North Carolina Senate Passes Iryna's Law Enforcing Stricter Bail and Mental Health Checks After Charlotte Stabbing

North Carolina lawmakers have passed a bill named "Iryna's Law," inspired by the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s light rail. The legislation aims to reform the criminal justice system by tightening bail conditions, particularly for those with violent criminal histories and mental illness, and increasing judicial oversight. It introduces aggravating factors for crimes committed on public transit and enhances monitoring options like GPS and electronic house arrest for repeat offenders. The bill also seeks to address gaps that allowed the suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., who had a lengthy criminal record and documented mental illness, to remain free on pretrial release. While supporters argue the bill is necessary for public safety and to prevent similar tragedies, critics caution that stricter bail rules may lead to innocent people pleading guilty due to lack of mental health resources. The bill, passed with a partisan divide over a late amendment to revive the death penalty, is expected to be signed into law soon.