Gov. Bill Lee is hosting a roundtable conversation on criminal justice policy with several conservative leaders including former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Texas Governor Rick Perry.
“Criminal justice reform is still somewhat of a conservative frontier, and with our strong proposals, we can reduce recidivism, save taxpayer dollars and make Tennessee communities safer,” Lee said in a statement.
“I look forward to a thoughtful discussion on how Tennessee can lead the nation in balancing the notion of justice with the public safety outcomes we all expect.”
The Roundtable Discussion on Conservative Criminal Justice Reform begins at 11:15 a.m. The Tennessean will have live coverage.
Knoxville businessman Josh Smith awarded Presidential Pardon
After serving prison time on drug charges, Smith started a multi-million dollar company and a non-profit to help former inmates transform their lives Author: WBIR Staff Updated: 6:42 PM EST January 20, 2021
KNOXVILLE, Tenn Joshua Smith spent five years behind bars in Kentucky for his involvement in drug trafficking but turned his life around. Since his release in 2003, Smith started a multi-million dollar company and a non-profit focused on helping former prisoners transform their lives.
Smith was awarded a full pardon Wednesday by President Donald Trump for his commitment to transformation. First you just have to take a breath I mean it’s unbelievable, he said. It’s an unbelievable feeling. All these years, 25 years ago to now.