The U.S. state of North Carolina has adopted a new law named after Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who was brutally killed on a light rail train in Charlotte in August 2025. The bill was signed by Governor Josh Stein, according to Fox News.
The new “Iryna’s Law” prohibits cashless bail for a range of violent crimes and for most repeat offenders. In addition, defendants must undergo psychological or psychiatric evaluation before being released on bail.
Iryna Zarutska was killed by Dekarlos Brown Jr., a previously convicted man suffering from mental illness who had repeatedly been released on bail.
According to News & Observer, the law also limits judges’ discretion in setting bail and introduces new requirements for cases involving defendants considered to pose a high risk of violence.
Governor Josh Stein, a Democrat, supported the bill despite it being introduced by Republicans. He said the legislation “requires the judicial system to pay special attention to those who pose a danger to the public,” as quoted by Fox News.
Meanwhile, human rights groups such as the North Carolina Justice Center criticized the law, saying it focuses more on punitive measures than on addressing systemic issues in mental health care.
“Iryna’s Law” has already drawn significant attention in both U.S. and Ukrainian media as an example of how the tragic death of a Ukrainian refugee has led to changes in American legislation.