A new program in the city has begun a summer initiative to help keep teens off the streets.
Junior Violence Interrupters "Save Our Streets" program is being offered to all youth ages 13-18 who had previous encounters with the law, and provides them with resources to get back on track.
"All this gang stuff is not really it no more, a lot of people are just loosing their life," said Junior Violence Interrupter Jadion Leach.
Part of the program is the teens participating in street outreach and being taught how to use consequential thinking.
"We provide them with the proper elements to grow and become productive members of society," said Save Our Street's Darren Quinn.
According to a study done by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, violence interuption programs has reduced shootings in the south Bronx by 63%.
"Our focus is to catch it at 12 and 13 years old to curve it so it wont be nurtured into what it is right now on the streets," added Quinn.