Tattooed San Jose gang members wishing to change their lifestyles will soon have a chance to start over with a clean slate -- at least on their bodies.
In its 10th year, San Jose's Clean Slate program is once again offering troubled teenagers and young adults the opportunity to remove gang tattoos on exposed body areas, such as the neck, face, hands and wrists, for free.
Charlie Hall, a youth outreach worker for Clean Slate, said Friday that private physicians generally charge between $200 and $300 per treatment to laser off a square inch of inked pigment. Laser tattoo removal frequently requires repeat visits, which could add up to thousands of dollars, Hall said.
But with the Clean Slate program, 50 people between the ages of 14 and 25 could get rid of their former gang-related tattoos without spending a penny.
In exchange for the service, Clean Slate coordinators require that participants commit to education, work and community service.
Candidates must live in San Jose and have a genuine desire to rid themselves of gangs and crimes. The support group meets at the Hank Lopez Community Center, located at 1694 Adrian Way in San Jose, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
The next batch of tattoo removals begins Feb. 8.
Hall said since its inception, the program has removed gang tattoos on more than 1,000 youths, treating two groups of 50 each year.
In its 10th year, San Jose's Clean Slate program is once again offering troubled teenagers and young adults the opportunity to remove gang tattoos on exposed body areas, such as the neck, face, hands and wrists, for free.
Charlie Hall, a youth outreach worker for Clean Slate, said Friday that private physicians generally charge between $200 and $300 per treatment to laser off a square inch of inked pigment. Laser tattoo removal frequently requires repeat visits, which could add up to thousands of dollars, Hall said.
But with the Clean Slate program, 50 people between the ages of 14 and 25 could get rid of their former gang-related tattoos without spending a penny.
In exchange for the service, Clean Slate coordinators require that participants commit to education, work and community service.
Candidates must live in San Jose and have a genuine desire to rid themselves of gangs and crimes. The support group meets at the Hank Lopez Community Center, located at 1694 Adrian Way in San Jose, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
The next batch of tattoo removals begins Feb. 8.
Hall said since its inception, the program has removed gang tattoos on more than 1,000 youths, treating two groups of 50 each year.