Justice committee  Thank you again for having us.

Justice committee  That's why the group In My Own Voice has come about. It operates as a family. It operates to create economic opportunities, as well as creating options other than the more negative choices. Basically, In My Own Voice is a group where the young people use their stories to educate others, as well as to empower themselves.

Justice committee  Yes, it is.

Justice committee  Yes, some people in the room have engaged in criminal activity before.

Justice committee  And if I could add to that, I think you've got to look at it in terms of competition. You know, you have a hungry stomach or you have the possibility of going to prison. At some point, prison is down the road. It's a possibility: you might get caught or you might not get caught.

Justice committee  Becky, did you want to say something in the time we have?

Justice committee  One thing I think I need to begin by saying is that I need to speak from where I am positioned in this issue. I have never been a gang member. I shared with the young people, before we went live, that I was fortunate enough that my mother left London, England, with me at a time when the possibility of crossing lines of legality were right in front of me, at 15 years of age.