RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina lawmakers are moving closer to passing a new bill aimed at strengthening crime laws, spurred by a recent tragic incident in Charlotte. The bill, called Iryna’s Law, is named after Iryna Zarutska, a woman tragically stabbed and killed on a Charlotte train last month.
What the Bill Does
The bill seeks to tighten criminal justice protocols and prevent violent offenders from being released without proper scrutiny. Senator Danny Britt, who helped draft the bill, pointed to Zarutska’s death as a key motivator. The accused killer, DeCarlos Brown Jr., had a violent criminal history but was recently charged with a nonviolent misdemeanor and released by a magistrate.
“Iryna’s Law” would eliminate the practice of issuing written promises to appear for violent offenses, and introduce a more stringent framework for assessing violent offenders. If a defendant is charged with a violent crime and has a history of involuntary commitments for mental health issues in the past three years, the law mandates that a judicial official must order a mental health evaluation.
Mental Health and Jail Reform
In addition to tougher release protocols, the bill aims to address mental health concerns by requiring evaluations for defendants with certain mental health histories. The bill also calls for more prosecutor positions in Mecklenburg County, where the incident occurred. However, Democrats have expressed concern that the bill does not allocate enough resources for public defenders, who would also be affected by an increased caseload.
Senator Sydney Batch, a Democrat, emphasized the need for balanced investments: “Investing in prosecutors is absolutely what we need to do, but we also need to invest in public defenders offices who are going to deal with the influx.”
Potential Impact on the Court System
While the bill has bipartisan support for addressing crime, some lawmakers worry that an overburdened court system could result from the new measures. Senator Mujtaba Mohammed voiced concerns about a potential clogging of the court system, noting that simply increasing prosecutor positions might not fully address the root causes of the situation.
The bill also empowers judges to impose stricter disciplinary measures against magistrates who release individuals without adequate consideration.
Moving Forward
As the bill continues through the legislative process, both sides of the aisle are advocating for improvements, with Republicans pushing for stricter control over violent offenders and Democrats emphasizing the need for comprehensive support for both prosecutors and public defenders.
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
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