True Bill Talk

District Attorney Jared Williams (Augusta, Georgia) used to spend his Christmas mornings in the local Youth Detention Center. It wasn't because Jared got into trouble - instead, his parents would bring him to the Center to show him the experience of kids who didn't have the advantages he had growing up, and to make sure those children didn't spend the holidays alone. To this day, the perspective Jared developed through those early experiences continues to shape his approach to criminal justice. As his community's top prosecutor, Jared has more opportunities than ever to see how early interventions and investments in the lives of youth can help prevent them from becoming involved in the justice system. As Jared explains, giving children access to more resources, especially if they have an incarcerated family member, isn't a "reform" tactic as much as it's a cost-effective and common sense way to minimize harm in his community. Jared's interest in the lives of Augusta's youth is only one of the topics we covered in this wide-ranging interview. Shortly after his election in 2020 - as the first black person ever, and the first Democrat in many years to win his seat - Georgia's state legislature carved out a portion of his district so that a more conservative prosecutor could represent it. As Jared points out, that type of gerrymandering cuts both ways: state lawmakers disenfranchised thousands of his supporters while also stripping some of his opponents of any say over his policies. This was one of the many unexpected insights from our conversation. Ultimately, our discussion was about values: where they come from and how they show up later in life, especially in a job like Jared's, where the stakes are high. 

In this episode, we're doing something different. I'm speaking with an individual whose job is to hold a national perspective on criminal justice issues: Nelson Bunn, Executive Director of the National District Attorneys Association, whose mission is to be the "voice of America's prosecutors" and provide training to local prosecutors. I wanted to interview Nelson because the NDAA influences the policies of thousands of prosecutors across the country. And the wide range of views among prosecutors on how to use their power and discretion makes Nelson's job immensely complicated. In this episode, Nelson takes us behind the scenes on how that works.

In the last few weeks, I've been hearing questions from prosecutors like when are federal agents immune from state prosecution? Will these cases be tried in federal or state court? What cases should I be aware of as a starting point if this becomes relevant in my community? To answer these questions, I interviewed Professor Nadia Banteka of Florida State University College of Law on True Bill Talk. She's an expert on constitutional criminal procedure and criminal law, and takes us on a deep dive into this complicated area of law.  This short episode will give you a solid understanding about federal immunity from local prosecution with an incredibly knowledgeable legal expert. 

Over the past few weeks, two people were killed by federal law enforcement agents in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement actions directed by the Trump White House. In this conversation, we don't delve into immigration policy or whether the shootings are legally justified. Instead, we focus on why and how local prosecutors should investigate allegations of misconduct by federal agents. Local investigations are essential for creating an independent, public record — one that ensures transparency and maintains community trust. And John Chisholm is the perfect guest for this topic: as the former Milwaukee DA, he oversaw investigations that resulted in both pursuing and declining charges against police, earning criticism from both sides. Drawing on 18 years in office, John explains his approach to police-involved fatalities, how federal–local cooperation has traditionally worked, what's shifted in Minneapolis, and practical advice for prosecutors addressing federal misconduct today.  

DA Dalia Racine of Douglas County, GA is unique in her willingness to be extremely candid about everything from her personal background to what she has learned about crime and humanity from her time as a prosecutor. As you'll hear in this episode, Dalia's career has been shaped by her own experience as a survivor of child sex abuse. But what she went through as a child has made her approach to sex crimes cases much more nuanced than you might expect. The road to Dalia's current position was exceptionally challenging for a number of political reasons – all of which she discusses in this episode. And her victory in 2020 marked the first time a woman of color won that office in its history. This episode explores how one prosecutor's tenacity, humility, and deep capacity for empathy can shape their approach to the job.

Jared grew up in Atlanta in a Jewish family that instilled in him the concept of tikkun olam, or the idea that we each have a role to play in repairing the world. This became the driving force behind his career path---which included years as a federal civil rights prosecutor----and eventually led to founding the Justice Innovation Lab, which uses data to improve public safety while reducing harm. Jared seamlessly connects deeply personal values with rigorous analytical work. Throughout our conversation, he uses words like "healing," "repair," and "safety" – not as abstractions, but as the concrete goals behind every data point and policy recommendation his team produces.  

Memphis has become the center of intense federal law enforcement activity—and the results are more complex than you might expect. The Memphis Safe Task Force issued over 4,000 traffic citations, made more than 1,000 arrests, and conducted 206 firearm seizures in just a couple weeks, creating a dramatic surge that's already stretching thin the community's court systems. In this episode, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy offers a rare inside look at how his office is managing this federal intervention. What he reveals might surprise you. 

True Bill Talk's newest episode takes you inside a Tennessee State Senate Judiciary Committee hearing where state senators examined proposed legislation to eliminate felony murder and accomplice liability in Tennessee. These are complex doctrines with serious implications for people, especially if someone gets involved in a crime that results in another person's death – even if none of the perpetrators intended that someone be killed. In the episode, I break down how felony murder allows prosecutors to charge a getaway driver in the same way as the person who planned a robbery and pulled the trigger. I also explain why abolishing felony murder would be problematic, but that legislators have good reasons for wanting to modify the doctrine. Tennessee may not eliminate this controversial law anytime soon, but there does seem to be some interest in making changes -- maybe not this coming legislative session, but possibly sooner than we think.

