The objective of this study is to investigate the mechanical behavior, energy dissipation characteristics, and acoustic emission (AE) signal features of rocks with cross- fractures during loading. Rock specimens with varying angles of cross-fractures were fabricated, and uniaxial compression tests coupled with AE monitoring were conducted to obtain mechanical parameters and AE characteristics, including ring counts and cumulative counts. The results indicate that cross-fractures significantly affect the stress-strain relationship and mechanical properties of rocks, particularly at fracture angles of 30° and 60°, where pronounced stress drops and localized damage phenomena occur. The analysis of energy dissipation reveals that during the compaction phase, rock absorbs and dissipates energy. In the elastic phase, energy is transformed into elastic strain energy. However, in the plastic phase, as micro-damage increases, the dissipated energy rises while the growth rate of elastic strain energy decelerates. The AE ring count is closely related to the dynamic trend of dissipated energy. The propagation of fractures and the concentration of local stress promote frequent AE events, simultaneously intensifying the internal energy dissipation of the rock and leading to a reduction in elastic strain energy. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the early warning of engineering disasters in fractured rocks within the field of civil engineering.