Officials in Camden are considering trying a violence prevention model that has been used in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and elsewhere.

Camden Battles Crime And Poverty In Effort To Re-Vitalize Community
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City and school officials heard details this week from the national director of Chicago-based Cure Violence, Frank Perez.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Perez says the model, which treats violence like a spreading disease, can work anywhere. It uses community members to mediate gang disputes before they escalate and encourage young people not to be violent.

In other cities, former gang members and drug dealers have filled those roles.

The city is considering the model as a way to use a $1.4 million federal violence prevention grant.

 

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