Charlotte sheriff warns Iryna’s Law will overcrowd jail
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said Monday, Dec. 8, that North Carolina’s new Iryna’s Law—tightening pretrial release for repeat and violent offenders—will increase jail populations, strain staff, and reduce magistrate and judicial discretion. The law, signed in October by Gov. Josh Stein and named for 23‑year‑old Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed on Charlotte’s light rail in August, also adds new requirements for the sheriff’s office; McFadden alleged politicians used the case for a 'political agenda' and said local judges have faced threats and safety fears since the attack.
📌 Key Facts
- Gov. Josh Stein signed Iryna’s Law in October; it recently took effect
- Sheriff Garry McFadden warned Dec. 8 the law will drive 'dangerous overcrowding' at Mecklenburg County Jail
- The law curbs magistrate/judge discretion on pretrial release for certain repeat/violent offenders
- McFadden said judges were targeted on social media and fear retaliation, affecting release decisions
- The case that prompted the law involved the August killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska; Decarlos Brown Jr. is charged
📊 Relevant Data
In Charlotte, violent crime dropped 25% in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024, with homicides decreasing by 29%.
CMPD reports violent crime drops 25% in first half of 2025 — WCNC
In Mecklenburg County, Black individuals make up about 32% of the resident population but represented approximately 70% of the jail population in recent years, showing significant overrepresentation.
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina - Incarceration Trends — Vera Institute of Justice
In Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Black people were 5.7 times more likely to be arrested for low-level, non-violent offenses than White people, based on 2020-2022 data.
Charlotte, NC - Police Scorecard — Police Scorecard
North Carolina's three-year recidivism rate for all offenders is 38.6%, with violent offenders showing higher rates of re-arrest.
Recidivism Rates by State 2025 — World Population Review
Between 2010 and 2022, the Black non-Hispanic population in Mecklenburg County increased by 80,371, from 281,069 to 361,440, representing about 32% of the total population in 2022.
Mecklenburg County, NC population by year, race, & more — USAFacts
Decarlos Brown Jr. has a criminal history with 14 prior arrests spanning more than a decade, including charges related to mental health issues.
Decarlos Brown Jr. Criminal Record: What We Know About Suspect — Newsweek