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'''Glenn E. Martin''' (born October 30, 1970) is an American criminal justice reform advocate, entrepreneur, and founder of multiple organizations dedicated to reducing mass incarceration in the United States. | '''Glenn E. Martin''' (born October 30, 1970) is an American criminal justice reform advocate, entrepreneur, and founder of multiple organizations dedicated to reducing mass incarceration in the United States. | ||
Martin spent six years in New York State prisons after a conviction for armed robbery | Martin spent six years in New York State prisons after a conviction for armed robbery. Since his release, he's become one of the nation's most prominent voices for reform led by formerly incarcerated individuals. He founded [[JustLeadershipUSA]] (JLUSA), an organization working to cut the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030, and later established GEMtrainers, a consulting firm, and GEMrealestate, a real estate investment company that provides housing to formerly incarcerated individuals.<ref name="wikipedia">Wikipedia. "Glenn E. Martin." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_E._Martin</ref> | ||
== Background and Early Life == | == Background and Early Life == | ||
Martin was born in Brooklyn, New York | Martin was born in Brooklyn, New York. His mother was a Caribbean immigrant who came to the United States with her two young sons, hoping to build a better life for them. Growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood meant facing urban poverty firsthand. "Growing up in Bedford-Stuyvesant, you have a narrative, a very powerful narrative," Martin has said. "'I'm black; no one cares. No one comes to my neighborhood unless they are a policeman or a teacher.'"<ref name="heartsonfire">Hearts on Fire. "Glenn E. Martin | JustLeadershipUSA." https://www.heartsonfire.org/glenn-e-martin-justleadershipusa</ref> | ||
Criminal involvement started young, with petty theft. "Everything I did was about escaping poverty," he explained. "I wanted to do anything so that I could pay rent, buy clothes and food. I was embarrassed about using food stamps. I was hell-bent on not struggling like my mother."<ref name="heartsonfire"/> | |||
== First Incarceration == | == First Incarceration == | ||
At | At 16, Martin was arrested for shoplifting and sent to Rikers Island, New York City's notorious jail complex. A judge figured 48 hours there might scare him straight. It didn't. During those two days, he was stabbed four times. Rather than deter him, surviving the experience earned him respect among his peers. "I could survive in one of the worst jails in the country," Martin recalled. "It was a badge of honor that I could handle it."<ref name="heartsonfire"/> | ||
== Armed Robbery Conviction == | == Armed Robbery Conviction == | ||
By | By 23, Martin was back at Rikers Island. This time he'd been convicted of armed robbery for robbing a jewelry store at gunpoint. After about a year at Rikers, he was transferred upstate to serve the rest of his six-year sentence.<ref name="heartsonfire"/> | ||
== Prison Experience == | == Prison Experience == | ||
Martin | Martin describes his time inside as transformative, though not in the way prison systems intend. "Serving time in prison allowed me to analyze the system from inside the belly of the beast," he said. "I met some of America's best and brightest in prison."<ref name="heartsonfire"/> | ||
A | A key moment came when a prison counselor told Martin he should attend college. Nobody had ever mentioned that before. "It was a profound experience for me that someone, especially in that setting, saw something in me that I didn't see in myself," Martin recalled.<ref name="heartsonfire"/> | ||
He enrolled while incarcerated and earned an associate's degree in Liberal Arts. This education became foundational to his later advocacy for restoring Pell Grant access to incarcerated students.<ref name="jlusa">JustLeadershipUSA. "Statement From Glenn E. Martin On Pell Grants." https://jlusa.org/media-release/statement-from-formerly-incarcerated-criminal-justice-reform-advocate-glenn-e-martin-on-announcement-by-president-obama-to-give-pell-grants-to-12000-incarcerated-students/</ref> | |||
Martin | Martin left Attica Correctional Facility in 2000. As he walked out, a correctional officer made a comment that stuck with him: "He said my being there helped pay for his boat, and that when my son came there, he would help pay for his son's boat."<ref name="wikipedia"/><ref name="heartsonfire"/> | ||
== Post-Release Advocacy Career == | == Post-Release Advocacy Career == | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
=== Legal Action Center === | === Legal Action Center === | ||
