Trump-pardoned ex-federal detainee selected for Deputy Director position at Bureau of Prisons
A Former Prison Inmate Pardoned by Trump Steps into a High-Ranking Role
Joshua J. Smith, a Tennessee businessman and founder of the inmate advocacy and rehabilitation nonprofit, the Fourth Purpose, has been appointed as the deputy director of the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). This makes Smith the first-ever formerly incarcerated inmate to work as an employee at any level within the Bureau.
Director William K. Marshall III praised Smith's appointment in a memo to staff, acknowledging that his lived experience and unique perspective make him "uniquely positioned to advocate for the resources and reforms front-line staff need to do their jobs safely and effectively."
In 2021, Smith received a full pardon from President Trump after serving a prison sentence for drug trafficking crimes over two decades ago. Post-release, Smith dedicated his life to community work and prison reform. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, supported Smith's pardon request.
Smith's online biography reveals an astonishing turnaround story. Raised in government housing, Smith had a troubled youth, culminating in a conviction of ten felonies by the age of 16, which landed him in prison at 21. His prison stay, according to Smith, was marked by his discovery of Christianity and God, as well as mentorship from white-collar criminals. Smith later started a successful company that hired ex-offenders before becoming more active in prison reform.
Smith's pardon came on the last day of Trump's first term, alongside pardons for former chief strategist Steve Bannon, indicted on wire fraud and money laundering charges, and hip-hop star Lil Wayne, who pleaded guilty to weapons charges.
The Bureau of Prisons has faced challenges, including accusations of cronyism and corruption, widespread staffing shortages, and reports of violence and misconduct in prisons. With a $8 billion-plus budget, over 143,000 federal inmates across 122 prisons, and a workforce exceeding 35,000, the Bureau of Prisons' leadership plays a crucial role in the justice system.
[1] Joshua Smith: A Former Inmate Tapped as Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons
[2] Trump's former inmate pardon appointee tapped as deputy director of Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Joshua J. Smith's appointment as deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons marks a significant development in politics, as he becomes the first formerly incarcerated inmate to work in such a high-ranking position within the Bureau, highlighting general-news and crime-and-justice topics.
- Amidst ongoing challenges and controversies within the Bureau of Prisons, including accusations of corruption and violence, Smith's unique perspective as a former inmate, combined with his dedication to prison reform, could potentially bring about necessary changes in the crime-and-justice sector, impacting the future of the general-news and politics landscape.
