Samantha Armendariz

Samantha Armendariz serves as the Director of Re-entry Services & Grants Strategy for CorrHealth, where she leads the development and implementation of comprehensive reentry frameworks designed to reduce recidivism, strengthen cross-system collaboration, and improve long-term outcomes for justice-involved individuals.

With more than a decade of experience in juvenile and criminal justice systems, Samantha brings deep expertise in compliance oversight, federal grant management, data-driven strategy, and evidence-based program implementation. Prior to joining CorrHealth, she served as New Mexico’s Compliance Coordinator for the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) and as Chair of the National Compliance Committee for the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, where she provided national leadership on federal compliance standards and system accountability.

Samantha began her career in reentry and rehabilitation with The GEO Group, Inc., progressing from case manager to Program Manager overseeing facility operations in California. This direct-service foundation continues to shape her leadership philosophy — ensuring that policy, funding strategy, and operational practice remain grounded in real-world impact.

At CorrHealth, Samantha focuses on building sustainable reentry infrastructure, aligning correctional healthcare services with community-based supports, and expanding funding opportunities through strategic grant development. She is committed to elevating reentry as both a public safety and public health strategy and to building systems that leave individuals, families, and communities stronger. A guiding principle in her career stems from her college mentor, who said, “Ninety percent of the individuals you will work with in jails and prisons will be your neighbor again.” That perspective continues to shape Samantha’s dedication to meaningful, community-centered reentry and advocacy work.

Beyond her professional role, Samantha enjoys spending time with her husband and family. She is an avid sports fan and proudly cheers for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the St. Louis Cardinals. She co-owns a small business with her mother, Knight Inspired Creations, where they design and sew custom fabric items. Samantha is a proud Midwesterner from Missouri, who fell in love with the West Coast, specifically Big Sur, California. Samantha’s hobbies include reading, baking, gardening, and spoiling her pets.

Samantha’s work is guided by a lifelong commitment to advocacy, accountability, and elevating the voices of those who need systems to work better for them.