Roy Cooper’s 2020 Racial-Equity Report Calls for Major Overhaul of North Carolina Justice System
A 166-page report issued by a task force created by Roy Cooper in 2020 proposes 125 changes aimed at reshaping policing, courts and bail policies in North Carolina.
In June 2020, Roy Cooper signed an order establishing a task force for racial equity in criminal justice, appointing Josh Stein and Anita Earls as co-chairs. Their 166-page document outlines 125 recommendations, including hiring more social workers, limiting police involvement in certain calls, and promoting citations over arrests. The plan calls for a review of school resource officers, peaceful handling of protests, and a shift toward restorative-justice models that would reduce charges and eliminate cash bail.
The report’s influence is cited in the passage of Iryna’s Law in 2025, a response to repeated releases of DeCarlos Brown, who was later linked to a murder on Charlotte’s light-rail. Implementation tracking ceased after Cooper left office at the end of 2024.
Why it matters
The proposals could reshape law-enforcement and bail practices across North Carolina, affecting public safety and racial equity.
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