North Carolina GOP Advances 'Iryna's Law' Tightening Bail, Considering Death Penalty Revival

North Carolina Republican legislators are advancing a bill known as “Iryna’s Law” aimed at tightening bail laws, restricting magistrates' discretion, and requiring mental health evaluations for certain offenders following the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte. The legislation prohibits cashless bail for some violent crimes and considers defendants' dangerousness when setting bail, intending to prevent violent and repeat offenders from being released. The bill passed the Senate largely along party lines and is now under consideration in the House, with Governor Josh Stein expected to review it. The legislation has sparked controversy, with opponents warning it could disproportionately harm low-income individuals and people of color, while supporters, including President Donald Trump, blame local Democratic officials for soft-on-crime policies. Additionally, the bill includes an amendment potentially reopening the death penalty in North Carolina and allowing execution methods beyond lethal injection, which has not been used in the state since 2006. The suspect in Zarutska's killing, Decarlos Brown Jr., who had a significant criminal record and was released on a misdemeanor charge before the attack, faces charges that could result in a death sentence if convicted.