One week after Iryna’s Law took effect, Mecklenburg County officials say the new requirements are already straining the jail system.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s been one week since Iryna’s Law, officially known as House Bill 307, took effect across North Carolina, and Mecklenburg County officials say they are already seeing significant impacts inside the county’s detention system.
Local leaders, including Sheriff Garry McFadden and staff from the Mecklenburg County Detention Center, held a news conference Monday to outline their growing concerns about how the new law is straining resources, staffing, and mental health services.
Rising jail population creates immediate strains
McFadden says the county has already seen an 18% increase in the jail population compared to this time last year.
Newly released data shows the number of people booked into the jail jumped from 1,297 in November 2024 to 1,571 this November.
“Resources is a word that everybody uses,” McFadden said. “Well, we’re talking about funding right now.”
Leaders at the detention center say the spike is stretching their ability to provide basic services, including food and medical care.
Major Anthony Durrah, who oversees Detention Center Central, says overcrowding threatens both safety and efficiency.
“Overcrowding also reduces efficiencies and raises the risks of incidents, making it harder to maintain order,” Durrah said.
Sheriff: Lawmakers didn’t consult the county before changes
McFadden voiced frustration that lawmakers in Raleigh did not consult with his office before passing the law, despite its direct impact on jail operations.
He says his office could have advised on what support, such as clinical staffing, would be needed to address cases similar to the one involving Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train in August.
“I think they should have taken into consideration that we are already dealing with this,” McFadden said. “Come to us and say, ‘How can we better manage this?’”
The sheriff added that Iryna’s Law is expected to drive jail numbers even higher by affecting bond decisions and reducing the discretion magistrates and judges have in releasing people.
Staffing impact: mandatory overtime and delays expected
The new law is also creating staffing challenges for both detention officers and magistrates. Sheriff’s officials say arrest processing delays are expected as workload increases.
Major Robert Abee, who oversees arrest processing, says crowded conditions can make situations more volatile.
“We’re dealing with people at a very volatile time,” Abee said. “When you put a lot of them in a little area, it can get dangerous.”
Some staff are now operating under mandatory overtime to keep up with the demands.
Mental health needs growing
Mental health remains a central concern linked to major crimes, including the killing of Zarutska. McFadden says that’s why mental health services inside the detention center are more critical than ever.
Tanisha Pakanayeva, the facility’s mental health director, says they provide a wide range of services from suicide and safety watch to behavioral health support, but challenges persist.
“Not every resident who comes into the facility is capable of saying, ‘I consent to treatment,’” she said. “There are people here who won’t engage, but our team is very aware they have mental health needs.”
RISE Program offers statewide support
The sheriff’s office also runs the RISE Program, which partners with dozens of counties across the state to expand mental health support for people in custody. McFadden says programs like RISE remain essential as the jail population continues to rise under the new law.
Contact Autumn Bracey at abracey@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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