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North Carolina’s legislators have approved a measure known as “Iryna’s Law” to address the issue of cashless bail, following the tragic killing of a Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte last month.
Iryna Zarutska was reportedly killed by Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr. aboard a light rail train on August 22, in what authorities have described as an unprovoked act of violence. Brown has been charged with first-degree murder.
“Iryna’s Law” aims to remove the option of releasing a defendant solely on a written promise to appear in court. It also introduces a process for evaluating defendants with potential mental health issues for involuntary commitment and sets new, stricter pretrial release guidelines for those accused of violent crimes and individuals with significant criminal backgrounds, among other reforms.
The bill was passed by an 82-30 vote in the North Carolina House and heads to the desk of North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, WBTV reported.
Iryna Zarutska is shown cowering in fear as a man stands over her during an alarming incident on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. (NewsNation via Charlotte Area Transit System)
“We refuse to tolerate regulations that permit violent offenders to return to the streets where they can commit further crimes and threaten public safety,” stated Hall.
The legislation restricts some judicial discretion, allowing judges to enforce GPS monitoring and conditional bonds for a new classification of violent offenses.
Electronic monitoring and house arrest are heavily weighted as options for certain recidivist offenders.
A booking photo of Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr. taken on Aug. 28, 2025, days after the fatal light-rail stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska. (Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO))
Death penalty appeals would also be required to be adjudicated within two years of filing rather than allowing them to fester in the judicial system.
