Hugh Hurwitz

Former Acting Director - Federal Bureau of Prisons

Hugh Hurwitz is a federal corrections specialist with expertise in detention administration and management. In May 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Mr. Hurwitz to serve as the Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). In that role he was responsible for leading the operation of one of the largest correctional systems in the world, including oversight of 122 prison facilities, 12 contract facilities, and over 200 residential reentry centers, with oversight and management of approximately 36,000 staff and approximately 177,000 inmates. Mr. Hurwitz served in that acting position until August 2019. Mr. Hurwitz began his career at the BOP when he was selected as a Department of Justice honors attorney after serving a one-year clerkship at the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He later held several positions in the BOP procurement office including as the Procurement Executive. Mr. Hurwitz received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Rochester, and his Juris Doctor degree cum laude from the American University, Washington College of Law. Mr. Hurwitz is an Adjunct Professor at the American University, teaching a course titled The Prison Community, and is a guest lecturer on Corrections, Leadership, and Procurement for multiple organizations.

Sessions