North Carolinians and the world were shocked to see the footage depicting Iryna Zarutska’s murder. Let me be clear: Her killer should not have been on that train. As legislators return to Raleigh this month, leadership expects to present a package with reforms that aim to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.
Any legislative package seeking to improve our criminal justice system in North Carolina should and must be done in a bipartisan, collaborative manner. For any change to be positive, serious and long-lasting, it will need buy-in from various stakeholders. Broad topics of focus should include:
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Providing Resources to Local Officials. We should ensure that local officials are armed with the resources and knowledge they need to be successful. This includes making certain that local district attorneys, magistrates and judges have the funding and staff to be successful.
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Supporting Law Enforcement. We must provide the appropriate resources to law enforcement so they can protect their communities and themselves. This includes making law enforcement pay competitive so that talented officers can be recruited and retained.
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Investing in Mental Health. The State has to get serious about investing in our mental health systems. Early investments in treatment can save lives and help people who would otherwise be a danger to themselves or others. There are hardworking North Carolinians in this field, but they need more support from the state and communities.
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Early Intervention. For some people, we need to intervene before they injure themselves or others. Some people display behavior that needs to be dealt with through involuntary commitment. Other tragedies may be prevented through bipartisan policies like Extreme Risk Protection Orders that help keep communities safe from individuals who are at a heightened risk of harming others. We should also help friends and families recognize the signs of those who are a risk so we can stop it early.
“We all agree that the State can and should do more to ensure that its people are safe wherever they go. As a former prosecutor, public safety is paramount for me. These are broad areas of focus where I believe we can find common ground,” House Democratic Leader Robert Reives said. “We have demonstrated an ability to work together on important issues this year and this should be no different. We can build a future for North Carolina that our kids will be proud of if we come together and forge a reasonable consensus. I am ready to get to work.”