Welcome to the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD)!

It is an honor to lead a department focused on providing care, dignity and opportunity for everyone in Los Angeles County. Our mission is to disrupt the cycle of incarceration and establish a support system that empowers justice-impacted individuals and communities to thrive. JCOD is dedicated to creating pathways to success through housing, transportation, care management services, education, employment and so much more. Our goal is to support communities by helping everyone we touch, through JCOD’s resources and services, live safer, healthier lives and become empowered to live in purpose.

Through partnerships with County departments, Court, community, faith-based, and advocacy organizations, philanthropic partners, and those we serve, we are driving transformative change.

Join us in advancing a new model of justice, care and opportunity for Los Angeles!

 

About Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.)

In her current position as Director of the LA County Justice, Care and Opportunities Department, she has created new programs and worked with a broad coalition of governmental, non-profit, and private groups. To date, she has overseen the allocation of $350 million for community investment, interventions, and alternatives to incarceration.

As a Superior Court Judge, she had one of the best records for reducing recidivism and the highest rates of compliance. As a prosecutor, her programs impacting veterans, the unhoused, and individuals with mental health and substance use disorders received state and national recognition.  As a gifted educator on the topic of implicit bias, she has trained thousands of justice system partners, including attorneys and the Justices of the California Appellate and Supreme Courts.

Judge Armstead is a master teacher, keynote speaker, commentator, and expert in systems change.  Judge Armstead’s training and work experiences also encompass systems change, leadership development, conflict resolution, strategic planning, team building, belonging, representation, and justice.

Beyond Judge Songhai’s professional journey, her personal story highlights her resilience, growth, and hard-won success.  Her journey grounds her work in empathy, empowering others to view their trials and adversities as strengths to embrace.  She guides both individuals and organizations through a process of internal reflection, growth, and meaningful change.