Josh Duggar Transferred to Ohio Prison, Family Visits Hard

Reality TV star Josh Duggar has been moved to a federal prison in Ohio, making it much harder for his family to visit him. His wife and children live in Arkansas, and the drive to the new facility takes over 13 hours.

According to TMZ, the former “19 Kids and Counting” star was recently relocated to FCI Elkton in Lisbon, Ohio. He had been at a temporary transfer facility in Oklahoma City, where inmates are held while moving through the federal system.

Previously, Josh was held at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas — where “Tiger King” star Joe Exotic is also housed — and at FCI Seagoville, also in Texas. His frequent transfers have raised concerns from his attorney, Beau Brindley, who believes they are intentionally punitive.

The attorney noted that the distance between Ohio and Arkansas — over 850 miles — will make in-person visits nearly impossible. The family, including wife Anna and their seven children, will have to rely mostly on phone calls. However, Brindley said they will try their best to make the long trip despite the hardship.

As a reminder, Josh Duggar rose to fame on the popular TLC reality show about his large religious family, which promoted conservative values. Scandals surrounded him long before his conviction: in 2015, allegations of molestation surfaced, and later he was found guilty of possessing child pornography.

Brindley claims the transfers are punishment for Josh revealing in court that correctional officers violated rules by opening his legal mail at Seagoville. This is not the first time inmates have been moved to remote facilities after making such complaints, drawing criticism from advocacy groups.

It is unclear how long Josh will remain in Ohio. His family, who publicly supported him during the trial, now faces new challenges in maintaining contact. Experts note that such transfers can negatively affect the psychological state of both the inmate and his loved ones.