216:, has over 200,000 square feet (20,000 m) of building space which houses classrooms, dorms, recreational areas, computer centers, science labs, food services, and offices. School promotional materials state that the facility boasts cross-country ski trails, nature trails, tennis courts, basketball courts, sand volleyball area, baseball, football and soccer fields, all located within a wooded setting. However, students were not permitted to look out windows at lower levels. A student could reach upper level status in as little as 8 months and earn the privilege to look outside, and occasionally be taken outside to play during a monthly upper level activity.
304:, a Netflix docuseries released in 2024. They also kidnapped many teens and children as parents were not made aware of the circumstances of their training. Students and parents were widely unaware of the abuses and due to censorship of letters when students write home, no meaningful communication about it could be transmitted in any way whatsoever.
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The facility has been sued by various past students for widespread abuses. When the location was abandoned in 2009, alumni found extensive records of abuse filed and recorded. Various lawsuits against Ivy Ridge, including testimony from students, are documented in
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In March 2009, it was announced that Ivy Ridge would close until fall 2009 in order to restructure. There were about 60 students enrolled at that time; they were to be sent home or transferred to similar boarding schools. In April 2009, the campus was sold to a
200:. In January 2006, Ivy Ridge announced that it had withdrawn from WWASPS in November 2005 because of the negative media attention that WWASPS was receiving. However, the Teen Help subsidiary of WWASPS still conducted marketing for the school as of March 2007.
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Calls for the investigation and prosecution of former resident overseer, Amy
Ritchie, began making their rounds on the internet following the documentary on Netflix in addition to former employee George Tulip and founder
347:, which had accredited Ivy Ridge, was criticized for accrediting a school outside of its service area and for violating its own procedures by not requiring a state license as a prerequisite to accreditation.
183:
The institution was owned by the business partnership of the Jason G. Finlinson
Corporation and the Joseph and Alyn Mitchell Corporation. The property on which the school stood was purchased in 2001 by
237:
they stated that the
Academy at Ivy Ridge had become overcrowded with people even sleeping on mattresses in the hallway. This was due to a large group of new arrivals who came from another
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denied Ivy Ridge's application for authorization to issue high school diplomas. The department's letter to Ivy Ridge stated that the institution had been determined to be principally a
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The students started a riot on May 16, 2005, resulting in at least 4 dozen expulsions and 12 arrests. About 35 sheriff's deputies, state troopers, city police officers and
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Allegations of abuse include poor living conditions, unauthorized medical procedures, psychological torture, sexual abuse, and physical abuse.
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In the Matter of the
Academy at Ivy Ridge, Assurance of Discontinuance Pursuant to Executive Law Section 63, Subdivision 15
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In the Matter of the
Academy at Ivy Ridge, Assurance of Discontinuance Pursuant to Executive Law Section 63, Subdivision 15
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reported that Robert
Lichfield's brother and fellow WWASPS associate Narvin Lichfield, who was director at the affiliated
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program, not a school. Following this ruling, the school's enrollment dropped from about 500 to less than 100 students.
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196:(WWASPS). In 2003, the New York Times reported that the school's director had previously been an administrator at
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577:"Utah man sues over Netflix's 'The Program,' saying its portrayal of his 'troubled teen' career defamed him"
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agents assisted in ending the riot and capturing at least 30 runaways. Later in the 2024 documentary series
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school. In addition, it was required to make partial refunds to former students. On
December 1, 2006, the
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documented the conditions at the facility and the lasting impact it had on the people who attended it.
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The institution began admitting students in 2001. As of spring 2005 there were 460 students enrolled.
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As of June 3rd, 2024, the campus remains abandoned and the property is listed for sale at $ 875,000
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video footage obtained from the school demonstrate violent restraint tactics used against students.
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corporation, a spokesperson for the purchaser told news media that the school would not reopen.
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Academy at Ivy Ridge
Withdraws From World Wide Association of Specialty Programs & Schools
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On August 17, 2005, Ivy Ridge was ordered to pay civil penalties of $ 250,000 to the
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Academy at Ivy Ridge sits on 237 acres (0.96 km) of land located close to the
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In April 2009 a judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit related to the diploma issue.
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425:, Attorney General of the State of New York, Watertown Office, August 17, 2005
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553:"St. Lawrence County DA investigating Ivy Ridge allegations from documentary"
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390:"Netflix documentary recounts alleged abuse at old Ogdensburg-area school"
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625:"Watch The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping | Netflix Official Site"
517:"Melee Keeps Spotlight on Hard Life at Academy - The New York Times"
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Parents, Shopping for
Discipline, Turn to Harsh Programs Abroad
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was an independent privately owned and operated for-profit
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World Wide
Association of Specialty Programs and Schools
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World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools
660:School for Troubled Youth to Issue Tuition Refunds
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343:In connection with the incident, the Idaho-based
245:which had been closed by the Mexican government.
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369:"Melee Keeps Spotlight on Hard Life at Academy"
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807:Human rights abuses in the United States
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707:Judge refuses to toss suit filed in 2006
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302:The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
265:The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
234:The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
172:The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
767:2001 establishments in New York (state)
709:, Watertown Daily Times, April 25, 2009
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285:The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping
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691:Boise accreditation firm questioned
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538:"Buffalo News | buffalonews.com"
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18:Mater Dei College (New York)
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281:Academy at Dundee Ranch
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601:"Academy at Ivy Ridge"
500:, by Max R. Mitchell,
48:5428 State Highway 37,
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581:The Salt Lake Tribune
502:Watertown Daily Times
338:behavior modification
276:The Salt Lake Tribune
92:44.63750°N 75.56889°W
726:Academy at Ivy Ridge
695:Deseret Morning News
551:Sommerstein, David.
326:high school diplomas
273:On June 26th, 2024,
159:Ogdensburg, New York
151:Academy at Ivy Ridge
53:Ogdensburg, New York
33:Academy at Ivy Ridge
693:by Ami Joi Bryson,
169:documentary series
97:44.63750; -75.56889
88: /
665:2007-08-19 at the
522:The New York Times
456:The New York Times
374:The New York Times
295:Lawsuits and abuse
229:U.S. Border Patrol
210:St. Lawrence River
188:Family Limited of
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214:Mater Dei College
190:Toquerville, Utah
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108:Information
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70:Coordinates
797:2005 riots
736:Categories
728:(archived)
634:2024-03-05
610:2024-03-05
586:2024-06-27
562:2024-03-17
399:2024-03-07
394:wwnytv.com
354:References
330:accredited
80:44°38′15″N
83:75°34′8″W
663:Archived
652:Archived
419:Archived
258:Delaware
204:Location
59:New York
289:Netflix
220:History
167:Netflix
116:Private
38:Address
239:WWASPS
63:13669
647:See
557:NCPR
124:2001
157:in
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