As Legislators Mull Sale Of Sununu Youth Center, New Round Of Abuse Allegations

By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH

CONCORD, NH — Proceeds from the sale of the Sununu Youth Services Center would go to the state's general fund, rather than to a fund for victims of abuse at the facility, which was formerly known as the Youth Development Center under an amendment favored by the Republican majority at a work session for House Finance Division III Monday.

It comes at a time when there are new and heightened concerns for current abuse of youths at the detention center.

On April 9 InDepthNH.org reported allegations made by the Office of Child Advocate that children were being held in lock down for long periods of time and one child had a broken arm after being held down for more than three minutes. https://indepthnh.org/2026/04/09/office-of-child-advocate-claims-abuse-at-sununu-youth-services-center-seeks-state-investigation/

A second set of allegations of abuse has been brought to the state's attention this week by the Disability Rights Center of NH.

The Attorney General's Office announced it is conducting an independent investigation of the center and the allegations and assured that abuse was no longer continuing at the center.

In a press release issued Monday the Disability Rights Center said it notified Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte of "continuing significant concerns for the health and safety of children at the Sununu Youth Services Center."

"DRC-NH previously notified Governor Ayotte on April 10, 2026, of its concerns that SYSC is “…illegally restraining youth in a prone position and using restraint and seclusion without legal justification.”

"The April 10th letter sounds the alarm that the above actions “have resulted in serious physical and emotional trauma to the youth at SYSC,” the press release reads.

Despite recent statements by the Attorney General’s Office, there is no indication that the abuse at SYSC has stopped, it states.

“Our recent interviews of children and staff support the grave allegations of ongoing pervasive abuse and neglect at SYSC, including alleged improper uses of prone restraint, seclusion, and medical neglect of children by SYSC staff. We have also become aware of a new ‘policy’ that appears to authorize the use of illegal restraint practices. The state’s position on the on-going situation is dangerously misinformed and contradicts both our investigative findings and those of the Office of Child Advocate,” said Stephanie Patrick, Executive Director of DRC-NH.

DRC-NH first notified SYSC and the NH Division for Children, Youth and Families in March of its concerns regarding the alleged illegal activity and opened a formal investigation on April 3, 2026, after conducting extensive interviews at SYSC.

DRC-NH is authorized by federal law to investigate incidents of abuse or neglect of people with disabilities and to pursue legal and administrative remedies on their behalf.

“Our investigation is ongoing and we will continue to advocate for the children at SYSC until the alleged illegal behavior is stopped and those responsible are held accountable,” said Patrick.
DRC-NH is New Hampshire’s designated Protection and Advocacy agency and protects, advances, and strengthens the legal rights and advocacy interests of all people with disabilities. More information about DRC-NH can be found at http://www.drcnh.org.

LEGISLATION RELATED TO VICTIMS' FUND

The issues with the center and its history are linked in legislation and matters going forward as they relate to how to pay for the more than 1,000 claims against the state for past sexual and physical abuse of incarcerated children.

Some legislators want to ensure that the proceeds of the sale of the facility, which are expected to be approximately $75 million, would go to the fund to compensate victims while some Republicans, including Rep. Kenneth Weyler, R-Kingston, said having such a fund becomes a target for lawyers and that the money should go to the general fund.

Chair of Finance Division III Committee State Rep. Maureen Mooney, R-Merrimack, said that is not to say that the fund won't benefit from the sale of the facility which was built for about 120 youths but now only houses about a dozen.

Marie Noonan, director of the state Division for Children, Youth and Families gave the committee an update on the construction for the new state facility for youths which will be more "trauma informed" and clinical in setting and located on the campus of Hampstead Hospital, which is being paid for primarily from federal post COVID-19.

She was accompanied by Nathan White of DHHS who noted it is possible that there may be additional requests for state funding for the new center including looking at building a kitchen area and a maintenance shed not included in the current plan.

Senate Bill 481 would clarify what is not clear in the state budget passed last year which has in one spot that the funds from the sale of the SYSC property would go to the general fund and in another location that it would go to the victims' fund.

Weyler said putting the money in the fund would create a lawyer's "feeding frenzy" while Democrats said it is symbolic and appropriate that the victim compensation should come from the building sale.

The amended recommendation of that committee will go before the entire House Finance Committee which meets next Monday.

The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) is directed to take possession of the SYSC property, seek a buyer, and negotiate the sale with approval required from the Governor and Council.

The previous version said if the sale is finalized on or before June 30, 2027, the proceeds shall go to the General Fund. If the sale is finalized after June 30, 2027 the proceeds shall go to the YDC Settlement Fund.

According to the bill, the Department of Administrative Services states that, due to the absence of a current market valuation for the Sununu Youth Services Center property, any proceeds from its sale represent an indeterminable increase to either the General Fund or the Youth Development Center Settlement Fund, depending on the timing of the sale.

"DAS anticipates an indeterminable increase in expenditures related to property maintenance, pre-sale inspections, closing costs, and brokerage commissions, with total costs estimated to range between $500,000 and $1,000,000. Additionally, DAS notes uncertainty regarding when it will take possession of the property, as the site currently houses SYSC facilities and the Manchester Police Department’s horse stables. It is the Department’s understanding that these facilities will be vacated by the end of FY 2026, coinciding with the expected completion of the Hampstead replacement facility," it reads.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.