From Redemption to Reform: Josh Smith’s Unprecedented Rise to Deputy Director of the Bureau of Prisons
Josh Smith’s life reads like the pages of a redemption novel, yet the truth is even more riveting because, well, it’s real. A former felon with a double-digit record who once served time in a federal prison, Smith has become the first formerly incarcerated individual to lead within the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). His groundbreaking appointment signals a profound shift in the way correctional leadership, reform, and second chances intertwine.
His story really resonates with me. I'm serving my 15th year of a 30-year federal prison sentence. About six years ago, God got my attention, and since then, I've diligently pursued an intimate daily relationship with Christ. He has transformed and revolutionized my life in every way—my heart, thoughts, habits, emotions, and conduct.
Around the time God began to transform my life, I created a nonprofit from my prison cell called The Justice Project. Since then, a committed team has rallied around me on the outside. We have helped free dozens of federal prisoners, mostly through compassionate release or clemency.
Arguably the nation's top clemency advocate is championing my clemency request. I'm hopeful. This work is my life's pursuit, with a special focus on reimagining how prisoners re-enter society.
It's difficult to overstate the gravity of the problem. About 650,000 people are released from prison each year—and about 80 percent of those released are incarcerated again within a few years. Fixing the system would be world-changing; finding a way to transform prisons and prevent those released from reoffending would change millions of lives and society in the best way possible. This issue stems from the broken current re-entry paradigm.
Josh Smith has the recipe for success—and God's Word is the main ingredient.
When I stumbled upon Josh Smith's story, I was in a state of disbelief as I read about him: eleven felony convictions, served time in federal prison, and now he's the new Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
That alone is shocking. I used to tell people that given the toxic BOP culture, there would never be any substantive change to the broken prison system—just superficial tweaks masquerading as reform. It would take an outsider, an innovator, to change the current system, which is rooted in a punitive culture.
But, Josh Smith is the man who can change the system.
The more I read about him, the more enthusiastic and excited I became. I really couldn't believe it. For someone like me—serving federal time, who wants to devote his post-release life to helping prisoners re-enter society and contribute to innovative prison reform—it was like adding fuel to my aspirations. Importantly, if one thinks something hard is impossible, one will never even start trying to achieve it. So, that he has achieved what he has achieved, shows prisoners that there is no ceiling—anything is possible.
This man's life is the model of what a fruitful Christian should be—a selfless life of purpose full of compassion and sacrifice. He is doing exactly what I want to do: leave prison and be a potent force in prison reform and criminal justice advocacy, with a special focus on creating a new reentry paradigm that will scale up and reshape the reentry landscape, all while building everything on the Word of God and glorifying God.
His story is a shining example of God's promise of giving us beauty for ashes.
Let me tell you about this amazing man.
A Troubled Beginning, Then Faith and Transformation
Raised by a single mother, Josh’s formative years were marked by instability and abuse. By age 16, he had amassed 10 felony convictions, and at 21, he was behind bars in a Kentucky federal prison camp. Those years inside, often overlooked or disparaged by society, became the crucible for his transformation.
Within those cold walls, Josh experienced a pivotal turning point: a deep and genuine faith-based awakening. He discovered the discipline and purpose that would steer the rest of his life. “It wasn’t just about surviving prison. It was about finding the discipline, faith, and purpose to transform my life.” Mentorship from white-collar inmates who were willing to teach him business skills further shaped his resolve to change not only his own trajectory but also the way prisons work.
Building a Life of Purpose After Release
Released in 2003, Josh emerged determined to build a future, not just for himself but for others like him. He founded Master Service Companies, a construction-focused enterprise that grew into a multimillion-dollar business and employed many who had also been incarcerated.
But his vision stretched far beyond entrepreneurship. In 2020, he made history again when Donald Trump granted him a full presidential pardon in recognition of his reform work and advocacy for second chances.
From Entrepreneur to Prison Reform Champion
Josh did not stop at personal success. Fueled by $10 million from his business ventures, he launched the Fourth Purpose Foundation, dedicated to transforming corrections through value-based wellness initiatives, best-practice research, and healing-centered approaches.
In 2024, he expanded his efforts by launching Prison Life Media, a storytelling platform that highlights the experiences of correctional staff and incarcerated individuals. Its goal is to capture their hopes, struggles, and potential while shifting public perceptions and prison culture from within.
