Fourth Purpose Foundation
Make Prison a place of Transformation
Our Purpose
Almost two million people are incarcerated in the United States, and 95% of everyone who is serving a sentence is getting out at some point. These returning citizens come home to our communities as our new neighbors. To give them the best chance at success, our mission is to make prison a place of transformation.
Inmate Resources
In prisons, we provide inmates with inspiring programming, relationships, and resources they need so they can live with meaning and purpose while re-entering society.
Staff Resources
We are also deeply committed to the corrections workforce. We provide thought-provoking innovative tools and training that is designed to help staff perform their duties in ways that lead to a healthier workplace culture, and better staff and inmate outcomes.
Community Resources
We engage the community in the true mission of corrections: To enhance public safety and prevent any future crimes. We partner with businesses, educators, faith-based organizations, and social service providers to increase private sector participation.
Our Team
Josh Smith
Founder
In just over a decade and a half, Josh Smith built a small service company into a $30 million enterprise with more than 180 employees. But for a 5-year period before that, he was incarcerated in a federal prison camp in Kentucky for his involvement in marijuana and cocaine trafficking...Smith grew up in a single-mother household, lived in government housing, was removed from his home at age 11 due to abuse and was convicted of 10 felonies by the time he was 16. He entered prison at age 21 as an 11th-grade dropout with no plans to exit it any differently than how he entered. Instead, he found redemption through God and was guided by several highly educated white-collar criminals who he was able to learn from. But all the books he read, studying he did and plans he made didn’t alter the reality of the world he was released into, one where ex-convicts are still punished by an onerous set of legal restrictions. Upon his release, the government housing his wife lived in was no longer available to them because of his status as a felon. He had to beg for his first job making $6 per hour. Since exiting prison, Smith has spent the past 15 years actively involved in criminal justice reform in Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and countries in Central America. Smith has supported programs that provide hope, training and reentry support for prisoners and their families who earnestly want a new life, including hiring and mentoring many felons. In June of 2019 he was named to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s Criminal Justice Reinvestment Task Force. He and his wife of 23 years, Tracy, are now driven to reshape the reality for offenders, from the time they enter prison through their re-entry.
Tony Parker
President
As the President of the Foundation, Mr. Parker provides guidance and leadership on national initiatives as well as work in support of corrections and the criminal justice system in Tennessee. Mr. Parker has more than 38 years’ experience in the field of corrections... He began his career as a Correctional Officer and rose through the ranks to Warden, Assistant Commissioner, and finally Commissioner. Mr. Parker was first appointed Commissioner in June of 2016 by former Governor Bill Haslam and was reappointed in January 2019 by Governor Bill Lee. Parker also currently serves as the President of the American Correctional Association (ACA). Mr. Parker earned an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Dyersburg State Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Tennessee at Martin and a Master of Arts degree in Security Studies with an emphasis in Homeland Security from the prestigious Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California. Parker resides in Union City, TN with his wife Misty and their three children, Madison, Mia and J’Coy.
Updates
Social Media
Be in the Know
Invest in your future neighbors. It's our mission to #MakePrisonaPlaceofTransformation. https://t.co/yWGsNOcdo5 Read More
What is hypervigilance, and how does it affect our corrections staff? Dr. Kristi Anderson is hosting VBW training to touch on this and more in March. Register here if interested: https://t.co/sGkGHBgVPU Read More
This coming March, Dr. Kristi Anderson is hosting Values-Based Wellness instructor training. If you’re interested in attending, register using this link: To book the hotel, follow this link: https://t.co/D5oIrIU5Nn https://t.co/hJEFFpqk9b Read More
The reformation of the inmate has always been at the forefront of the American corrections system. On January 12th, Dr. Kristi Anderson will be hosting a Zoom webinar all about A Vision for Public Safety. Sign up link: https://t.co/zQ7aShrW2R Read More
Understanding the history of prisons and corrections in the United States is essential in ultimately understanding A Vision for Public Safety. #MakingPrisonAPlaceofTransformation #Corrections #AVisionforPublicSafety https://t.co/lFAWeEJB7y Read More
Our January 12th Zoom webinar with Dr. Kristi Anderson regarding a Vision for Public Safety is on January 12th at 1 pm EST. Sign up here: https://t.co/NkMNthjava Read More
The corrections workforce chronically struggles with role conflict, job stress, burnout, and poor recruitment. A Vision for Public Safety defines the lack of a clear vision for the role of corrections. We offer a full course regarding VPS on our website: https://t.co/3uzW3Zn9sJ Read More
Familiarizing oneself with Values Based Wellness opens up a more compassionate view of the corrections workforce. The video below shows how you can access our website's free VBW courses and other resources. https://t.co/hhcpgKGEDt Read More
Invest in your future neighbors. It's our mission to #MakePrisonaPlaceofTransformation. https://t.co/yWGsNOcdo5 Read More
What is hypervigilance, and how does it affect our corrections staff? Dr. Kristi Anderson is hosting VBW training to touch on this and more in March. Register here if interested: https://t.co/sGkGHBgVPU Read More
This coming March, Dr. Kristi Anderson is hosting Values-Based Wellness instructor training. If you’re interested in attending, register using this link: To book the hotel, follow this link: https://t.co/D5oIrIU5Nn https://t.co/hJEFFpqk9b Read More
The reformation of the inmate has always been at the forefront of the American corrections system. On January 12th, Dr. Kristi Anderson will be hosting a Zoom webinar all about A Vision for Public Safety. Sign up link: https://t.co/zQ7aShrW2R Read More
Understanding the history of prisons and corrections in the United States is essential in ultimately understanding A Vision for Public Safety. #MakingPrisonAPlaceofTransformation #Corrections #AVisionforPublicSafety https://t.co/lFAWeEJB7y Read More
Our January 12th Zoom webinar with Dr. Kristi Anderson regarding a Vision for Public Safety is on January 12th at 1 pm EST. Sign up here: https://t.co/NkMNthjava Read More
The corrections workforce chronically struggles with role conflict, job stress, burnout, and poor recruitment. A Vision for Public Safety defines the lack of a clear vision for the role of corrections. We offer a full course regarding VPS on our website: https://t.co/3uzW3Zn9sJ Read More
Familiarizing oneself with Values Based Wellness opens up a more compassionate view of the corrections workforce. The video below shows how you can access our website's free VBW courses and other resources. https://t.co/hhcpgKGEDt Read More
The Fourth Purpose
From rehabilitation to transformation
The prison system typically has four purposes. The biggest problem is that the fourth purpose—rehabilitation— does not prepare people to leave. That requires transformation. Transforming America’s prisoners requires transforming the way America thinks about prison and its overarching purpose.
Retribution
Incapacitation
Detterence
Transformation
Get Connected
We would love to meet you.
Contact Us
Address
P.O. Box 2372
KNOXVILLE, TN 37902