North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is calling for a series of changes to public safety rules in the state following the stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte last month.
Stein spoke with reporters Thursday before a planned meeting in Charlotte with Zarutska’s family. He laid out several steps he hopes the state legislature will take when it returns to session in Raleigh next week.
Republican leaders of the state House and Senate have already said they plan to roll out some sort of legislation focused on changes to public safety rules. Based on what they’ve said, what Democratic lawmakers have also laid out, and what Stein said Thursday, there appears to be bipartisan agreement on at least a few issues — including changes focused on the magistrates who determine bail for people accused of crimes, and changes to make it easier to commit people to mental hospitals against their will.
Decarlos Brown, a homeless man with a criminal history whose mother says has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, faces federal and state charges in Zarutska’s death.
Brown served six years behind bars for armed robbery and was released in 2020. Earlier this year he was charged with misusing the 911 system. He was awaiting trial on that charge when he was charged with murder.
The police allegations over 911 misuse have raised concerns in hindsight. Brown was charged after calling 911 from a hospital. According to authorities, Brown said his body was under the control of some outside influence. But rather than being referred for mental health treatment, or jailed, he was quickly released back onto the street without having to post bail. The seemingly random stabbing on a commuter train for which he’s accused of committing occurred months later.
Stein said the case has highlighted the need for a better system to screen people with mental health problems, and rules that make it easier to keep the most dangerous people confined for treatment even if it’s involuntary.
“It’s very important that we have — for those folks who have clear mental health psychoses, and a history of violence — that we have some test” to evaluate how to handle them, Stein said.
In the most extreme cases, he added, “there are reforms we can do to the involuntary commitment statute in North Carolina. Obviously we don’t want to deprive people of their liberty without thorough due process. But there are times when a person is a real risk to other people or to themselves.”
GOP leaders also focused on involuntary commitment changes last week, when they announced their plans to file crime-focused legislation. Like Stein, they called for changes to the pretrial system in which magistrates set bail for people who have been accused of crimes.
State Senate leader Phil Berger said he’s upset over “atrocious policies pushed by out-of-touch politicians and court officials that prioritize a perverted vision or version of equity and politicized social justice over real and tangible justice.”
On Thursday the North Carolina Supreme Court announced it would be launching a task force to review pretrial release policies. It will be led by Berger’s son, Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr.
Stein noted that many of the state’s rules for pretrial processes were written by Republicans who have been in control of the state legislature for the past 14 years. The state court system, which sets other rules and recommendations, is also under Republican control. It’s led by Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby and his nominees to top court leadership roles.
Stein agreed with GOP lawmakers that magistrates and their role in the system deserve a closer look. He said magistrates should receive better training and be subject to more oversight.
“More accountability — including an unambiguous chain of command, published disciplinary processes and commonsense removal procedures — will boost confidence in our system,” said Stein, a former state attorney general.
A spokesperson for House Speaker Destin Hall told WRAL on Wednesday that he’d welcome Stein’s support for the legislation Republicans plan to introduce.
“We will soon be introducing legislation to hold magistrates accountable, end reckless cashless bail, and ensure violent criminals aren’t put back on our streets,” Hall spokeswoman Demi Dowdy said. “Speaker Hall is ready to work with [top House Democratic leader Rep. Robert] Reives, local leaders, and Governor Stein on these priorities to restore public safety and end dangerous, soft-on-crime policies in our cities.”
Stein on Thursday also pressed GOP leaders in the House and Senate to put aside their differences and finally pass a new state budget.
Cuts to Medicaid reimbursements — which provides mental health care in addition to other medical coverage to low-income people — are expected unless lawmakers act to pass a new budget, Stein said. And he called on Republicans to adopt his budget, or at least his plans to give raises and signing bonuses to state law enforcement officers.
President Donald Trump has been pushing to send the military into some cities he claims are dangerous. Stein said that’s not necessary, and that police can handle their roles in North Carolina, but that public safety would be improved if there were more police — which higher pay could help with. Many law enforcement agencies have reported staffing shortages in recent years, at the state, county and city levels.
“We don’t need soldiers on our streets,” Stein said. “Let’s use that money — it’s very expensive — and actually apply it to making sure we have more law enforcement officers who can serve our community, deter crime, and hold those who commit crime accountable.”
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