Meet Joshua Smith, New Deputy Director Of Bureau Of Prisons

There have been many “Firsts” in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The first director of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was Sanford Bates who got the job in 1930. Charles Samuels was the first African American director and Kathleen Hawk Sawyer was the first woman director. Now, a Deputy Director has been named to the BOP and that too will be a first. According to an internal memo from the BOP, Joshua Smith was named Deputy Director at the BOP. Smith’s first experience with federal prison was not running one but being incarcerated in one.

Far from letting his prison experience define his life, Smith’s path since prison is nothing short of astonishing. The Knoxville-based entrepreneur and prison reform advocate, is a prominent figure in criminal justice reform, especially following his presidential pardon by Donald Trump in January 2021. His journey from incarceration to successful entrepreneur and advocate offers a compelling narrative of personal transformation and dedication to societal change. However, will his experience as a prisoner, his success as an entrepreneur and his leadership ability be enough to help lead the BOP to better days? It will be one of the most trying experiences of his life but one he is certainly equipped to handle.

Early Life and Incarceration

In his youth, Smith became entangled in criminal activities, leading to his conviction on federal drug charges. He was removed from his home at age 11 due to abuse and was convicted of 10 felonies by the time he was 16 years old. He entered prison at age 21 as an 11th-grade dropout with no plans to exit it any differently than how he entered. He served a five-year sentence in a Kentucky federal prison camp, an experience that profoundly impacted his perspective on life. During his incarceration, Smith recognized the systemic challenges within the prison system and the pressing need for reform. He also knew he could do better.

Smith said in a video on his website, Fourth Purpose, “Prison time for me shifted into an educational time rather than just doing time.” He credited his success with interacting with other inmates, many of whom were there for white collar offenses who encouraged him to learn more about business. Smith is a deeply religious person who found comfort in faith to turn his life around.

Entrepreneurial Success

Upon his release from prison, Smith was determined to rebuild his life. He ventured into the business world, founding several companies in Knoxville. His entrepreneurial endeavors not only provided employment opportunities within the community but also demonstrated the potential for individuals with criminal records to contribute positively to society when given a second chance.

Smith started a residential service company known as Master Service Companies that would become a $30 million enterprise. Some of the company’s more than 180 employees were ex-offenders. “My focus has always been on the people who worked for me,” Smith said, “and I intend to focus on the BOP staff that do such an important job in keeping our country safe.”

Advocacy for Prison Reform

Smith’s personal experiences fueled his passion for prison reform. He became an outspoken advocate, emphasizing the importance of rehabilitation and reintegration programs for incarcerated individuals. His efforts aimed to reduce recidivism rates and promote policies that support the successful reentry of former inmates into society.

According to his non-profit, The Fourth Purpose, Smith used his prison experience to make a better life for himself and others. Smith has spent the past 15 years actively involved in criminal justice reform in Kentucky, Tennessee and countries in Central America. Among those who have helped him along the way have been those who run prisons.

Presidential Pardon

In January 2021, in the final hours of his presidency, Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Josh Smith. Smith’s pardon was notable, given his active role in criminal justice reform and his contributions to the Knoxville community. In June of 2019 he was named to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s Criminal Justice Reinvestment Task Force, a role he embraced. His success in that role and his story of overcoming such adversity led Gov. Lee to support Smith’s pardon request.

Impact and Legacy

Smith’s pardon brought national attention to his work and the broader issues within the criminal justice system. His story underscores the potential for personal transformation and the importance of providing opportunities for rehabilitation. Through his advocacy, Smith continued to influence discussions on prison reform, emphasizing that individuals are capable of change and can positively impact their communities when supported in their reintegration efforts.

Smith’s journey from incarceration to entrepreneurship and advocacy serves as a testament to the power of redemption and the impact one individual can have on systemic change. His ongoing work in prison reform highlights the need for policies that focus on rehabilitation, support reentry, and recognize the inherent potential within every individual to contribute meaningfully to society.

Working with stakeholders and advocates is going to be an important part of Smith’s work. Having been in prison, he supported initiatives for those who work in prisons and establishing a non-profit to help those emerge from prison provides him with an extensive background on working with a diverse group of people.

A Day In The Life

An important part of Smith’s commitment to criminal justice reform focuses on those leaders running the prisons. His film projects are focused on leaders in prison who he calls “disrupters” based on their different approach to making prisoners better people than the ones who came into prison. Smith said that his basis for filming both staff and inmates in prison was to give the public an understanding of prison. Smith said the purpose of the films he is making is to “make prisons a place of transformation.”

He knows that to transform prisoners, he must have the committed staff that is engaged to make better people. Attracting those people to work in federal prisons will certainly be a task in an agency that has been a challenged in filling any role.

Advocates Applaud Appointment

Smith and Director Marshall both have past experience in private-public partnerships as well as working with advocacy groups. Rabbi Moshe Margaretten, President, Tzedek Association provided a quote about Smith’s appoint saying, “Director Marshall couldn’t have made a better choice. Josh Smith brings a deep moral clarity and transformative vision to the Bureau — grounded in lived experience and a passion for redemption and human dignity. His leadership on reentry is exactly what this moment demands.”

Challenges Facing Smith On Day One

Smith realizes that real change is only going to occur if he has buy-in from the staff and that may be a challenge. Former Director Colette Peters, also an outsider to the BOP, found change difficult though she did manage to improve hiring and made a number of strides in implementing the First Step Act.

The Trump administration’s aggressive pace of change has left little room for patience. With hiring freezes, firings, and funding cuts in place, Smith will work alongside newly appointed Director William Marshall III, facing significant changes from day one. Both Marshall and Smith will step into the BOP’s Central Office with fresh leadership, following the termination of Director Peters on January 20, 2025, and the retirement announcement of acting Director William Lathrop, along with several regional directors.

In 2024, morale at the BOP hit an all-time low, and it’s expected to remain poor through much of 2025 as the agency faces the reality of a downsized operation that will have to adapt to new ways of functioning. With over 150,000 prisoners—more than half in minimum and low-security facilities spread across 120 complexes nationwide—the BOP is already under strain. The Trump administration’s tough stance on the budget and waste reduction will place Smith in a challenging position, leading an organization that acknowledges the need for reform but lacks the drive to implement it.

Past Directors have fallen short or just did not get the momentum they needed to make change. Congress has had a contentious relationship with the BOP as it was highly critical of the shortcomings with the sexual assaults of women at FCI Dublin and the lack of security due to missing cameras at the facility. Office of Inspector General Reports have often been critical of the agency and its leadership is a challenge listed by the Government Accountability Office who put the BOP on its high-risk list.

The BOP needs change and they need reform. Nothing says reform louder than bringing in someone like Josh Smith who has seen life on both sides of the fence.