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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969-04-03; Narcotics and Drug Study Committee Ad Hoc; MinutesCITY OF CARLSBAD Minutes of: NARCOTICS and DRUG STUDY COMMITTEE Date of Meeting: April 3, 1969 Time of Meeting: 12:00 Noon Place of Meeting: Twin Inns Restaurant PRESENT: Carl H. Neiswender, Councilman and Chairman William Moore, representative, Carlsbad Union School Dist. Dr. Reid Binder, Dr. Harvey Tuomi , Dr. E. R. Hertweck, Psychology Dept., Mira Costa J.C., Dr. Howard C. Harmon, Supt. Carlsbad Union School Dist., Capt. Wallace Rossall, Carlsbad Law Enforcement. ABSENT: Rev. Larry DeWein, Mr. Douglas Deason OTHERS PRESENT: Judge Richard L. Vaughn, Superior Court, San Diego Max Starook, San Diego Police Dept., and City Manager Charles E. Martin. The Narcotics and Drug Study Committee held a luncheon meeting at the Twin Inns, to determine the possibilities of forming a group therapy program and exploring the idea of said group making a recommendation to the court for each individual offender. The sole purpose of this meeting was to obtain from Judge Vaughn his thoughts regarding the formation of such a group therapy program and his reaction toward such a group making a recommendation to the court. Also it was hoped that the Judge could shed some light toward the Committee as to the problems the courts encounter with the juveniles involved. Councilman Neiswender introduced Judge Richard L. Vaughn, Juvenile Judge, Superior Court, San Diego, California to the Committee. Judge Vaughn stated that at the present time, there are some 6,000 children who are wards of the court in San Diego County. Of the 6,000, there are approximately 2,000 who are dependent children for which the County is trying to establish a Foster Home. He informed the Committee that it costs the taxpayers approximately $1,005.00 a month for these children to be kept by the County for their room and meals and that they are already overcrowded. He stated that the case log for San Diego Courts would not be too overloaded if it had not been for Substance Abuse, which started it rise a few years ago. This type of abuse is not restricted to marijuana or LSD; it involves pills, inhalation of hair spray, gasoline, glue, etc. He stated that the problems the courts are having with these offenders are recurring and the courts do not have the room to keep these offenders under confinement which is one reason why they are often released to the parents and put on probation. He stated that in order to build or add onto these homes where wards of the court live, certain building requirements must be met and that means so much room must be allowed for each individual. The County is in need of money for such a project and just do not have it. The Judge stated usually first offenders are released or/and put on pro- bation but second offenders of San Diego County are sent to Campo or some such place. He stated that he is particularly harsh with sentencing LSD offenders. Judge Vaughn related some of the cases and the problems involved that he has handled recently and stated that there are three steps that have to be taken when a suspect is taken into custody. 1. Police station and processing. 2. Probate. 3. Judge. He stated that often times the Police feel they are let down because when they bring a case to the courts, the courts allow the offenders to go free. He stated that the primary reason for this is because the courts do not have enough room in the jails for these people. Further, it was stated by the Judge that offenders are not limited to one financial bracket or are they in the majority of one race. He stated it has nothing to do with race and that many of the children that stand before him in the court are from good families. They have good homes, good family reputations; Judge's children, teacher's children, superintendent of school's children, etc. and very often it is found that these children are from the upper middle class family but the courts have cases from every walk of life. It seems sometimes the children get rooked into buying pills or marijuana and some of them never even smoke the marijuana or take the pills; they just buy them and have them in their possession. The children of today are growing up in a pill oriented world and they will try anything. He stated the thing that shocked him most is the fact that children today do not have to look at dirty maga- zines to get ideas. All they have to do is read Look magazine, Life, or Time magazine. Even the newspapers in the movie section and television give them ideas. These resources are right in the home and they don't have to go any further for ideas. Judge Vaughn stated that as far as glue sniffing abuse, the law really cracked down on this at a time when glue manufacturers were selling glue kits for $1.50. This price and the law made it a little difficult for youngsters to buy these kits for glue sniffing. But not long after the law was passed, glue manufacturers started making and selling kits for 39<£ so they became easier for children to obtain even with the laws that were being enforced. Judge Vaughn stated than in many cases where an offender (a minor) is released to the parents and put on probation, they turn right around and are back in the court on the same charge. Judge Vaughn then asked if any members of the Committee had any questions for him and there were a number of responses. Captain Rossall stated what bothers him so much is the reference of a Judge to the probation department. The probation department will not then release necessary information on the offender to the police department relevant to the case so it becomes increasingly difficult for the police to obtain background on the offender. The Judge stated that there is a gap between the court, the probation department and the police department. There was much discussion from the Committee regarding the substance abuser, at which time, Dr. E. R. Hertweck related some statistics from students at the college level. He stated that most of the adolescents who are in college are not abusers because they usually drop out in the first semester due to their inability to keep up with their studies and socialize because their interests are different Dr. Harvey Tuomi stated that abusers have both physiological and psychological changes. He stated he felt that Dr. Hertweck was not getting a true representation from these statistics. He also stated that many students in college would not be exposed to such a degree as the up and coming generation who will be in college in a few years, so that the statistics will change considerably. -2- Dr. Tuomi stated that what the Committee is seeking is an answer to the question; "What can be done for the children who are found with these problems, how can the community help them?" Dr. Binder inquired of the Judge if, to his knowledge, these self-help groups bave ever caused a reverse to their objective? Dr. Tuomi stated that the JUdge had mentioned that the children who were offenders and released to the custody of their parents seemed to appear before the courts again and again. It would seem to him that the parents are incapable of handling their children if they can not prevent reoccurances of the same offense. Dr. Harmon inquired of the Judge if it would be a partial solution to the problem if a program was set up in the schools for all the students as part of their education. Judcje Vaughn stated that this would be a good thing as it focuses attentfoh'on the children and this is what they need. Part of what they are now lacking, in many cases. Judge Vaughn stated that people are becoming more and more involved and more concerned with the problem of substance abuse and this is good because they are trying to seek solutions to the problems. Such organizations have been formed as Pilot, Dare, Void, Acorn and others. He stated that these organizations have proven some effectiveness but they are not solutions. Within these organiza- tions are people who have a sincere interest and have some experi- ence with the substance abuse users. These people are often doctors, lawyers, ministers, phychologi sts and not unusual, members of the peer group. It is often composed of people who were substance abuse users who have a desire to prevent or help those who are or might become users. He stated that one of the problems of youth today is they have no goals in life. They are not motivated as things come easy for them. Judge Vaughn stated that the courts are not aware of percentages in this area particularly because many of the youths are not pro- secuted. They /are protected by their parents, etc. Dr. Tuomi stated that if a counseling group were formed and individuals are reviewed by the counseling group, could continued therapy be a part of parole. The Judge stated yes it could and the court in San Diego would cooper- ate as fully as possible. He stated that this might be a worthwhile project for the community to delve into. He also stated that it might be wise for the Committee to contact Mr. Fare, Chief Probation Officer at 279-4100 for further insight into the their problems with youth. Cmn. Neiswender read a letter for the information of the Committee from the Justice Department regarding a Regional Advisory Board. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 1:40 P.M. Respectfully submitted, NORA K. DANIELS Recording Secretary -3 - The Minutes of the Narcotics and Drug Study Committee, dated April 3, 1969 have been retyped and corrected as approved by the Committee. Correction was the deletion of certain words on Page 2. NORA K. DANIELS Recording Secretary