by the Journal-Opinion
“The state’s child advocate has notified the New Hampshire Executive Council of abuse she said her office has documented at the Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester, which includes a child’s broken arm and being held down for three and a half minutes and other reports of extended lock downs there this winter,” reports InDepthNH.org and other outlets.
The report prepared by the child advocate comes after site visits last month to the Sununu Youth Services Center. Among the conditions it documents:
- “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.
As of September 2025, the State of Vermont was negotiating for $1500/day beds at the Sununu Center. At least one Vermont youth had already been housed there, InDepthNH reported.
It is unknown if any Vermonters have suffered abuse at the 144-bed facility. Vermont has tried repeatedly but without success to establish a permanent, secure youthful offender facility since closure of the Woodside in Essex Junction. A New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson told InDepthNH that it was reviewing the allegations raised by the OCA to identify next steps.