So crime DOES pay: Washington D.C. council passes proposal to give residents up to $9,000 in cash not to commit crime
The D.C Council voted unanimously to approve the measure on Tuesday
Is based on a program in Richmond, California
Under the bill, 200 suspects or potential victims would be identified yearly
They would be asked to take part in programs, including therapy
At the end, if they haven't committed any crimes, they will be paid
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They say crime doesn't pay, but that might not be entirely true in the U.S. capital as lawmakers look for ways to discourage people from becoming repeat offenders.
The D.C. Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a bill that includes a proposal to pay residents a stipend if they don't commit any crimes.
It's based on a program in Richmond, California, that advocates say has contributed to reductions in crime there.
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The D.C. Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a bill that includes a proposal to pay residents a stipend of up to $9,000 if they don't commit any crimes for a year
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Under the bill, city officials would identify up to 200 people a year who are considered at risk of either committing or becoming victims of violent crime.
Those people would be directed to participate in behavioral therapy and other programs. If they fulfill those obligations and stay out of trouble, they would be paid.
The bill doesn't specify the value of the stipends, but participants in the California program receive up to $9,000 per year.
Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, a Democrat who wrote the legislation, said it was part of a comprehensive approach to reducing violent crime in the city, which experienced a 54 per cent increase in homicides last year.
Homicides and violent crime are still down significantly since the 2000s, and even more so since the early 1990s when the District was dubbed the nation's 'murder capital.'
McDuffie argued that spending $9,000 a year in stipends 'pales in comparison' to the cost of someone being victimized, along with the costs of incarcerating the offender.
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Under the bill, city officials would identify up to 200 people a year who are considered at risk of either committing or becoming victims of violent crime
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