JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA)

JLJUSA was founded by an individual convicted of armed robbery who later was accused of sexual misconduct as head of JustLeadershipUSA. ^{1 2}

JustLeadershipUSA seeks to abolish the death penalty, end solitary confinement, and grant protected-class status under the Civil Rights Act to people with a criminal background.

History and Positions

JustLeadershipUSA was formed in 2014 by Glenn E. Martin, an ex-convicted who was campaigning for the closure of New York City’s controversial Rikers Island jail. ¹ In 2018, JustLeadershipUSA stated a goal of cutting the number of prisoners in half by 2030. ³ JLUSA claims that for decades the U.S. has been on an incarceration binge motivated by racism, fear, and political motivation. ⁴  JustLeadershipUSA states that the criminal justice system is oppressive toward Black, brown, and poor people and contains remnants of slavery. ⁴

JustLeadershipUSA advocates for a moratorium and abolition of the federal death penalty. ⁵ JLUSA wants the federal government to eliminate its use of solitary confinement. ⁶ JustLeadershipUSA applauded the Biden Administration removing rules denying Small Business Administration loans for a business whose principal is incarcerated, on parole or probation, or is a defendant in a criminal proceeding. ⁵ JLUSA calls for rescinding part of the 13^th Amendment that allows compulsory labor as punishment for a crime. ⁶

JustLeadershipUSA wants people with a criminal background to be a protected class under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. ⁶ JLUSA urges Congress to repeal a provision of the 1996 welfare reform act that allows states to bar individuals convicted of felony drug crimes from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. ⁶

Programs

JustLeadershipUSA conducts two-day Emerging Leaders training sessions on criminal justice policy in various cities around the country. ⁷ Concepts taught include policy, leadership advocacy, communications, ground organizing, and capacity building. ⁷

JustLeadershipUSA provides an advanced, 12-month training program for leaders who have a record in advocacy, activism, and community organizing. ⁸ Training includes four week-long forums, six networking webinars, executive and peer coaching, and regular communication and networking. ⁸ Participants are introduced to principles and people working to dismantle what JLUSA calls an oppressive criminal justice system. ⁸

Founder

JustLeadershipUSA founder Glenn E. Martin organized the group in 2014. A former criminal who had been convicted of armed robbery, Martin became an advocate for prison and jail closures, especially the closure of New York City’s Rikers Island. In 2016, he received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. ²

In 2015, Martin was investigated for sexual misconduct by Arabella Advisors, which manages the New Venture Fund that was an early supporter of JustLeadershipUSA. The New York Times reported that JLUSA had paid an employee of the organization $25,000 in 2015 in exchange for the employee keeping her allegations and the payment confidential; the former employee discussed her situation with the Times after other women alleged misconduct by Martin. ²

In 2018, the Times reported that two other women who worked for criminal justice-related nonprofits alleged sexual misconduct by Martin occurring in 2016 and 2017. Martin denied wrongdoing, and JLUSA stated that an internal investigation had found no misconduct by Martin. ²

In December 2017, Martin resigned from JustLeadershipUSA. The Times reported that he had told the board “that his leaving was in the best interests of the organization.” ²

Finances

In 2021, JustLeadershipUSA had net assets of $8,466,097. ⁹ According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2021 JustLeadershipUSA recorded $6,398,207 in revenue and $3,671,410 in expenses. ⁹ In 2020, JustLeadershipUSA raised $2,240,868 in revenue and incurred $5,142,381 in expenses. ¹⁰

Between 2016 through 2022, JustLeadershipUSA received $1.62 million in grants from the MacArthur Foundation. ¹¹ The Tow Foundation granted $800,000 to JustLeadershipUSA for 2014 through 2018 and 2020 through 2023. ¹² Other donors to JustLeadershipUSA include the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Ford Foundation, Brooklyn Community Foundation, Sills Family Foundation, Open Philanthropy Project, Art for Justice Fund, David Rockefeller Fund, and Google.org. ¹³

Leadership

DeAnna Hoskins has been president and CEO of JustLeadershipUSA since 2018. ¹⁴ Hoskins joined the Department of Justice during the Obama administration as a senior policy advisor at correction/reentry programs. ¹⁵ From 2011 to 2016, Hoskins was director of reentry for Hamilton County, Ohio. ¹⁶ Previously, from 2008 to 2011, Hoskins was a program administrator and criminal justice liaison for the State of Indiana. ¹⁶ Hoskins was a correctional casework manager for the Indiana Department of Corrections from 2007 to 2008. ¹⁶ Previously, Hoskins was a manager at Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency and House of Hope. ¹⁶

Hoskins admitted to smoking crack and using cocaine and marijuana in her 20s and has said that she was “one step from prison with a felony theft charge.” ¹⁷ Hoskins was pardoned by former Ohio governor Ted Strickland (D). ¹⁸ Hoskins has a master’s degree in criminal justice and corrections from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelor’s in social work from Mount St. Joseph University. ¹⁶