Hillary Blout is the Founder and CEO of For the People. A former prosecutor, Hillary has been at the forefront of advocating for prosecutor-initiated re-sentencing (PIR) laws across the country. In this episode, we explore Hillary's compelling personal journey, including her experience growing up in a low-income, high-crime neighborhood. She shares how both her personal and professional background have shaped her perspectives on justice and community safety. We delved into her current focus on PIR laws, which empower prosecutors to revisit cases and reduce sentences for individuals who have demonstrated significant rehabilitation. The discussion includes how the re-sentencing process works, the involvement of victims in the process, and the impact of these laws on the lives of those released from prison earlier than their original sentences.

Sherry Boston has served as the District Attorney of DeKalb County, Georgia since 2017. But describing her just as a "local DA" doesn't capture her full impact. In addition to her work with us here at VPOPP,  she's active in organizations like her state DA's association and the National Black Prosecutors' Association. She's also the lead plaintiff in a major lawsuit challenging a controversial Georgia law that gives the state power to remove locally elected prosecutors. In other words, Sherry is shaping the future of how prosecution works in Georgia and across the country. This interview will give you an in-depth look into her unique background and career path, including her experience growing up in the only Black family on her street in a white suburb, her evolution from being a die-hard defense attorney to an elected prosecutor, and how her personal background has shaped the way she approaches prosecution.

Byron Black was recently executed in Tennessee. This is not your typical capital case, however, because the current local district attorney actually agreed with the defense that Mr. Black's death sentence should be commuted to life in prison. However, the Tennessee Attorney General then took over the appeal and pushed for execution anyway. It's a perfect example of the growing tension between local prosecutors and state officials—and what happens when they disagree on life-or-death decisions. These are questions that don't have easy answers: What's a prosecutor's duty when defending decades-old convictions? And how do we balance finality in the justice system with evolving legal standards? 

David Leavitt led the Utah County DA's office for 4 years before being voted out of office in 2022. David spent four years trying to rein in excessive plea deals, questioning his own office's outdated norms, and demanding real checks on police power. His approach earned him an intense backlash, and his 2022 re-election campaign became a referendum on the potential and limits of shaking up the status quo - but the real lessons are in why he ran for office in the first place, and how he tried to implement big changes.

Recently, with support from Microsoft, VPOPP worked with the Policing Project at NYU School of Law to produce a report about how artificial intelligence (AI) tools are impacting the work of prosecutors around the country. Katie Kinsey, the Policing Project's chief of staff and tech policy counsel, is a leading voice on what AI can do, should do, and will do in the criminal justice system in the years to come. Simply put, as the technology becomes less expensive, more powerful, and more commonly used, prosecutors owe it to themselves to understand how they can mitigate its risks while still using it to seek justice in their communities. This episode of True Bill Talk highlights the big themes from this paper -- as well as a few interesting observations that actually didn't make it into the final report. 

On this episode, Alissa speaks with two women who are reshaping what victim advocacy is and what it could do for our criminal justice system. Rafiah Muhammad-McCormick became an advocate after her son was killed in her backyard. Today, she works with Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and Rodney's Village, a nonprofit that she founded. In addition, Rafiah volunteers as a victim's advocate for Mothers Over Murder. Valerie Craig is the co-founder of Tennessee Voices for Victims. She has spent decades supporting crime victims, including in the wake of mass violence. She also teaches victim impact classes inside prisons, a reminder that the people we prosecute are often victims themselves. These remarkable women make it clear that "victim advocates" aren't a monolith in the way they think about criminal prosecution and what it would take to keep communities safe. This conversation offers insights that prosecutors, policymakers, law enforcement officers, and other activists will find fascinating.

On April 28, 2025, the Trump Administration issued an executive order aimed broadly at local law enforcement -- but one section stood out. Section 5 of the Order represents a statement of how the Administration intends to get involved in decisions made by local prosecutors. In this special episode of True Bill Talk, we invite two well-known criminal justice scholars – Professors Carissa Hessick (UNC School of Law) and Brenner Fissell (Villanova Law) — for a deep dive into the language of the executive order, its legal basis, and its political context.

Torry Johnson was the District Attorney of Davidson County, Tennessee for 26 years. In this conversation, Torry shared his thoughts about the so-called "progressive prosecutor" movement, the right-ward shift in Tennessee's politics, and how he thinks about the role of the DA when the job has become heavily politicized.

Larry Krasner, the Philadelphia District Attorney since 2017, has become something of a lightning rod and is now one of the most well-known prosecutors in the entire country. Larry and two of his line prosecutors were recently in Nashville to visit Vanderbilt Law School and speak with our students about careers in prosecution. While they were in town, we recorded this interview in which they discussed their work and views on the criminal justice system - and some of what they shared will surprise you.

On this episode of True Bill Talk, Alissa talks with Buncombe County DA Todd Williams about the complexities of prosecutorial discretion, including the death penalty, politics, and his personal beliefs in justice. 

True Bill Talk explores the realities of criminal prosecution in America. Each episode features in-depth  conversations with prosecutors, policy experts, and advocates with diverse perspectives on the challenges and responsibilities of prosecution. Hosted by Alissa Marque Heydari of the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy.