Today’s guest is someone who has spent his career giving a voice to the forgotten and answers to the unanswered. Troy Hillman is a veteran cold case detective and accomplished author whose work has helped bring clarity, accountability, and—most importantly—justice to cases long left in the shadows.

With decades of investigative experience, Troy has dedicated his career to unraveling complex homicide cases, reexamining overlooked evidence, and proving that time does not erase truth. As an author, he takes readers behind the scenes of real investigations, including his gripping book on the infamous “Zombie Killer” case, a disturbing and highly publicized homicide that captured national attention. Through his writing, Troy explores not just the crime itself, but the investigative process, the human toll, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

Today, we’ll talk about the cases that never left him, what it’s like to revisit the darkest moments years later, and why cold cases—and the stories behind them—still matter deeply to families, law enforcement, and the communities waiting for answers.

Dr. Thaddeus L. Johnson is a nationally recognized criminologist, former law enforcement leader, and expert on policing policy, violence reduction, and criminal justice reform. A Senior Fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ), Dr. Johnson’s research focuses on evidence-based public safety strategies, trends in crime and enforcement, and the impacts of policing practices on communities.

Before entering academia and policy research, Dr. Johnson served as a police officer and major felony detective for nearly a decade, bringing frontline experience to his scholarship and national advisory work. His research has been widely featured in major media outlets and used by policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations to inform data-driven approaches to crime reduction and community trust-building.

Dr. Johnson holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and serves as an Assistant Professor at Georgia State University, where he teaches courses on policing, criminal justice systems, and quantitative research methods. He continues to work closely with national partners to advance innovative, equitable, and effective criminal justice solutions.

In this episode of the Criminal Justice Spotlight podcast, media host, Pete Cummings interviews ACJC's New Executive Director, Tony Vidale.

In this episode of the Criminal Justice Spotlight podcast, hosts, Tony Vidale, Deputy Director and media host Pete Cummings at the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission interview John Bauters, Arizona State Director for the Alliance for Safety and Justice.

In this episode of the Criminal Justice Spotlight podcast, Tony Vidale, Deputy Director at the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, and Heather Bohnet, the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission’s Crime Victim Services Program Manager, are joined by Shawna Michie, Victim Compensation Bureau Chief for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, to discuss the Victim Compensation Program in Arizona.

The Victim Compensation Program is designed to provide financial assistance to victims of crime who are in need. Heather and Shawna explain how the program works, the types of expenses that can be covered, and the process of applying for compensation. They also talk about the importance of the program in providing justice for victims, especially those who may not have the resources to cover expenses related to their victimization.

We also discuss Crime Victim Rights Week, a special week of recognition for victims of crime and those who work in victim compensation programs around the state. They highlight the critical work that victim compensation programs do and the impact that they have on the lives of victims and their families.

Throughout the episode, we emphasize the importance of providing support and resources for victims of crime and the role that victim compensation programs play in achieving that goal. They encourage listeners to get involved in their local victim compensation programs and to support victims in their communities.

Episode Spotlight: Rick Unklesbay — Inside Arizona’s Death Penalty and the Pursuit of Justice

In this compelling episode of the Working for Justice Podcast, hosts Molly Edwards and Tony Vidale sit down with Rick Unklesbay, a longtime Pima County prosecutor, University of Arizona law professor, and author of Arbitrary Death: A Prosecutor’s Perspective on the Death Penalty in America.

Drawing on nearly 40 years in Arizona’s criminal justice system, Unklesbay shares a rare insider’s view of capital punishment, reflecting on Supreme Court cases, political influences, and the moral and constitutional challenges surrounding the death penalty. He discusses his decades of courtroom experience—over 100 murder trials resulting in 16 death sentences—and what ultimately led him to question whether the system can ever apply death fairly or without bias.

Listeners will hear thoughtful reflections on justice, accountability, and reform in Arizona’s legal landscape, as well as how Unklesbay’s global upbringing and time at the University of Arizona Law School shaped his passion for fair prosecution and criminal justice integrity.

Keywords: Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, Rick Unklesbay, Arizona death penalty, capital punishment, Pima County Attorney’s Office, criminal justice reform, Tony Vidale, Molly Edwards, Working for Justice Podcast, Arizona Law, Arbitrary Death, public safety, Supreme Court cases.

Each episode of Criminal Justice Spotlight will feature interviews with experts in the field, as well as individuals who have been impacted by the justice system. We will explore the successes and challenges of various criminal justice initiatives, and learn about the strategies that are working to create positive change.