Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced over $2 million in federal funding is heading back to the region from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to combat the opioid epidemic and fight crime.

“Unfortunately, too many among us, even the youngest, have suffered trauma in the wake of the opioid epidemic,” said Rep. Cartwright. “We need to ensure area children and their families have the resources to prevent, treat and recover from substance use  disorders. This funding will support area law enforcement in their traditional crime fighting efforts while empowering them to introduce innovative intervention strategies and programs.” 

The Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office was awarded a total of more than $2 million in federal funding: $1.3 million from the OJP Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program to reduce opioid misuse and the number of overdose deaths; and $739,322 from the OJP Opioid Affected Youth Initiative to develop prevention and intervention strategies for area children and their families who have been negatively impacted by opioids and other substances.

“The impact of drug use in our community continues to increase. Often overlooked is the negative impact on our children raised in households where drugs are misused,” said Mark Powell, Lackawanna County District Attorney. “That is why I am excited for the good these grants will do for our county, and I am grateful to Congressman Matt Cartwright for his unwavering support of our justice system and police.”

Powell said the county will use the funding to develop a multi-jurisdictional Drug Endangered Children Alliance to raise awareness and coordinate prevention and intervention strategies while also engaging mental and behavioral health services.

The City of Scranton was awarded $108,975 through the OJP’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on local need.

The OJP’s JAG Program traditionally provides local governments with critical funding to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, crime victim and witness initiatives, mental health programs and crisis intervention teams. 

“Safety across our city is a top priority for my administration,” said Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti. “We look forward to the Scranton Police Department putting this funding to use to reduce violent crime and address criminal justice challenges.”

“We are incredibly thankful to the JAG program for awarding this funding to our department,” said Scranton Police Chief Thomas Carroll. “We will work diligently to use this funding to bolster our emergency management operations and our ongoing work to keep Scranton safe.”

Rep. Cartwright also secured additional FY2022 and FY2023 Community Project Funding for law enforcement across the 8^th District  including:

-      The Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office County Gun and Gang Reduction and Intelligence Project, $2 million

-      City of Scranton and Scranton Police Department law enforcement training programs and technology upgrades, $3.5 million

-      The Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office creation of a county-wide emergency first responder unit, $2.5 million.

-      City of Wilkes-Barre, Community Policing Technology and Equipment Initiative, $2.1 million

-      New Moosic Fire & Police Facility, $4 million.

-      Archbald Borough for a multi-jurisdictional, Fire and Police Emergency Operations Center, $3 million.

-      Monroe County shared West End Emergency Services facility, $1 million.