The City of Scranton and Lackawanna County have partnered to address violent crime by prioritizing the development of a community violence intervention (CVI) strategy. Social Contract has been hired to lead the initiative in close partnership with the City and County. In a Times-Tribune article on the initiative, Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti emphasized the importance of this proactive approach, particularly in light of recent concerns about increased violence among youth in Scranton.
Social Contract will work with stakeholders to co-design an evidence-based strategy tailored to the needs of the Scranton community, focusing on addressing the root causes of violent crime. Local officials, including county commissioners and the district attorney, underscored the significance of this initiative as a means to prevent violence and support individuals and communities that have been adversely impacted, marking a shift toward proactive measures in public safety.
Social Contract has supported similar initiatives in Delaware, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and Salem City, New Jersey.
Read more in the official press release, here.