In an unprecedented move, the Trump administration appointed a former federal inmate as second in command of the federal Bureau of Prisons.
Joshua J. Smith, whom President Donald Trump pardoned during his first presidency, will serve as deputy director of the agency, NBC News reported Friday.
Never before has a former federal prisoner worked as an employee for the BOP, much less in a leadership role.
“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,” Director William K. Marshall III said in a memo Thursday.
“His firsthand understanding of our facilities — of the tension, the risk and the importance of trust — makes him uniquely positioned to advocate for the resources and reforms front-line staff need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”
We’re thrilled to congratulate Josh Smith on becoming Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Josh’s leadership, shaped by personal experience and unwavering dedication, will help drive meaningful change.
We look forward to supporting him! 👏 https://t.co/xjKbjBxxnz pic.twitter.com/dZ40mfI9ee
— Correctional Leaders Assn (@CLALeadership) June 6, 2025
In 1998, Smith began a five-year sentence in a