April is Second Chance Month and to celebrate, Los Angeles County’s new Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD) is challenging the perception that people with criminal records can’t succeed.

Ester Mendez once stood before a judge in downtown LA as a criminal defendant facing jail time. Now, she’s training to become a public defender in the same courthouse.

Her story reflects the work Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.) set out to do when she left the bench to launch JCOD after seeing a gap in resources for those who are justice impacted.

For more information about the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department, click here.