District Attorney Jared Williams (Augusta, Georgia) joined Alissa Heydari for the April 14 episode of True Bill Talk.
Christmas morning visits to the local Youth Detention Center showed him the experience of kids who did not have his advantages, shaping his approach to criminal justice. He discussed the benefits of early intervention and resource access for children.
He also discusses the impact of gerrymandering on voters. Shortly after his election in 2020 – as the first black person ever and first Democrat in several years to win his seat – Georgia’s state legislature carved Jared’s district. He argues that efforts like these disenfranchise supporters and opponents alike.
Listen now on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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.