After release, Martin started at the [[Legal_Action_Center|Legal Action Center]] (LAC), a nonprofit fighting discrimination against people with criminal records, HIV/AIDS, and addiction histories. He eventually became co-director of LAC's Helping Individuals with Criminal Records Reenter through Employment (H.I.R.E.) Network and spent six years in that role.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | |||
=== The Fortune Society === | === The Fortune Society === | ||
Next came [[The_Fortune_Society|The Fortune Society]], one of the nation's most respected reentry organizations. Martin spent seven years as Vice President of Development and Public Affairs, helping expand the organization's profile and fundraising efforts.<ref name="afsc">American Friends Service Committee. "Glenn E. Martin." https://afsc.org/author/glenn-e-martin</ref> | |||
=== Education from the Inside Out Coalition === | === Education from the Inside Out Coalition === | ||
He also co-founded the Education from the Inside Out Coalition, a national campaign working to remove barriers to higher education for students while incarcerated and after release. His own experience accessing education in prison drove this work.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | |||
== JustLeadershipUSA == | == JustLeadershipUSA == | ||
Martin founded [[JustLeadershipUSA]] (JLUSA) in November 2014, built on a simple principle: those most affected by incarceration should lead the movement for criminal justice reform. JLUSA's mission is to cut the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030 while reducing crime.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | |||
"I believe the most compelling advocates of change are those who have been directly affected by incarceration," Martin told Mic.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | "I believe the most compelling advocates of change are those who have been directly affected by incarceration," Martin told Mic.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | ||
The organization provides leadership training to formerly incarcerated individuals, builds a national membership, and drives policy work at federal, state, and local levels. Michelle Alexander, author of "The New Jim Crow," and Piper Kerman of "Orange Is the New Black" fame both served in advisory roles.<ref name="insidephilanthropy">Inside Philanthropy. "Who's Helping the Formerly Incarcerated Lead the Fight for Criminal Justice Reform?" October 24, 2016. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016/9/29/whos-helping-the-formerly-incarcerated-lead-the-fight-for-cr.html</ref> | |||
=== #CLOSErikers Campaign === | === #CLOSErikers Campaign === | ||
Martin founded the #CLOSErikers campaign | Martin founded the #CLOSErikers campaign to close New York City's notorious Rikers Island jail complex, the same facility where he'd been incarcerated as a teenager and stabbed.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | ||
=== White House Meeting === | === White House Meeting === | ||
In early June 2015, Martin was invited to the White House | In early June 2015, Martin was invited to the White House with other criminal justice reform activists to discuss mass incarceration and law enforcement. | ||
The United States Secret Service flagged | The United States Secret Service flagged him as a security risk because of his criminal record. He needed a special escort to enter the White House complex. Martin used the incident to expose the barriers facing formerly incarcerated individuals, ultimately meeting with President Obama to discuss JustLeadershipUSA and his reform work.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | ||
=== Departure from JLUSA === | === Departure from JLUSA === | ||
Martin resigned from JustLeadershipUSA in December 2017. | Martin resigned from JustLeadershipUSA in December 2017. The New York Times reported in February 2018 that his departure followed accusations of sexual misconduct from at least three women of color. He hasn't publicly addressed the specific allegations.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | ||
== Later Ventures == | == Later Ventures == | ||
Following his departure from JLUSA, Martin | Following his departure from JLUSA, Martin started two new organizations in April 2018: | ||
'''GEMtrainers, LLC''' offers consulting services to nonprofit leaders | '''GEMtrainers, LLC''' offers consulting services to nonprofit leaders looking to strengthen their organizations. The firm provides coaching on fundraising, organizational development, and marketing.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | ||
