North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed “Iryna’s Law,” a bill that eliminates cashless bail for certain violent offenses and repeat offenders. The policy comes in the wake of national outrage over the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, on a Charlotte light-rail train in August.
Zarutska’s death shocked the nation after surveillance video of the unprovoked attack went viral. The accused killer, Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., has been charged with first-degree murder. Brown, a repeat offender, had been arrested over a dozen times and had served five years in prison before being released again in January on a misdemeanor charge, just months before the killing.
A Tragedy that Sparked Legislation
The brutal killing sparked public outcry and calls for bail reform across the state and the country. President Donald Trump prominently highlighted Zarutska’s death during several public appearances and an Oval Office address on crime and bail policies.
“The blood of this innocent woman can literally be seen dripping from the killer’s knife, and now her blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail,” Trump wrote on Truth Social following the attack.
North Carolina lawmakers, led by Republicans, responded with a bill to tighten bail rules for individuals that pose a public safety risk. The measure passed the GOP-controlled legislature with strong support.
Governor Signs with Reservations
In a three-and-a-half minute video statement, the Democratic governor acknowledged he had “serious reservations” about parts of the legislation but said he signed it because it “alerts the judiciary to take a special look at people who may pose unusual risks of violence before determining their bail.”
“That’s a good thing,” Stein said. “When I review public safety legislation that comes to my desk, I use one simple test: Does it make people safer?”
While Stein praised aspects of the bill focused on violent crime, he criticized what he described as an overemphasis on the ability to pay bail rather than the actual risk posed by the defendant. He also objected to a controversial amendment that he claimed seeks to reintroduce the firing squad as a method of execution in North Carolina.
“It’s barbaric,” Stein said. “And I promise you: a firing squad will never happen on my watch.”
However, the final text of the bill reportedly does not mention firing squads, according to a review by Fox News.
Key Provisions of “Iryna’s Law”
According to summaries of the legislation, “Iryna’s Law” includes the following provisions:
- Prohibits cashless bail for certain violent crimes and most repeat offenders.
- Limits discretion of magistrates and judges in pretrial release decisions.
- Empowers the chief justice of the state Supreme Court to suspend magistrates who fail to follow bail guidelines.
- Requires mental health evaluations for more defendants prior to release.
Political Fallout and Community Reaction
State Rep. Tricia Cotham (R-Charlotte), one of the bill’s key sponsors, praised the signing of the bill in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
“Finally, we are getting dangerous criminals off our streets so we can make sure no one else suffers the heartbreak that Iryna Zarutska’s family endured,” she wrote.
Stein’s decision to sign the bill, despite party-line tensions and criticisms from within his own party, reflects the political pressure and emotional weight surrounding Zarutska’s death.
A Shift in North Carolina Criminal Justice Policy
The legislation marks a significant shift in pretrial release policy in North Carolina, echoing broader national debates over bail reform, public safety, and the consequences of lenient pretrial detention standards.
The last execution in North Carolina took place in 2006, and while the bill doesn’t reinstate capital punishment methods, concerns raised by the governor signal potential future legal battles over its interpretation.
For now, “Iryna’s Law” stands as one of the state’s most sweeping bail reforms in years, catalyzed by a tragic crime and driven by calls for greater accountability in the criminal justice system.
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Cashless bail was pretty STUPID in the first place!!! Where do all these stupid people come from now days??
Victory Hooray awesome Yes
DEMOS WANT SOCIALISM. NOT NO BUT HELL NO!!