Memphis has become the center of intense federal law enforcement activity. In a matter of weeks, the Memphis Safe Task Force issued over 4,000 traffic citations, made more than 1,000 arrests, and conducted 206 firearm seizures, creating a dramatic surge that’s already stretching thin the community’s court systems. While the operation targets violent crime, a significant portion of arrests have been for immigration violations—creating challenges for local prosecutors.
In the latest episode of True Bill Talk, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy offers a rare inside look at how his office is managing this federal intervention and its unexpected effects.
The surge in Memphis raises critical questions about strategy and effectiveness. Is casting such a wide net the right approach to reducing violence? How do you balance federal priorities with community trust and limited resources? With President Trump dispatching federal troops and agents to cities across the country, the answers to these questions matter far beyond Memphis.
Listen now to understand how one DA is navigating the intersection of federal intervention, community concerns, and public safety.
About True Bill Talk
From the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy, True Bill Talk is about getting to the truth of criminal prosecution in America right now: what it is, how people experience it, and how prosecutors can better serve their communities. Each episode of the podcast features in-depth conversations between Vanderbilt Law Professor Alissa Marque Heydari and prosecutors, policy experts, and advocates with diverse perspectives on the challenges and responsibilities of prosecution.
About the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy
The Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy (VPOPP) is a nonpartisan network of prosecutors, researchers, students, and other stakeholders dedicated to improving individual and collective outcomes in the criminal justice system. The Project supports communities that traditionally have been overlooked by national policy centers. Through trainings, research, conferences, and technical assistance, VPOPP engages criminal justice leaders, particularly prosecutors in the South, to develop and implement policies and programs that reduce unnecessary incarceration and promote public safety.
VPOPP is housed in Vanderbilt Law’s Criminal Justice Program and collaborates closely with highly experienced and respected Vanderbilt Law faculty members affiliated with the program.