Historic Appointment: The First Former Inmate to Lead from Within
On June 9, 2025, Josh Smith was sworn in as Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, overseeing 36,000 staff and 156,000 inmates across 122 facilities. It was an unprecedented milestone for the bureau, one imbued with authenticity and purpose.
Senior officials praised his unique insights and reform credentials. BOP Director William K. Marshall III said, “Josh brings to this role something our agency has never had before at this level, a perspective shaped by lived experience, proven innovation and national impact.”
His appointment was not without controversy. The Marshall Project reported that a federal correctional officer in Miami said, “I will never accept a former inmate supervising me.” Others voiced concerns privately, calling it “a fox in charge of the chickens.”
Yet advocates for rehabilitation and reentry saw his appointment as a powerful embodiment of the bureau’s core mission. A professor from John Jay College noted that correctional officers committed to reform should embrace his leadership.
Leadership from the Inside Out
Josh’s leadership has been defined by his willingness to listen to those on the front lines. Alongside Director Marshall, he has been conducting both scheduled and surprise visits to BOP institutions, from FPC Morgantown to FMC Lexington to USP McCreary. By talking directly with staff, witnessing conditions, and listening earnestly, he is signaling a new era of transparency.
In his first video message, he outlined a clear and empathetic vision: “Leadership that listens, takes accountability, and prioritizes well-being, with a focus on morale, training, and rebuilding agency culture from within.”
He later expanded on this philosophy with a simple but profound shift. Instead of asking whether the bureau could work with nonprofits and ministries, he now says, “The answer is yes. Now tell us what you’re ready to do inside this agency.” That change in language has already begun to open doors for reform and support that were long stalled by bureaucracy.
A Bold New Chapter in Justice Reform
Josh Smith’s rise is more than a personal victory. It is proof that redemption can reshape entire systems. His journey shows that prisons do not have to remain places of endless punishment; they can become spaces of growth, restoration, and second chances.
His appointment also signals a cultural shift inside the Bureau of Prisons. For the first time, leadership is infused with lived experience, giving him credibility with both staff and inmates. That legitimacy bridges divides and offers a fresh model for how accountability and hope can coexist within corrections.
Perhaps most importantly, Josh’s approach is replicable. By opening doors to nonprofits, ministries, and community partners, he is creating a framework that can be scaled nationwide. His willingness to listen, embrace empathy, and prioritize well-being makes his leadership both practical and deeply human.
What once seemed impossible is now unfolding in real time: redemption is not only real but powerful enough to reform the very system that once defined him. Josh Smith did not just earn a second chance—he used it to build doors for others. And now, as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Prisons, he is proving that leadership can emerge from the most unexpected places, offering hope not just for those inside prison walls but for everyone who believes in the possibility of transformation.
“Redemption is real. And when given the chance, it can transform not only lives, but entire systems.”
Final Thoughts
Josh’s story mirrors in many ways the story of Alice Marie Johnson. In this case, an Ivy League professional is not the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Prisons; instead, it is an ex-con, Josh Smith, who many thought was a throw-away criminal. Similarly, a seasoned attorney from Harvard with an impressive resume is not the Pardon Czar; rather, a woman, Alice Marie Johnson, with no formal education who served more than two decades in federal prison is. This is straight out of God's playbook—He uses the least likely to accomplish the extraordinary.
Consider this: two individuals who were formerly incarcerated now hold significant positions—one as the Pardon Czar and the other as the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Both individuals are also committed Christians who are actively living out their faith. This remarkable development suggests that God is doing something extraordinary at this moment. He is indeed at work
I am excited about Josh Smith because he understands that it is Christ who changes hearts and minds, not human philosophy, willpower, or human wisdom. The importance of this cannot be overstated. I don't care if a prisoner spends 20 years taking hundreds of hours of classes and programs; rehabilitation comes from the heart, not endless hours in the classroom or in study. Prisoners take class after class, and, on paper, they are “rehabilitated,” but without Christ as their foundation, it's a losing game. Real change, that is, rehabilitation, comes from the heart—not 1,000 hours of classes.
God accomplishes it as the Holy Spirit uses our exposure, openness, and obedience to the Word of God to help us grow from one level of spiritual development to the next, so that our attitudes, actions, character, and conduct reflect Christ.
It's alive; human wisdom is dead. Trying to accomplish rehabilitation without Christ misses the point. Josh Smith gets this foundational truth. What an exciting time to have him over the BOP.