Only in America: Washington City Council approves plan to pay felons not to commit crimes

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published 12 February 2016

The Washington City Council has approved a plan to pay convicted felons not to commit crimes. Up to 200 people a year deemed "at risk" of breaking the law would be placed in behavioral therapy, and if they avoided jail time they would get cash stipends of up to $9,000 annually. That amount "pales in comparison" with the costs of victimization and incarceration, the bill's sponsor said.