The North Carolina Senate Republicans have approved legislation known as Iryna’s Law, named after the Ukrainian refugee who was brutally killed last month on a Charlotte light rail train. This new bill aims to eliminate cashless bail for violent offenders, along with other modifications to the state’s criminal justice framework.
Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old, tragically lost her life on August 22 while returning home from her job at a pizza restaurant aboard the city’s Blue Lynx Line train. Police apprehended Decarlos Brown Jr., a mentally disturbed homeless individual with an extensive criminal history, shortly thereafter at a nearby train station, subsequently charging him with murder.
At 34, Brown, who suffers from schizophrenia, had an alarming history with at least 14 prior arrests before Zarutska’s death and had been released following a January arrest for a false 911 call, after signing a “written promise” to attend court.
This heinous act has ignited a national conversation regarding cashless bail reform and safety for riders on public transit.
Recently, Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) proposed new legislation that aims to form a federal task force dedicated to curbing violence on public transport and improving the reporting of such incidents to Congress.
“Every American should feel secure while commuting to work, school, or anywhere else via public transit. No one should have to worry about their safety when getting to school or work,” stated Scott, who chairs the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
In North Carolina, House Bill 307 seeks to alter existing laws governing pretrial release conditions for individuals “charged with a violent offense.”
This bill proposes several modifications, including the elimination of cashless bail and the introduction of an “aggravated sentencing factor” for crimes targeting public transit users.
The legislation also contains a provision aimed at potentially reinstating the death penalty in the state, which has maintained an informal halt on capital punishment since 2006.
Approved by the Senate Monday night, the Republican-majority House is anticipated to engage in discussions on the bill Tuesday.
“For nearly two decades, obstacles in the judicial and administrative processes have hindered justice for victims, and that must come to an end,” declared North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger via X.
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In a subsequent post, Berger mentioned that Senate Democrats opposed the amendment to explore reinstating the death penalty and walked out of the session, “refusing to vote” on the bill.
Mecklenburg County Senator Mujtaba Mohammed criticized the legislation during the Senate judiciary meeting, asserting that it “takes advantage of sorrow for media attention, clicks, and votes.”
Brown has been charged with committing a fatal act on a mass transportation system, which may render him eligible for the death penalty, as indicated by the Justice Department.
Expressing his outrage over Zarutska’s brutal murder, President Trump branded Decarlos as an “ANIMAL” on Truth Social on September 10, insisting that he deserves the death penalty. “There can be no other option!!!” he posted.
