North Carolina’s new law tightening bail and fast-tracking death penalty appeals faces criticism for its limited mental health investments amid public safety debates
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A new North Carolina law aimed at tightening bail restrictions and expediting death penalty appeals takes effect Monday, as the state simultaneously rolls out a $9.5 million pilot program designed to address mental health issues in the criminal justice system.
Iryna’s Law will end the written promise to appear options for certain violent offenders and mandate that judges order mental health evaluations in specific cases. The law was named after Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train in August by a man with a lengthy criminal history.
The state’s new mental health initiative will invest $9.5 million over three years in programs designed specifically for adults with serious mental illness who have a history of interacting with the criminal justice system. But some advocates say the investment falls short of what’s needed to address the crisis.
“We need to be proactive and come up with better ways for preventive care,” said Fonda Bryant, a mental health advocate. “Here we go again, trying to put a band-aid on this gunshot wound that has not healed and these millions of dollars doesn’t even scratch the surface of what we are dealing with.”
Mecklenburg County will receive $636,000 per year for three years as part of the pilot program, which aims to provide treatment, rehabilitation, and support services so individuals can manage symptoms and stay out of jail.
Bryant said the program is too small to meet the crisis.
“We are past millions. We need to be putting billions of dollars towards mental health,” Bryant said. “We have youth in crisis and youth self-medicating. What is this really going to help?”
State officials said the next three years will help them determine whether the pilot should expand and become a permanent part of North Carolina’s mental health system.
Iryna’s Law has sparked debate about how best to address public safety. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden previously said the bill does not do enough to address mental health infrastructure in the courts or detention system and will add strain to law enforcement.
“Lawmakers have the opportunity to stand with all sheriffs and ensure we have the resources, staff and programs to make our communities safer and healthier,” McFadden said when the law was signed in October.
The law also includes provisions to expedite death penalty appeals, requiring them to be heard within two years of filing, a dramatic shift from the current system, where appeals can stretch for decades.
Zarutska was stabbed multiple times on the LYNX Blue Line on Aug. 22. The suspect, DeCarlos Brown, had 14 prior arrests and served five and a half years in prison, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Brown’s attorney has filed a motion for a competency evaluation.
Rep. Laura Budd, a Democrat representing Mecklenburg County, criticized the law when it was introduced, saying it focuses on punishment rather than addressing root causes.
“Nothing in here is actually going to address the root cause of the horrific murder of Iryna,” Budd said in September. “It’s very focused on penalizing and punishment, and you cannot punish your way out of mental health.”
The law takes effect as North Carolina faces ongoing concerns about funding for public safety initiatives. The state currently has no budget, meaning any additional funding for the law’s provisions would not be accessible until a budget is passed.
Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.