'''GEMrealestate''' is a multi-state real estate investment company. Martin owns at least 90 properties that he | '''GEMrealestate''' is a multi-state real estate investment company. Martin owns at least 90 properties that he rents to formerly incarcerated individuals, tackling one of the biggest reentry obstacles: housing access.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | ||
He still serves on the Council on Criminal Justice and remains active in criminal justice reform.<ref name="ccj">Council on Criminal Justice. "Glenn E. Martin." https://counciloncj.org/ccj-directory/glenn-e-martin/</ref> | |||
== Recognition and Awards == | == Recognition and Awards == | ||
| Line 101: | Line 101: | ||
* '''Ban the Box''': A movement to remove the checkbox asking about criminal history from job applications, allowing applicants to be considered on their qualifications first. | * '''Ban the Box''': A movement to remove the checkbox asking about criminal history from job applications, allowing applicants to be considered on their qualifications first. | ||
== Frequently Asked Questions == | == Frequently Asked Questions == | ||
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{{FAQ|question=What was Glenn E. Martin convicted of?|answer=Glenn E. Martin was convicted of armed robbery and served six years in New York State prisons, including time at Attica Correctional Facility. He was released in 2000.}} | {{FAQ|question=What was Glenn E. Martin convicted of?|answer=Glenn E. Martin was convicted of armed robbery and served six years in New York State prisons, including time at Attica Correctional Facility. He was released in 2000.}} | ||
{{FAQ|question=What is JustLeadershipUSA?|answer=JustLeadershipUSA is an organization founded by Glenn E. Martin in 2014, built on the principle that those most affected by incarceration should lead criminal justice reform. Its mission is to cut the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030.}} | {{FAQ|question=What is JustLeadershipUSA?|answer=JustLeadershipUSA is an organization founded by Glenn E. Martin in 2014, built on the principle that those most affected by incarceration should lead criminal justice reform. Its mission is to cut the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030.}} | ||
{{FAQ|question=What is the #CLOSErikers campaign?|answer=The #CLOSErikers campaign is a major initiative founded by Glenn E. Martin to close New York City's Rikers Island jail | {{FAQ|question=What is the #CLOSErikers campaign?|answer=The #CLOSErikers campaign is a major initiative founded by Glenn E. Martin to close New York City's Rikers Island jail complex, the same facility where he was first incarcerated as a teenager.}} | ||
{{FAQ|question=What advocacy work has Glenn E. Martin done?|answer=Martin has worked at the Legal Action Center, served as VP at The Fortune Society, co-founded the Education from the Inside Out Coalition, founded JustLeadershipUSA, and launched the #CLOSErikers campaign.}} | {{FAQ|question=What advocacy work has Glenn E. Martin done?|answer=Martin has worked at the Legal Action Center, served as VP at The Fortune Society, co-founded the Education from the Inside Out Coalition, founded JustLeadershipUSA, and launched the #CLOSErikers campaign.}} | ||
{{FAQ|question=What awards has Glenn E. Martin received?|answer=Martin has received numerous awards including the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (2016) and was named a 2014 Echoing Green Black Male Achievement Fellow.}} | {{FAQ|question=What awards has Glenn E. Martin received?|answer=Martin has received numerous awards including the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (2016) and was named a 2014 Echoing Green Black Male Achievement Fellow.}} | ||
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|description=Learn about Glenn E. Martin, criminal justice reform advocate and founder of JustLeadershipUSA who served federal prison time. | |description=Learn about Glenn E. Martin, criminal justice reform advocate and founder of JustLeadershipUSA who served federal prison time. | ||
|keywords=Glenn E. Martin, prison reform, JustLeadershipUSA, advocacy, formerly incarcerated, reentry | |keywords=Glenn E. Martin, prison reform, JustLeadershipUSA, advocacy, formerly incarcerated, reentry | ||
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|site_name=Prisonpedia | |site_name=Prisonpedia | ||
|locale=en_US | |locale=en_US | ||
}} | }} | ||
Latest revision as of 17:56, 23 April 2026
| Glenn E. Martin | |
|---|---|
| Born: | October 30, 1970 Brooklyn, New York |
| Charges: | Armed robbery |
| Sentence: | 6 years state prison |
| Facility: | Attica Correctional Facility (New York) |
| Status: | Released (2000) |
Glenn E. Martin (born October 30, 1970) is an American criminal justice reform advocate, entrepreneur, and founder of multiple organizations dedicated to reducing mass incarceration in the United States.
