NC Democrats want mental health addressed in Republicans’ planned crime legislation

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Top North Carolina Democrats want to be involved in Republican-led legislation meant to fight back on crime after the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train last month.

Some Republicans say her death was preventable.

“Her life was tragically cut short because of the atrocious policies by out-of-touch politicians and court officials that prioritize a perverted vision or version of equity,” Senator Phil Berger said.

Berger and Representative Destin Hall are drafting legislation to be tougher on crime. They want people with violent criminal histories to be held in jail more often, while also looking to end cashless bail and they require more training for magistrates. The man accused in the light rail stabbing, DeCarlos Brown, was released by a magistrate judge on a recent non-violent charge despite a history of violent felony convictions.

Democratic House Leader Robert Reives agrees that Brown should not have been out free, but he wants any new legislation to address mental health concerns for repeat offenders.

“We’ve got to figure out what to do with people who fall in that gap, and the gap is people who are a danger to themselves, who are a danger to others, who we know are a danger, and we’re not getting them off the streets,” Representative Reives said.

Reives wants more support for law enforcement, including funding. He also wants to hear from magistrates and judges across the state about what they need to make well-informed decisions when releasing somebody accused of a crime.

With both chambers led by Republicans, Reives wants Democrats to have a seat at the table because he says there is no simple answer.

“Innocent people walking on the streets every day shouldn’t have to fear things like this in a civilized government,” he said. “This doesn’t go by party affiliation, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nothing – everybody gets affected.”

Leader Reives says he has not heard from Speaker Hall just yet about opportunities to work together on the legislation. But, he said previously, Hall has approached him whenever legislation is drafted. He’s hopeful that working relationship will continue moving forward.