Governor Stein Signs HB 307 Into Law

Today, NC Governor Josh Stein signed House Bill 307 Bill into action. Also referred to as "Iryna's Law," this comprehensive criminal justice reform legislation imposes restrictions on pretrial release for violent offenders, abolishes cashless bail for specific crimes, mandates mental health assessments, and introduces an amendment to reinstate the state's death penalty by defining new execution methods and timelines. The North Carolina legislature approved the bill following the tragic murder of Iryna Zarutska in August.

Key Features of HB 307 ("Iryna's Law")

Cashless Bail: This legislation removes the option for certain defendants to be released based on a written promise to appear in court, instead necessitating secured bail or house arrest with electronic monitoring for those charged with "violent offenses."

Stricter Release for Violent Offenders: A new category for "violent offenses" is established, which requires secured bonds or GPS monitoring for first-time offenders and mandates house arrest for repeat offenders.

Mental Health Evaluations: Judges are required to mandate involuntary mental health evaluations for defendants accused of a violent offense who have a history of involuntary commitments or are experiencing a significant mental health crisis.

Capital Punishment Reforms: The legislation includes an amendment aimed at reinstating the death penalty by expediting the appeals process and providing an alternative to lethal injection.

Public Transportation Aggravated Factor: The act designates committing a capital felony on public transportation as an aggravating factor, thereby increasing the likelihood of facing the death penalty.