Charlotte, North Carolina, December 24, 2025
North Carolina officials have renewed their focus on Iryna’s Law, effective December 1, which implements strict restrictions on cashless bail for violent offenders. Following the tragic murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, the law mandates judges to consider full criminal histories, requires mental health evaluations for certain defendants, and alters pretrial release conditions. This legislative action aims to enhance public safety as the state approaches the holiday season.
Charlotte: North Carolina Officials Highlight Impact of “Iryna’s Law” on Cashless Bail Ahead of Holiday Season
Charlotte, North Carolina – State officials, particularly the North Carolina Senate Republican Caucus, have recently renewed focus on the statewide impact of Iryna’s Law, a comprehensive criminal justice reform measure that became active on December 1, 2025. The law, formally known as House Bill 307, aims to significantly restrict cashless bail for certain violent and repeat offenders, alongside other provisions designed to enhance public safety across North Carolina. This renewed attention comes as communities prepare for the holiday season, emphasizing the law’s role in altering pretrial release conditions throughout the state.
Passed in response to the tragic August 2025 murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train, Iryna’s Law was signed by Governor Josh Stein on October 3, 2025. Its activation marks a pivotal shift in the state’s approach to criminal justice, mandating stricter considerations for pretrial release and aiming to keep high-risk defendants in custody.
Key Provisions of Iryna’s Law Now in Effect
The core of Iryna’s Law centers on major modifications to pretrial release requirements for individuals charged with violent offenses. These changes are implemented statewide:
Restrictions on Pretrial Release and Cashless Bail
- The law eliminates cashless bail—release based solely on a promise to appear—for many violent or repeat offenders.
- Judges and magistrates are now required to consider an individual’s full criminal history before setting pretrial release conditions.
- For defendants accused of “violent offenses,” which include assaults, felonies involving physical force or weapons, sex-offender-related felonies, and certain drug crimes, stricter pretrial release conditions are mandated statewide. These conditions must include secure bond, house arrest, or GPS monitoring, moving away from unsecured bonds or mere promises to appear.
- The legislation also tightens judicial discretion in pretrial release decisions, requiring written findings and documentation on new administrative forms for release decisions.
Mental Health Evaluations
- Iryna’s Law requires courts to order mental health evaluations for some defendants. This applies especially to those charged with violent crimes who have a recent history of involuntary mental health commitment or for whom judges believe pose a danger to themselves or others.
- The law also directs the North Carolina Collaboratory to conduct research on the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system.
Death Penalty Provisions
- In capital and serious felony cases, the law introduces an aggravating factor: whether the crime occurred on public transportation. This provision may make a defendant eligible for the death penalty.
- The law also sets a firmer timeline for appeals in death penalty cases, requiring any appeals to occur within two years.
- An amendment introduced during the legislative process would direct the state to find another form of execution if lethal injection, the current method, is found unconstitutional or unavailable. This could lead to the adoption of methods used by other states, such as a firing squad.
Background of the Legislation
The catalyst for Iryna’s Law was the brutal stabbing death of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on August 22, 2025, while she was riding the Lynx Blue Line light rail in Charlotte. Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who had sought safety in the United States, was fatally attacked by Decarlos Brown Jr., who was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The attack was described as random and unprovoked.
Brown Jr. had a lengthy criminal record, with 14 prior arrests, and had been released on a misdemeanor charge earlier that year without bond. This detail ignited significant public outrage and prompted Republican lawmakers to fast-track House Bill 307. The case drew national attention, with public figures raising concerns about “soft-on-crime policies” and the need for stronger public safety measures.
The North Carolina legislature gave final approval to the bill on September 23, 2025, with the House voting 81-31 and the Senate 28-8. Governor Stein signed the bill into law on October 3, 2025, despite some reservations about certain death penalty provisions, calling them “barbaric”. However, he emphasized that he signed the law due to its critical provisions requiring judges and magistrates to more carefully weigh pretrial release decisions for individuals charged with violent crimes. The law then officially took effect statewide on December 1, 2025.
The full activation of Iryna’s Law on December 1, 2025, has led to renewed discussions among state officials regarding its ongoing implementation and its intended impact on crime rates and public safety in North Carolina.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Iryna’s Law?
Iryna’s Law, formally known as House Bill 307, is a comprehensive criminal justice reform measure in North Carolina that became active on December 1, 2025. It aims to restrict cashless bail for certain violent and repeat offenders, establish new mental health evaluation protocols, and address death penalty appeals in North Carolina.
When did Iryna’s Law go into effect?
Iryna’s Law became active statewide in North Carolina on December 1, 2025.
Who was Iryna Zarutska?
Iryna Zarutska was a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed on August 22, 2025, on a Charlotte light rail train. Her murder was the catalyst for the creation and passage of Iryna’s Law in North Carolina.
What changes does Iryna’s Law make to cashless bail in North Carolina?
Iryna’s Law eliminates cashless bail—release based solely on a promise to appear—for many violent or repeat offenders in North Carolina. For defendants charged with “violent offenses,” pretrial release must include stricter conditions such as secure bond, house arrest, or GPS monitoring.
Does Iryna’s Law affect the death penalty in North Carolina?
Yes, Iryna’s Law affects the death penalty in North Carolina by adding an aggravating factor for capital and serious felony cases if the crime occurred on public transportation. It also sets a firmer timeline for death penalty appeals and includes an amendment to find alternative execution methods if lethal injection is unavailable.
What are the mental health provisions of Iryna’s Law?
Iryna’s Law requires courts in North Carolina to order mental health evaluations for some defendants, especially those charged with violent crimes who have a recent history of involuntary mental health commitment or for whom judges believe pose a danger to themselves or others. It also directs the North Carolina Collaboratory to research mental health in the criminal justice system.
Key Features of Iryna’s Law (State-level)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Cashless Bail | Eliminates cashless bail for many violent or repeat offenders. Mandates secure bond, house arrest, or GPS monitoring for “violent offenses.” |
| Pretrial Release Conditions | Requires judges and magistrates to consider full criminal history and implement stricter conditions for violent offenses. Tightens judicial discretion. |
| Mental Health Evaluations | Mandates mental health evaluations for violent offenders with a history of involuntary commitment or deemed dangerous. Directs research into mental health in the justice system. |
| Death Penalty Provisions | Adds committing a capital felony on public transportation as an aggravating factor. Sets a two-year timeline for death penalty appeals. Includes provisions for alternative execution methods if lethal injection is unavailable. |
| Effective Date | Became active statewide on December 1, 2025. |
| Legislative Basis | House Bill 307 (HB 307). |