What the Zarutska Case Could Mean for the Future of Crime and Punishment in North Carolina

Speaker of the House Destin Hall speaks at a press conference about proposed crackdowns on crime following Iryna Zarutska’s murder. Source: NC Newsline.

The recent murders of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte and popular political personality Charlie Kirk have resulted in heightened questions about the prioritization of public safety in America. 

Zarutska was stabbed repeatedly on a light rail train in Charlotte by Decarlos Brown Jr., and Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University.

These two stories have developed state and national politicians’ stances around how our nation needs to handle crime moving forward, resulting in fierce partisan attacks. Ideological divisions and attributions of blame from both sides of the aisle have sparked widespread chaos among voters and political leaders alike. 

This polarization is reflected in how different leaders interpret the root causes of violent crime in the United States. For example, Vice President and GOP leader J.D. Vance has blamed the left’s crime reform policies, such as cashless bail, for being the reason why criminals like Brown are roaming free. 

“Every politician who didn’t work hard to keep violent criminals behind bars deserves to have some of the blame, but at the very top of that list is Governor Cooper,” Vance stated.

Conversely, those on the left are fighting the idea that they are “soft on crime”. Some Democrats are pushing to enact harsher crime policies in response to Republican attacks on their party. Others argue that the state should reasonably balance criminal punishments with more funding for mental health support and other types of preventive measures. Additionally, many Democrats cite Kirk's assassination as a case of why much stricter gun safety laws are needed in America, and criticize the right for being idle or hesitant in executing gun reform. 

These points of contention have come to a head in ongoing debates over what policies should be enacted to handle public safety in North Carolina. Significant critiques from the right regarding the Zarutska case have been about Judge Teresa Stokes, a magistrate judge in Charlotte. Stokes previously presided over Brown in court and released him after he was arrested for falsely calling 911 multiple times in January. 

In the past few weeks, her leniency leading to Brown’s release has drawn heavy criticism. The backlash has stemmed from how Stokes let him go on the singular condition that he wrote a promise to attend his next court hearing. Additionally, there was no cash bail required in his release, making it easier for him to be released from prison. Cashless bail is sometimes implemented in court systems because, systemically, bail requirements have preyed on the fact that marginalized populations cannot afford to pay to get out of jail. This disproportionately has impacted Black, Latino, and low-income defendants. However, in this case, cashless bail has been highly scrutinized due to Brown’s clear threat to public safety, given his past convictions. 

Just a few months after his release, Brown was charged with the killing of Zarutska. This sparked outrage among multiple GOP leaders who argued Stokes’ ruling directly enabled the murder.

Not only was Stokes highly scrutinized by Vance and other national GOP leaders, but 10 North Carolina Republicans asserted that her decision was grounds for termination from her position. This group wrote a letter to Roy H. Wiggins, the Chief Judge of NC Judicial District 26, to formally voice their opinion.

Additionally, President Trump, in a Twitter statement, went as far as saying that Brown needed to be given the death penalty. He wrote, “There can be no other option!!!” 

Policies that are “tough on crime” are a cornerstone of the GOP platform, and numerous other Republican politicians, alongside Trump, have even stepped forward, urging the legislature to reinstate the death penalty in North Carolina. Many believe that it can and should be seen as a viable option if a jury determines that capital punishment is appropriate. However, this presents a unique challenge, given that there has been a moratorium on executions in the state of North Carolina since 2006. Given that the death penalty has not been used in nearly two decades, there is likely to be intense political gridlock in determining whether or not it is necessary for public safety. 

Furthermore, Zarutska’s case has become a catalyst for various conversations around violent crime in North Carolina. Families of past crime victims came forward at a recent Charlotte hearing to share their stories. One woman named Mia Alderman spoke about her granddaughter, Mary Collins, who had a cognitive disability and was stabbed numerous times at her North Davidson apartment in 2020. 

This Charlotte hearing prompted discussion of more proactive policies enhancing public safety and preventing crimes before they occur. One such solution could be stricter enforcement of fare requirements, which can bar entry to public transportation for criminals like Brown. Brown did not buy a ticket for the light rail before Zarutska’s murder. Finding ways to enforce fares for entry can be a part of a broader strategy that deters potential offenders before committing serious crimes. 

There are other various policy responses in the works; however, the focus of politicians from both sides of the aisle is largely different. House Representative Tim Moore, a North Carolina Republican, has pushed forward the “Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act” to incentivize state and district courts to detain those with substantial past criminal records. In a Congressional meeting, Moore said that Zarutska’s blood is on the hands of all who made it possible for Brown to walk free, and leaders should not be receiving federal support if they refuse to prosecute crime. 

That specific bill has not yet made it past the House Judiciary Committee, but it seems to have garnered bipartisan support with 211 yes votes from Republicans and 44 from Democrats. However, a different public safety policy that was recently approved is Iryna’s Law, which was passed by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein on Friday, October 2nd.

Before that, on September 18, Stein sent a proposal for a $195 million safety package to the General Assembly. This would go towards recruiting more law enforcement officers and filling existing vacancies to ensure criminal acts like these are prevented. When it came to Iryna’s Law, which enforces stricter pretrial release conditions and monitoring of criminals with mental health issues, Stein originally had some reservations.

Stein ultimately signed the bill into law because of his strong agreement with the pretrial conditions proposed by the law, including bail reform. On the other hand, he has also criticized the law for not providing additional funding for mental health services to treat people like Brown, who had an extensive history of mental illness and over a dozen criminal convictions. This raises another valid consideration, as a prior judge had ordered a forensic psychological evaluation for Brown following his conviction in January, but it never ended up taking place. 

His time to review the law was also slower because of deliberation around a section of the bill, which would allow for the death penalty in North Carolina to be reevaluated. Ultimately, this deliberation shows how politicians remain deeply divided over whether stronger sentencing or expanded social services will ensure law and order. For Stein, it seems that he believes more integration needs to happen between mental health support funding and criminal justice reform to create the most comprehensive solution.

 A heavy divide is forming during this critical moment in North Carolina’s political landscape. North Carolina is considered a battleground state and has grappled with intense power struggles between politicians on both the left and the right when it comes to gun reform and approaches to handling violent crime. However, it is important now more than ever for North Carolina politicians to act swiftly and take action to prevent further tragedies. Continued gridlock in our state can stifle action, and must be reconciled to the extent possible for any significant progress to be made.