Martin spent six years in New York State prisons after a conviction for armed robbery. Since his release, he's become one of the nation's most prominent voices for reform led by formerly incarcerated individuals. He founded JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA), an organization working to cut the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030, and later established GEMtrainers, a consulting firm, and GEMrealestate, a real estate investment company that provides housing to formerly incarcerated individuals.[1]
Background and Early Life
Martin was born in Brooklyn, New York. His mother was a Caribbean immigrant who came to the United States with her two young sons, hoping to build a better life for them. Growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood meant facing urban poverty firsthand. "Growing up in Bedford-Stuyvesant, you have a narrative, a very powerful narrative," Martin has said. "'I'm black; no one cares. No one comes to my neighborhood unless they are a policeman or a teacher.'"[2]
Criminal involvement started young, with petty theft. "Everything I did was about escaping poverty," he explained. "I wanted to do anything so that I could pay rent, buy clothes and food. I was embarrassed about using food stamps. I was hell-bent on not struggling like my mother."[2]
First Incarceration
At 16, Martin was arrested for shoplifting and sent to Rikers Island, New York City's notorious jail complex. A judge figured 48 hours there might scare him straight. It didn't. During those two days, he was stabbed four times. Rather than deter him, surviving the experience earned him respect among his peers. "I could survive in one of the worst jails in the country," Martin recalled. "It was a badge of honor that I could handle it."[2]
Armed Robbery Conviction
By 23, Martin was back at Rikers Island. This time he'd been convicted of armed robbery for robbing a jewelry store at gunpoint. After about a year at Rikers, he was transferred upstate to serve the rest of his six-year sentence.[2]
Prison Experience
Martin describes his time inside as transformative, though not in the way prison systems intend. "Serving time in prison allowed me to analyze the system from inside the belly of the beast," he said. "I met some of America's best and brightest in prison."[2]
A key moment came when a prison counselor told Martin he should attend college. Nobody had ever mentioned that before. "It was a profound experience for me that someone, especially in that setting, saw something in me that I didn't see in myself," Martin recalled.[2]
He enrolled while incarcerated and earned an associate's degree in Liberal Arts. This education became foundational to his later advocacy for restoring Pell Grant access to incarcerated students.[3]
Martin left Attica Correctional Facility in 2000. As he walked out, a correctional officer made a comment that stuck with him: "He said my being there helped pay for his boat, and that when my son came there, he would help pay for his son's boat."[1][2]
Post-Release Advocacy Career
Legal Action Center
After release, Martin started at the Legal Action Center (LAC), a nonprofit fighting discrimination against people with criminal records, HIV/AIDS, and addiction histories. He eventually became co-director of LAC's Helping Individuals with Criminal Records Reenter through Employment (H.I.R.E.) Network and spent six years in that role.[1]
The Fortune Society
Next came The Fortune Society, one of the nation's most respected reentry organizations. Martin spent seven years as Vice President of Development and Public Affairs, helping expand the organization's profile and fundraising efforts.[4]
Education from the Inside Out Coalition
He also co-founded the Education from the Inside Out Coalition, a national campaign working to remove barriers to higher education for students while incarcerated and after release. His own experience accessing education in prison drove this work.[1]
JustLeadershipUSA
Martin founded JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA) in November 2014, built on a simple principle: those most affected by incarceration should lead the movement for criminal justice reform. JLUSA's mission is to cut the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030 while reducing crime.[1]
"I believe the most compelling advocates of change are those who have been directly affected by incarceration," Martin told Mic.[1]
The organization provides leadership training to formerly incarcerated individuals, builds a national membership, and drives policy work at federal, state, and local levels. Michelle Alexander, author of "The New Jim Crow," and Piper Kerman of "Orange Is the New Black" fame both served in advisory roles.[5]
#CLOSErikers Campaign
Martin founded the #CLOSErikers campaign to close New York City's notorious Rikers Island jail complex, the same facility where he'd been incarcerated as a teenager and stabbed.[1]
White House Meeting
In early June 2015, Martin was invited to the White House with other criminal justice reform activists to discuss mass incarceration and law enforcement.
