North Carolina lawmakers have passed a sweeping public safety bill aimed at eliminating far-left cashless bail policies.
The move is a response to the brutal stabbing death of young Ukrainian woman Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte last month.
The measure, named “Iryna’s Law,” passed the state House by a vote of 82–30.
It now heads to the desk of Democrat Gov. Josh Stein.
23-year-old Zarutska was murdered on August 22 in a shocking and unprovoked attack that was caught on security cameras.
Zarutska was killed aboard a light rail train by 32-year-old career criminal Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr.
Brown has a long criminal history, but was repeatedly put back on the streets due to cashless bail policies.
Investigators have described the murder as a random attack.
Brown has been charged with first-degree murder.
The legislation would “eliminate the condition to release a defendant on a written promise to appear” and establish a procedure for evaluating defendants with suspected mental health issues for involuntary commitment.
It would also create stricter pretrial release standards for violent offenders and repeat criminals.
Republican leaders framed the bill as a necessary correction to soft-on-crime policies that leave communities vulnerable.
“Iryna should still be alive,” North Carolina Senate President Phil Berger (R-Reidsville) said.
“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 (R-Lenoir) echoed the message, saying residents deserve to feel safe in their own communities.
“We will simply not tolerate policies that allow violent offenders back onto our streets to commit more crimes and jeopardize public safety,” Hall said.
While limiting judicial discretion on pretrial release, the legislation also authorizes courts to impose GPS monitoring, house arrest, or conditional bonds for a new category of violent crimes, with electronic monitoring heavily weighted for repeat offenders.
The bill’s passage comes amid growing backlash nationwide against bail reform and cashless release policies, which critics say have fueled a rise in violent crime.
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