FARGO, ND KXNET — Second chances are rare, but they can show that people can change, even after making mistakes. Adam Martin, a North Dakota man, is hoping for just that.
Martin is the founder of the F5 Project, a statewide program that helps people dealing with incarceration, mental health issues, and addiction. Now, he’s asking the North Dakota Pardon Advisory Board and Governor Doug Burgum to clear his felony record.
Martin’s troubles started at 18, leading to 13 years in and out of jail for crimes like burglary and car theft. After his fifth felony in 2013, he decided to change his life. He got a job at a tech company that usually didn’t hire felons, which was his first big step toward a new life.
I pulled myself up by my bootstraps, but I had someone helping me by providing boots,” Martin said.
Over the next four years, Martin made steady progress. He found stable housing, got his driver’s license back, regained custody of his children, and stayed sober. His experiences motivated him to start speaking to inmates in jails across the state.
Today, the F5 Project has grown to 50 employees, eight offices, and seven transitional houses across North Dakota. Now, Martin is taking another big step by asking for a pardon. After learning he met some of the criteria, he and his lawyer filed the necessary paperwork, including background checks, police reports, and testimonials.
The Pardon Advisory Board meets twice a year, with their next meeting in November. If they approve Martin’s request, it will go to Governor Burgum, who will make the final decision.
Martin hopes that after living a different life for the past decade, his pardon will be granted so he can fully move on from his past and inspire others who are trying to change their lives.
I don’t have my full rights back, Martin said. One thing I’ve always wanted to do is go hunting with my friends, but I can’t because I’m not allowed to have a firearm. It’s not just about clearing my record—it’s about showing others that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. They don’t always have to be a felon.