Bail Bond CEO Criticizes Cashless Bail Following Tragic Death of Iryna Zarutska

Critique of Cashless Bail Policies

• 💡 Michael Woody, CEO of 828 Bail Bonds, testified before a House Judiciary hearing, criticizing cashless bail policies.
• 📌 He argued that these policies directly contributed to the brutal murder of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee.
• 🎯 Zarutska had fled war only to be killed on a Lynx light rail system by Carlos Brown, a repeat offender released on his own recognizance.

Failures in the Justice System

• ⚠️ Carlos Brown, the perpetrator, had 14 prior arrests and was released despite concerns about his mental stability and schizophrenia diagnosis.
• ⚖️ The current system of unsecured bonds and taxpayer-funded pre-trial release programs is seen as prioritizing offender convenience over public safety.
• 📉 Studies show mixed results on appearance rates, but the core issue is the removal of financial accountability for offenders and their families.

Financial and Societal Costs

• 💰 Mecklenburg County has spent over $5 million on systems that parallel secure bail, which previously worked effectively and cost taxpayers nothing.
• 💸 This includes $345,000 for new pre-trial staff, over $1.6 million in federal grants, and $3.3 million from a private foundation.
• 💔 Missed court dates delay justice for victims, and repeat offenses create new victims who should have been protected.

Recommendations for Reform

• 📢 Woody advocates for strengthening systems that protect victims and ensure court appearances, rather than subsidizing failed experiments.
• 🤝 He urges support for North Carolina's bipartisan Iryna's Law, which aims to restore accountability and protect victims.
• 📣 There's a call to make victim notification automatic through local prosecutors and courts, rather than requiring victims to self-enroll in programs like the NC SAN program.