that found a recorded speech by Dederich with an absurd rant including the line; “They are draining life’s blood from us, and expecting us to play by their silly rules. We will make the rules. I see nothing frightening about it… I am quite willing to break some lawyer’s legs, and next break his wife’s legs, and threaten to cut their child’s arm off. That is the end of that lawyer,” asPoint Reyes of Lightreported.
2Three Years Before its Closure, New York State Recognized the Danger at Ivy Ridge
The exposé on the Academy at Ivy Ridge played out as if there were shock at the conditions unbeknownst to the State of New York. However, asNew York’s 7 News reported, the state had looked into and reported various instances of inadequate resources and extreme methods. This included; academic deficiencies, inadequate health and safety protocols, restroom restrictions, and unnecessary use of restraints, to name a few.
New York State Knew About The Extreme Disciplinary Actions at Ivy Ridge
This highlights how ingrained the multi-billion dollar industry is in the system. The New York Department of Education’s response to these actions was limited to basically washing its hands of The Academy at Ivy Ridge. The only punishment against Ivy Ridge was denying its ability to administer New York standardized testing or give out diplomas.
As touched on inThe Program, students’ graduation was essentially meaningless in earning academic accreditation, as the school was completely stripped of its right to be an educational institution.
Related:The Best TV Shows and Miniseries About Cults
1A Small Independent Newspaper Helped Raise Awareness of Synanon’s Abuse
This one resonates with the story of Katherine Kubler and her push to make The Program documenting Ivy Ridge. While many San Francisco news outlets and broadcasters covered the company’s violent history and methods, Synanon' was able to keep most major outlets silencedthrough their lawyersusing claims of libel. However, this also made much of Synanon’s internal documents readily available and one paper, Point Reyes Light, took advantage of this information to push for its continued coverage.
Point Reyes Light Became Key in Reporting the Abusive Synanon Cult
The weekly paper, published by David V. Mitchell, operated out of a tiny town ten miles south of Marshall, where Synanon’s main facility was located. The paper prevailed on freedom and protection of the press and was able to cover the abuse of the cult, ultimately winning a $100,000 judgment against the cult for their attempts to silence the small news outlet.
In 1979 this would result in Point Reyes Light becoming the smallest paper ever to win a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage, withDavid and Catherine Mitchell being the recipients.
