North Carolina has passed a bill in the wake of Iryna Zarutska’s fatal stabbing to curb crime in the state.
House Bill 307, also known as Iryna’s Law, seeks to change pretrial release conditions for people charged with violent offenses, among other measures.
Why It Matters
Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was fatally stabbed on August 22 while on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina. DeCarlos Brown, 34, has been charged in connection her with killing and is being held without bond at Mecklenburg County Jail.
Zarutska’s death has raised questions about safety and policing in Charlotte as Brown was known to the police as having schizophrenia and had arrests and convictions over multiple years.
What To Know
State Republicans introduced House Bill 307, which the Senate passed on Monday and the House on Tuesday.
The bill proposes removing cashless bail and allowing officials to order mental health evaluations for defendants. It also suggests adding an “aggravated sentencing factor” to those who offend on public transport.
The legislation also includes a measure to revive the death penalty in the state, an amendment that Senate Democrats voted against. The bill passed the House 81 to 31.
What People Are Saying
Matthew Mangino, a former district attorney in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, told Newsweek: “Unfortunately, this legislation is a knee-jerk reaction to a tragic crime. Reform should be thoughtful and carefully deliberated. Cashless bail is really ‘class’ bail. Does having enough money to post a cash bail make an accused less dangerous?
“How about speeding up the death penalty in a state that hasn’t carried out an execution in 20 years. It is political theater, not meaningful reform.”
North Carolina Senate President Phil Berger said: “Iryna should still be alive. She should be thriving and enjoying time with her family and friends. We cannot let North Carolina be held hostage by woke, weak-on-crime policies and court officials who prioritize criminals over justice for victims. We are also taking steps to revive the death penalty for those who commit the most heinous crimes.”
House Speaker Destin Hall said: “We will simply not tolerate policies that allow violent offenders back onto our streets to commit more crimes and jeopardize public safety.”
Democratic Senator Mujtaba Mohammed said of the bill during a Senate judiciary meeting: “It exploits grief for headlines, clicks and votes.”
President Donald Trump said in a statement earlier this month: “I have seen the horrific video of a beautiful, young Ukrainian refugee, who came to America to escape the vicious War in Ukraine, and was innocently riding the Metro in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was brutally ambushed by a mentally deranged lunatic. The perpetrator was a well known career criminal, who had been previously arrested and released on CASHLESS BAIL in January, a total of 14 TIMES. What the hell was he doing riding the train, and walking the streets? Criminals like this need to be LOCKED UP.”
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy wrote on X on September 7: “This monster had a track record longer than a CVS receipt, including prison time for robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, and larceny. By failing to properly punish him, Charlotte failed Iryna Zarutska and North Carolinians.”
What Happens Next
The bill heads to North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, a Democrat, who may approve or deny it. A spokesperson for the governor said he was reviewing the measure.
Brown’s next court appearance is scheduled for October 16.