The United States Secret Service flagged him as a security risk because of his criminal record. He needed a special escort to enter the White House complex. Martin used the incident to expose the barriers facing formerly incarcerated individuals, ultimately meeting with President Obama to discuss JustLeadershipUSA and his reform work.[1]
Departure from JLUSA
Martin resigned from JustLeadershipUSA in December 2017. The New York Times reported in February 2018 that his departure followed accusations of sexual misconduct from at least three women of color. He hasn't publicly addressed the specific allegations.[1]
Later Ventures
Following his departure from JLUSA, Martin started two new organizations in April 2018:
GEMtrainers, LLC offers consulting services to nonprofit leaders looking to strengthen their organizations. The firm provides coaching on fundraising, organizational development, and marketing.[1]
GEMrealestate is a multi-state real estate investment company. Martin owns at least 90 properties that he rents to formerly incarcerated individuals, tackling one of the biggest reentry obstacles: housing access.[1]
He still serves on the Council on Criminal Justice and remains active in criminal justice reform.[6]
Recognition and Awards
- Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (2016)
- Legal Action Center's Arthur L. Liman Public Interest Award (2015)
- Crisis to Triumph Award, SUNY Empire State College (2015)
- Kentucky Colonel, Highest Honor bestowed by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear (2014)
- Never Be Caged "Closest to the Solution" Award (2019)
- 2014 Echoing Green Black Male Achievement Fellow
- 2012 America's Leaders of Change National Urban Fellow[1]
Terminology
- Mass Incarceration: The substantial increase in the number of incarcerated people in the United States beginning in the 1970s; the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world.
- Reentry: The process of leaving prison and returning to society; involves challenges including finding housing, employment, and rebuilding relationships.
- Pell Grant: Federal financial aid for college students; incarcerated individuals were barred from receiving Pell Grants from 1994 until pilot programs began in 2016.
- Ban the Box: A movement to remove the checkbox asking about criminal history from job applications, allowing applicants to be considered on their qualifications first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was Glenn E. Martin convicted of?
Glenn E. Martin was convicted of armed robbery and served six years in New York State prisons, including time at Attica Correctional Facility. He was released in 2000.
Q: What is JustLeadershipUSA?
JustLeadershipUSA is an organization founded by Glenn E. Martin in 2014, built on the principle that those most affected by incarceration should lead criminal justice reform. Its mission is to cut the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030.
Q: What is the #CLOSErikers campaign?
The #CLOSErikers campaign is a major initiative founded by Glenn E. Martin to close New York City's Rikers Island jail complex, the same facility where he was first incarcerated as a teenager.
Q: What advocacy work has Glenn E. Martin done?
Martin has worked at the Legal Action Center, served as VP at The Fortune Society, co-founded the Education from the Inside Out Coalition, founded JustLeadershipUSA, and launched the #CLOSErikers campaign.
Q: What awards has Glenn E. Martin received?
Martin has received numerous awards including the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (2016) and was named a 2014 Echoing Green Black Male Achievement Fellow.
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Wikipedia. "Glenn E. Martin." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_E._Martin
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Hearts on Fire. "Glenn E. Martin | JustLeadershipUSA." https://www.heartsonfire.org/glenn-e-martin-justleadershipusa
- ↑ JustLeadershipUSA. "Statement From Glenn E. Martin On Pell Grants." https://jlusa.org/media-release/statement-from-formerly-incarcerated-criminal-justice-reform-advocate-glenn-e-martin-on-announcement-by-president-obama-to-give-pell-grants-to-12000-incarcerated-students/
- ↑ American Friends Service Committee. "Glenn E. Martin." https://afsc.org/author/glenn-e-martin
- ↑ Inside Philanthropy. "Who's Helping the Formerly Incarcerated Lead the Fight for Criminal Justice Reform?" October 24, 2016. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016/9/29/whos-helping-the-formerly-incarcerated-lead-the-fight-for-cr.html
- ↑ Council on Criminal Justice. "Glenn E. Martin." https://counciloncj.org/ccj-directory/glenn-e-martin/