In late August, Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was murdered on public transport in North Carolina. Her alleged killer, Decarlos Brown Jr., was a repeat offender who had been arrested several times before. In the wake of her killing, many have argued that soft-on-crime policies are making America less safe.

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From Fox News:

Critics argue that judges are too lenient, but New York City trial attorney Nicole Brenecki said the issue is layered.

“I think we can agree that it’s not just common knowledge in society,” she told Fox News Digital. “I think there’s also statistics available to us right now that repeat offenders are on the rise. Recidivism is at an all-time high.”

…

“There is a trend towards leniency,” she said. “And that trend is criticized because we see the results – these people do go out and commit the offense again. And that jeopardizes public safety.”

In the case of Zarutska’s death, the alleged killer, Brown, had a known history of violent crime. Fox notes his history included assaults and robberies, and that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Despite this, Brown was, as Fox puts it, “free and walking the streets.”

In her statement to Fox, Brenecki highlights the backlash that judges face in cases like Zarutska’s, arguing that much of this backlash comes from legal misunderstandings. She admits, however, that some decisions defy common sense.

Repeated arrests, she notes, indicate a pattern of dangerous behavior. As for why judges would release individuals with multiple previous arrests, Brenecki blames in part political and social pressures.

We know that judges often face immense pressure, especially in highly publicized events, to rule a specific way, even if that ruling would defy common sense. However, we also know that ruling in favor of violent criminals is what many on the left explicitly want. As IFA has explained in special reports, far-left megadonors are pushing soft-on-crime policies with the explicit purpose of destabilizing the U.S.

It is entirely possible that Iryna Zarutska would still be alive if her alleged killer hadn’t been allowed to freely roam the streets. Soft-on-crime policies may appear to be merciful but, in reality, they are anything but. Let’s pray for an end to dangerous soft-on-crime policies that put innocent, well-meaning Americans at risk!

How are you praying about soft-on-crime policies and prosecutors? Share your prayers and scriptures below.

(Excerpt from Fox News. Photo Credit: City Dweller 2 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=175124556)