Martin Joseph (Arkhamverse)

***Martin Joseph** has a character file in Arkham Origins.*
**Martin Joseph** is the warden at Blackgate Prison with no known associations with criminal elements.

## Arkham Origins

### Notes

* Rumoured to be more concerned with the politics of his office than his responsibilities
* A family man - no known associations with criminal elements
* Career prison administrator

### Profile

Though Joseph has a degree in criminology and spent a short time in police administration, he has never worked a beat or done time as a prison guard. He was hired because of his administrative abilities, and tasked with finding ways to increase prison profitability. While he has experienced some degree of success, it has come at a cost. The number of inmates has ballooned while maintenance expenditures have been cut, causing the facility to fall into disrepair and disrepute. There are more and more guards on the payroll of Black Mask and the Penguin and the prison has become a haven for criminals and criminal activity. It should be noted that Joseph himself does not appear to have any criminal ties. He is simply trying to do the job he was hired to do.

### Extortion File 1

**Harleen Quinzel:** You wanted to see me, Warden?
**Warden Joseph:** Yes. I need you to re-evaluate Julian Day.
**Harleen Quinzel:** Oh. Didn’t you see? I turned in my evaluation last week.
**Warden Joseph:** I saw it. And I need you to do it again.
**Harleen Quinzel:** I’m not sure that -
**Warden Joseph:** You have to understand, Day is a manipulator - a very experienced one, and you, well, you’re still in your residency.
**Harleen Quinzel:** I don’t see anyone doubting that Mister Day is insane and should be tried as such. I’m actually considering writing a paper about him.
**Warden Joseph:** Miss Quinzel, I’m giving you a chance here. Do you know what happens if the prosecution can try Day as a sane man?
**Harleen Quinzel:** He’ll get the death penalty.
**Warden Joseph:** And this city will thank you for helping to remove a cold blooded killer from its streets.
**Harleen Quinzel:** So, we’re not here to help rehabilitate the sick?
**Warden Joseph:** Heh. This is a prison, Miss Quinzel. Not a mental health clinic. If you want to see a successful end to your residency, I suggest you keep that in mind - and re-evaluate Julian Day.
**Harleen Quinzel:** I see. Perhaps… perhaps I was a bit hasty with my evaluation.
**Warden Joseph:** Excellent. I’m glad we could -
**Harleen Quinzel:** In fact, I think it would be excellent experience if I was the first to give all new inmates psychological evaluations.
**Warden Joseph:** You’re not a doctor yet. That’s not your -
**Harleen Quinzel:** Like you said - I need more experience with these… manipulators. Perhaps more exposure to these types of criminals will help me learn to tell the difference between the fakers and the truly insane.
**Warden Joseph:** Why would you want to spend any more time with these freaks then you have to?
**Harleen Quinzel:** The criminal mind is a fascinating subject for a research paper… or a book.
**Warden Joseph:** Pff. It’s no skin off my back. Knock yourself out.

### Extortion File 2

**Judge Harkness:** A killer is a killer is a killer. You think it matters to the victim or their families if he claims that he’s insane? No. I’m not making special exceptions for all of these… freaks that seem to be popping up. This one was trying to play the system just like the rest of them. Feigned insanity is no defence in my courtroom.
**Warden Joseph:** You don’t think it’s a little… blatant? I mean, with his obsession for the holidays.
**Judge Harkness:** In this city? They’ll love it. Poetic justice, I say.
**Warden Joseph:** Alright. Well, Christmas Eve it is then.
**Judge Harkness:** Excellent. I’m throwing a little Christmas party that night - we’re going to watch the execution from my home. You should come by, bring your wife. Pick up your gift.
**Warden Joseph:** I’ll do that. And make sure you have something for my wife too. She likes diamonds.
**Judge Harkness:** Hmph. And they told me you were soft.