A high-profile murder and rising crime rates have brought renewed focus to the policies of Mecklenburg County’s district attorney, who has emphasized racial equity.
The brutal stabbing death of a woman on a public train in August has thrust Charlotte’s crime issues into the national spotlight, prompting a re-examination of criminal justice policies that have been in place for years.
The murder of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian immigrant, has sparked a public outcry and put renewed pressure on city and county officials, particularly Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather.
According to data reported to the FBI, violent crime in Charlotte in 2024 was 13% higher than in 2018, despite a drop in rates following a pandemic-era crime surge. This increase has coincided with the tenure of District Attorney Merriweather, who took office in 2017 and has focused on promoting racial equity within the justice system.
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The victim, Iryna Zarutska, was reportedly stabbed three times on a light rail train by a man later identified as Decarlos Brown. Surveillance footage showed the attack, which has become a focal point of public discussion. Brown, who has a documented history of mental illness, had been arrested 14 times since 2011 on charges including felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats. RELATED: North Carolina Stabbing Sparks Outcry: Mother Blames System For Son’s Violent Attack
Critics argue that Merriweather’s reform-minded approach has contributed to a climate where repeat offenders are not being held accountable.
Since taking office, Merriweather has implemented programs such as a “Diversity and Inclusion Team” to encourage prosecutors to view cases “through an equity lens.” In 2022, he noted a 20% decrease in the use of a “habitual felon” law, which increases punishments for repeat offenders, describing it as a reflection of his “thoughtfulness.”
Merriweather’s office, along with other local agencies, has also participated in the MacArthur Foundation’s “Safety and Justice Challenge,” a program designed to reduce “over-incarceration” and racial disparities. From 2012 to 2020, Mecklenburg County’s incarceration rate decreased from 741 to 489 per 100,000 residents.
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Following the August killing, both Merriweather and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles have called for a tougher approach to crime.
Mayor Lyles stated, “We need a bipartisan solution to address repeat offenders who do not face consequences for their actions and those who cannot get treatment for their mental illness and are allowed to be on the streets.”
Merriweather has also voiced support for the Pretrial Integrity Act, a 2023 law he says addresses repeat offenders by transferring pretrial detention authority to judges in certain cases.
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The case has also drawn comments from national figures, including the White House, which attributed the murder to a failure of “woke policies.” President Donald Trump also commented on the killing, saying, “There are evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country.”
Zarutska’s death has brought to the forefront a debate about the balance between justice reform aimed at reducing racial disparities and the need to ensure public safety by holding repeat offenders accountable.
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