LOCKED UP LONGER Josh Duggar’s prison release date pushed back for THIRD time after numerous rule violations
JOSH Duggar will spend an extra Christmas behind bars as his release date has been pushed back for the third time, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
The disgraced 19 Kids and Counting alum, 38, is serving 12 and a half years for possessing and receiving child sex abuse materials after his April 2021 arrest.
He is housed in FCI Seagoville, a low-security federal prison in Texas, 10 miles South of Dallas.
New details from the Federal Bureau of Prisons show his release date has been moved from December 2032, to February 2, 2033.
The reason for added time is unknown but likely due to rule-breaking.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas, and Josh’s lawyers for comment.
A spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons said they cannot comment on his individual case for privacy reasons.
“However, generally, there are lots of reasons why an inmate’s projected release date may go up or down (e.g., First Step Act time credits, program credits, loss of good conduct time for disciplinary reasons, additional sentencing, etc.),” they added.
His sentence had already been extended twice due to disciplinary infractions while locked up.
In 2023, he spent roughly two months in the Special Housing Unit (SHU), commonly known as “the hole,” for possessing a contraband cell phone.
His release date was moved from August 12, 2032, to October 2, 2032.
It was then pushed back again, likely for further rule violations or loss of privileges.
He was removed from “honors dorm,” which offered perks like microwaves and dryers and moved back to standard housing.
A source previously told The U.S. Sun, “They finished painting the walls and getting flowers put into Dorm 6, where Josh lives. It’s been turned into an honors dorm.
“They get special privileges and building updates because it’s an honors dorm. There are washers and dryers, microwaves, and more.”
“They’re trying to create a dorm of model inmates.”
The insider added how inmates living in the dorms “can’t have any disciplinary actions in a certain amount of time, have to have a job and must sign a code of conduct agreement.”
His last projected release date was December 23, 2032, but he will now miss yet another festive season with his family.
Meanwhile, Josh made a virtual appearance in a federal courthouse on April 15, 2026 as part of his latest attempt to appeal his child sex crime conviction.
Previous appeals have been rejected, including a denial by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2024.
According to PEOPLE, he provided eight arguments as to why he should be granted a new trial or have his conviction vacated in court.
They included claims that a prosecution witness manipulated forensic data and lied under oath about the status of the computer the images were found on.
He also claims his previous lawyers were wrongly barred from presenting evidence that a former employee may have been responsible.
Josh further argued, through his attorneys, that release of older police reports regarding his family history made his trial unfair.
A judge has not yet ruled on whether the filing was timely, meaning the appeal has not progressed to being reviewed.
Joseph’s brother, Joe Duggar, the seventh son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, was also arrested in March 2026 in Arkansas as part of a two-state investigation involving serious child-related allegations.
He was taken into custody on a Florida warrant and charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12, as well as lewd and lascivious behavior by a person over 18, stemming from accusations that he abused a girl during a family trip in 2020.
He has pleaded not guilty and waived extradition to Florida, where the case is being prosecuted.
A judge set his bond at $600,000 and he was released from the Bay County Jail ahead of another hearing later this month.
Separate from the Florida case, Joseph also faces additional charges in Arkansas, including child endangerment and false imprisonment, linked to a separate investigation following a home visit.
His wife, Kendra Duggar, was also arrested on misdemeanor charges connected to those Arkansas allegations.
Her lawyers have clarified it is not a sexual case or linked to the situation in Florida and she is yet to enter a plea.
Following her arrest, she was released on a $1,470 bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on April 29, 2026.
