NEW YORK - Nearly 900 inmates in city jails could reportedly be released before the state's bail-reform law takes effect in the new year.

The law hits the books on January 1 and drops bail for people charged with a variety of misdemeanors and felonies.

The New York Post says the law is retroactive, which means current inmates could request that their bail be lifted, which would let them go free.

The paper also says that once people are freed from jail, the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice will offer things like baseball tickets and gift cards to make sure they show up for court dates.

The mayor's office tells the Post that the city has an award-winning supervised release program that produces high rates of return to court.

It says it expects that to continue after the state law takes effect.

The Office of Court Administration says they are developing a plan to stagger the release of defendants starting in mid-December.

However, it also says some defedants may not be released, as "if a judge feels that it was necessary to make certain securing orders effective Jan. 1, 2020, they certainly retain the discretion to do so."