In some criminal cases, a grand jury will issue what’s called a “true bill” – a document that indicates their strong belief that the evidence they have seen is accurate and true, and that the prosecutor can proceed with charges against the accused.
That search for truth inspired the name of a new podcast from the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy (VPOPP): True Bill Talk, which delves into the field of criminal prosecution.
“There are a lot of podcasts that explore different parts of the criminal justice system, but very few that deeply examine what it means to be a prosecutor,” says Alissa Marque Heydari, Director of VPOPP and host of True Bill Talk. “As a former prosecutor myself, I know what a fascinating and challenging job it can be, and I want the rest of the world – especially law students – to understand that. 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.”
The podcast will feature in-depth conversations with prosecutors, policy experts, and advocates to provide diverse perspectives on the challenges and responsibilities of prosecution.
The first episode, available now, features a conversation with Todd Williams, District Attorney of Buncombe County, North Carolina, who transitioned from a career as a public defender to leading a prosecutor’s office more than a decade ago. That episode explores why he pursues the death penalty even though he personally disagrees with it, and the politics he must navigate as a prosecutor in a relatively progressive city within a purple state.
Future episodes will feature a wide array of guests such as former Utah County DA David Leavitt, Nashville’s previous DA Torry Johnson, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, and Katie Kinsey from the Policing Project at NYU School of Law, among others.
True Bill Talk is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major streaming platforms. For more information, or to suggest future guests and topics, listeners can contact Alissa Heydari at alissa.heydari@vanderbilt.edu or leave a message at 615-343-3826.
About 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.
