Dr. Charles J. Newcomb, present at the invitation of the President, stated as follows:
"I was asked by Judge J. Mercer Johnson, Judge of the Juvenile Court, to serve on a Citizen's Committee for the Juvenile Detention Home. He had a group at his chambers the other day to plan the home, and I was the only doctor there. This group represented many organizations. His bond issue is coming up, and I was asked if I would come before this group here and try to get approval from you. In thinking it over, it is pretty hard for the Pima County Medical Society to come out with a resolution in favor of any political or civic bond issue. What they want is not a statement in favor of the bond issue to raise money for the Juvenile Detention Home, but a statement for advertising purposes. Representatives will be going around to put out propaganda to raise $170,000.00 to start this Home. They described in detail what these kids who are being taken into court go through, and how and where they are being housed at present. The situation as it now is, is terrific. They have six to ten kids in one cell and have them sleeping on the floor. If they have young girls in, they are dragged back and forth in front of the habitual criminals over there. This new Home would provide for segregating them, and have its own court, etc. What I would like, if possible, is to get a statements from the Society saying that as doctors, of, as a Society, we think that anything that will protect the health, both physical and mental, of our Juvenile delinquents, is desirable. I am not asking for a resolution to pass a bond issue, but I think we can say that anything that is for the betterment of the health, mental and physical, of our juveniles, is worthwhile for the city to undertake.
Discussion:
Dr. Manning--Are they going to ask every other organization in town to give them a similar statement?
Dr. Newcomb--Yes, what they want is community help for this Home.
Dr. Harry Thompson--Is there a medical problem?
Dr. Newcomb--Yes, there is not place for these kids at all. There is a completely steel room, about 8x8 feet, with three or four cots. Ten or twelve may go into this room at one time, and they throw some mats on the floor. There is just no place to put these youngsters. Originally they had the plan too fancy, with dining rooms and so on, at a cost of $380,000.00. It has been cut to $170,000.00, which they are now asking. They are putting up only the barest essentials, separating the boys and girls, feeding each group separately, having a court for them right in the building. I personally think this Detention Home is worthwhile. All they want is a statement saying we think it is in the best interests of the health of the juvenile delinquents to take them out of the County Jail and have a place for them.
Dr. Bernstein--Is there any objection to this?
Dr. Costin--I think, in the first place, a statement like that would make us look silly. It would be like saying that eating to keep us alive is a good idea. I do not think this body has anything to do with anything like that. We are private citizens, too, and could put forth effort through our Clubs.
Dr. Thompson--It has some medical connotations, if what Dr. Newcomb says is true. I think if we are going to endorse it we probably should have some of the people interested in mental health make an endorsement. If it is a medical problem, we are concerned.
Dr. Costin--If it is a medical problem we ought to have a committee investigate it, and maybe go further than just endorsing it.
Dr. Newcomb--I do not think you should be asked to support, as a Society, every bond issue which comes up.
Dr. Thompson--I would concur with Max (Dr. Costin).
Dr. Rudolph--Could we not go a step further and say that the present method of handling is bad from a mental health and physical standpoint, and we thing there ought to be some improvement?
Dr. Steen--I have always thought that anything that affects the health of the community is our business. Perhaps we should have a committee to investigate this from a health angle.
