APM Reports investigation: 'Youth were abused here'

Graffiti on the wall of a Sequel facility in Wichita, Kan.
Graffiti on the wall of a Sequel facility in Wichita, Kan.
Courtesy of Chris Hagman

More than 40 states have sent their most vulnerable kids to facilities run by a for-profit company named Sequel. Many of those kids were abused there.

A yearlong investigation led by APM Reports finds the company took in some of the most difficult-to-treat children while keeping costs low in pursuit of profit and expansion. The result was dozens of cases of physical violence, sexual assault and improper restraints. Despite repeated scandals, many states and counties continue to send kids to Sequel for one central reason: They have little choice. 

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