CONCORD, NH – New abuse allegations have surfaced at the Sununu Youth Services Center, formerly known as the Youth Development Center (YDC) including a child’s arm being broken while being restrained and children being locked in their rooms for extended periods of time.
The allegations became public this week after Child Advocate Cassandra Sanchez documented the alleged incidents of abuse in a March 30, 2026 letter to the Executive Council. Titled “Concern for Practices at the Sununu Youth Services Center,” Sanchez wrote that there is video footage confirming “the use of physical restraint without imminent risk of harm to the child or others present, and holding the child down in an illegal prone position for approximately three and one half minutes. Documentation also showed a delay in medical care provided for the broken bone.”
Subsequently, she said, the OCA filed an abuse and neglect report with DCYF Central Intake due to concerns for excessive restraint leading to a broken bone, which will be investigated by DCYF Special Investigations Unit (SIU), a specific unit within DCYF that investigates allegations of abuse or neglect within foster homes and in-state facilities.
The Office of the Child Advocate, she said, continues to exercise heightened oversight at this facility due to the serious nature of the concerns.
District 2 Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill (D-Lebanon) said she is deeply concerned about conditions at the Sununu Youth Services Center, formerly known as the Youth Development Center (YDC), “in light of the decades of abuse that previously took place at the youth detention center, where more than 1,500 survivors are still awaiting justice. “
She thanked OCA for bringing this information forward and for “looking out for the New Hampshire children in state custody.
“We have an obligation to ensure that history is not repeating itself. That means immediate accountability, full transparency, and a sincere commitment to a system that prioritizes safety, dignity, and real rehabilitation for every young person in our state.”
Jake Leon, spokesman for the state Health and Human Services Department, when asked if the state had opened an investigation into the allegations said, “We take seriously our responsibility to provide for the health and safety of the youths at SYSC and examine all allegations of abuse or neglect. We are thoroughly reviewing the allegations raised by the OCA to identify next steps. Once the review is complete, we will provide a response to the OCA that addresses her concerns.”
Chuck Miles, board member of Justice for YDC Victims and one of the more than 1,000 people who allege they suffered physical and/or sexual abuse at YDC going back decades, said the ACO’s report “confirms New Hampshire continues to fail to protect its most vulnerable children. I was one of many children abused in state custody because of its institutional failures. The fact that grievous physical abuse and neglect are still happening—and on video, no less—at a time when the facility is under such intense scrutiny should be deeply troubling to all New Hampshire citizens, legislators, and government officials. At this point it is clear the State cannot credibly investigate itself.”
OCA was established in 2017 by the New Hampshire Legislature. The OCA was initially mandated to oversee the state’s child welfare and juvenile justice services, situated in the Division for Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).
In 2020, the OCA statute expanded to include oversight of all child-serving executive branch agencies and any entity contracted or certified with a child-serving State agency. The law allows OCA access to facilities where New Hampshire children may be placed. Prior to reduction in staffing in FY26, Sanchez said in the letter that the OCA would prioritize visiting each of these facilities on a monthly basis; with the changes to staffing, OCA attempts to visit at minimum bi-monthly and more frequently as needed.
On March 10, 2026, Assistant Child Advocate Jason Taylor met with the child who contacted OCA. In the days following that visit, the OCA received additional calls of concern from professionals worried about the safety of the children. Due to information gathered during the meeting with the child, and additional calls of concern to the OCA, an unannounced visit to the facility was made on March 13, 2026 byTaylor, Sanchez, and Assistant Child Advocate Jen Jones. They were at the facility from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. At the time, there were 15 children in the SYSC. They spoke with staff, met with children on the units, and had individual one-on-one meetings with children interested in sharing their experiences confidentially.
Sanchez listed concerns reported to them including:
• “Lockdown” status was in place at the facility for approximately a month and a half.
• Initial “full lockdown” for 2 weeks; single movement (which means 1 child out of their sleeping quarters at a time), no off-unit time, all muscle movement on the units (which was very minimal), shackled to walk around off unit if needed/approved, and no education.
• Once “full lockdown” was over, there was a restricted status that remained.
• The restricted status allowed for only 1 hour of off unit education daily and 30 mins of gym time/recreation time daily. One meal a day was provided off unit, the remainder were eaten on unit w/ paper spoons typically reserved for children on CSU status (meaning they are an imminent danger to themselves or others). Minimal mixing of units allowed during school, gym/recreation time, and when eating a meal in the café. In the café, there is only socializing with peers at the same table.
• Children showed educational worksheets they were given on the unit and said they could be completed so quickly (less than an hour) indicating they were not getting sufficient education time.
• No outdoor time allowed at all; staff seeking creative solutions to get children access to outdoors for fresh air were denied. One staff member was allowed to open a door and let children take turns standing inside the threshold of the door to get fresh air on their faces.
• Could not watch TV during school hours so they sat and stared at the same 4 walls for hours on end; they had playing cards and one unit had a board game, this was the only entertainment allowed during schooltime hours – 8am-2pm on weekdays.
• Could not do anything independently, could not even get water or use the restroom without asking staff.
• Only positive note from the children was access to clinical services and continued support from the clinical team.
• New director makes promises and does not follow through. (e.g. Said he would bring school days back and did not; said a child would be moved to a unit where they felt safe rather than the one they did not feel safe on, but then refused to allow the move).
• If anyone is assaultive or creates a problem all children in the facility will have consequences. (e.g. early bedtime, not making levels, remaining on restrictive schedule).
• Lack of consistent rules and expectations of the children.
• Prior to the new director there was more programming and children were able to see/interact more with one another.
• Concern that there is now a correctional mindset driving the facility rather than the treatment focus that has been pushed for the last couple of years.
• Quotes from children: o “I left a program and came back to a jail.” o “We are in jail now.” o “This lockdown makes me want to tweek.” o “I am going to crash out soon if we stay in lockdown.” o “This isolation is making me depressed.” o “I don’t want to become one of those mental kids, but this is going to make me one.” o “I don’t feel like I can trust staff.” o “Being treated like a toddler is degrading.”
After the visit, Sanchez said she immediately reached out to DCYF Director, Marie Noonan, on March 13, 2026, via email to voice concern and request a meeting with DCYF leadership early the following week to review the concerns and learn what they understood the status to be at this facility.
OCA and DCYF leadership met on March 17, 2026. During the meeting, DCYF leadership reported they would look into all the concerns noted and would like to schedule another follow-up meeting with the new Director of SYSC. Additionally, the OCA learned that the children returned to the full-time school schedule as of Monday, March 16, 2026. The follow-up meeting with the new director (SYSC Bureau Chief), Joshua Nye, was scheduled for March 25, 2026.
On March 19, 2026, the OCA received an additional complaint concerning the child whose arm was broken on March 17, 2026. The OCA requested and reviewed video footage and reviewed all documentation relating to the incident.
Video footage confirmed the use of physical restraint without imminent risk of harm to the child or others present, and holding the child down in an illegal prone position for approximately 3 ½ minutes. Documentation also showed a delay in medical care provided for the broken bone, according to Sanchez.