Cross in the City Helps Gang-Involved Youth

James Leslie, ED of Cross in the City in Pasadena wrote to us, "President Bush has called on the faith-based and community-based nonprofits to intervene in the lives of gang-involved youth in our country.

Cross in the City has been doing this work in the Pasadena, Texas area for 7 years. We are one of only two agencies in Harris County targeting youth in gangs, the other being the Houston Mayor's Anti-gang Taskforce. We are encouraged that the President has chosen to highlight this area of concern. The pain and suffering caused by juvenile crimes only worsen if a young gangmember continues that lifestyle into adulthood. Gang intervention and prevention save lives....and money.

Incarcerating one youth for a year in the Texas Youth Commission system costs about $45,000 and most youth stay longer than a year. The OJJDP released an estimate in the mid-nineties stating one person leading an average life of crime costs taxpayers in the millions in court costs, legal fees, incarceration costs, and lost wages. Per the OJJDP, gang members commit more crimes than their non-gang involved peers and those crimes are of a far more serious nature (assault, murder). We look forward to more organizations joining in the efforts to positively intervene in the lives of these youth."