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Passionate discussion on criminal justice reform unfolds in Wake County

A passionate discussion unfolded on criminal justice reform in Wake County on Thursday night.

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By
Lena Tillett
, WRAL anchor/reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — A passionate discussion unfolded on criminal justice reform in Wake County on Thursday night.

Community members brought their questions and criticisms directly to the Wake County district attorney.

"What you have is poverty criminalized," said Kimberly Muktarian, with Save Our Sons, during Thursday's meeting.

Criminal justice reform group Emancipate NC held a discussion Thursday on how Wake County's justice system can improve. It started off with hypotheticals, like whether cash bail should end or if sentences now considered excessive should be reduced.

"[They] had my son behind bars and my nerves torn up," said one speaker during the meeting.

The discussion quickly turned to District Attorney Lorrin Freeman and a current case, one mother says, proves the system is broken.

first name Mills is the mother of Marcus Vanirvin, who was one of 15 people arrested by Detective Omar Abdullah, based on false information from a confidential informant.

All charges were dropped, and the officer placed on administrative leave.

Freeman told WRAL News in September of 2020 her office was investigating, but on Thursday, Mills demanded an update.

"I want to know how is it that, you don't think you have to indict RPD?" Mill said.

"As I have said before, this is an ongoing investigation and currently is a pending case," said Freeman.

Freeman said they're still investigating, and couldn't say more.

Emancipate NC's Dawn Blagrove said this is why conversations must continue.

"The burden of that trauma is what makes it necessary for us to have not just conversation, but solution-based conversations," said Blagrove.

Freeman took every question from the audience during the meeting.

Emancipate NC organizers said they plan to hold more discussion on reforms in the future.

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