Martin F. Horn
Member of The Fortune Society Board of Directors

Martin Horn is Distinguished Lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is widely recognized as a leading prison reform advocate. He served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction from 2002 to 2009, gaining praise from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg as “a champion for humane conditions and respectful treatment who understands the potential of those committed to the City’s custody […] His work to create an innovative jail-based reentry program, which is defined by a remarkable degree of inter-agency collaboration and community participation, has been hailed as a national model and is being replicated throughout the country.”  He is also credited for improving the performance and accountability of probation officers.

Prior his service in New York City, Professor Horn served as Secretary of Administration for the State of Pennsylvania under Governor Tom Ridge and as Secretary of Corrections for the State of Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2000. This appointment followed successful terms as Executive Director and COO of the New York State Division of Parole, New York State Assistant Commissioner of Corrections for New York State, and Superintendent of Hudson Correctional Facility.

Professor Horn began his career in criminal justice in 1969 as a New York State Parole Officer. His earned his Ph.D. in criminal justice from John Jay College, City University of New York in 1974, and began his academic career as Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at State University College in Utica, where he taught from 1975 to 1977. Aside from his position as Distinguished Lecturer at John Jay College, Professor Horn is Adjunct Professor at Harrisburg Area Community College in Pennsylvania. Professor Horn is co-Chair of the Correction Committee of the American Bar Association and the 2005 recipient of the Michael Francke Award from the Association of State Correctional Administrators.