Imagine being arrested and instead of having to come up with cash for bail money, you instead are offered tickets to a baseball game if you show up for your court date.
That's the plan in New York City as officials are looking to reform the bail system there. Officials say that cash bail will be eliminated January 1, 2020, for hundreds of offenses, and some defendants could be let out earlier and given rewards to get them to show up to court. State judges will no longer require cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies like selling drugs or burglarizing a home. Instead, those released will be offered incentives meant to encourage them to show up in court, such as Mets baseball tickets, a subway pass or a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card.
Substantial research shows offering defendants incentives, instead of sanctions, encourages good behavior.
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