CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s Blue Line has renewed scrutiny of the local court system and sparked fresh calls for change.
Advocates say the tragedy highlights a major gap: a lack of mental health training for magistrates and judges, who often make critical decisions about whether someone should be released after an arrest.
“Mental health is not a quick fix,” said Fonda Bryant, a longtime advocate who has trained thousands on how to recognize signs of mental illness. “This man is not crazy. He is in a psychosis state. He does not need to be released to the streets, because really, that’s not helping anyone. That’s not helping him, that’s not helping the public. He needed to be in a bed for long-term care.”…