PALM BEACH COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION
FULL COMMISSION MEETING
CareerSource, 3400 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Monday, March 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM
MEETING MINUTES
Members Present:
Alexcia Cox, State Attorney, 15th Judicial Circuit
Antonio Araujo, Chief, West Palm Beach Police Department
Cesar Daniel Arbolaez, Pastor, Passion Church
Colonel Talal Masri for Ric Bradshaw, Palm Beach County Sheriff, PBSO
Daniel Eisinger, Public Defender, 15th Judicial Circuit
Darcy Davis, Chief Executive Officer, HealthCare District
Erica Whitfield, PBC School District
Glenn Kelley, Chief Judge, 15th Judicial Circuit
Gregory Starling, Chief Probation Officer, Circuit 15, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Joel G. Flores, Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 3
Jorge Garrido, CJC Treasurer
Julia Dattolo, President/CEO, CareerSource PBC
Karen Hansen, CJC Secretary
Kathleen Kroll, Administrative Judge, Juvenile Division
Lawrence Gordon, Palm Beach County League of Cities
Maria S. Antuña, CJC Vice Chair
Michael Coleman, President, Palm Beach County Association of Chiefs of Police
Michelle Suskauer, CJC Chair
Mike Caruso, Clerk of the PBC Circuit Court & Comptroller
Nellie L. King, Attorney, the Law Offices of Nellie L. King, P.A.
Oswald Newbold, Reentry Coordinator, the Reentry Center of Riviera Beach
Shania Grant, Student, Florida Atlantic University
Vanessa Klein, Director of Reentry Services, The Lord's Place
Members Absent:
Anthony LaCosta, Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of Florida
Demetrios Thomas, Special Agent Supervisor at Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Derek Gibson, Circuit Administrator, Florida Department of Corrections
Jervonte Edmonds, Florida State Representative, District 88 and PBC Legislative Delegate
Leontyne Brown, d.b.a Leontyne Brown
Guests Present:
Arlene Griffiths, Palm Beach County Public Safety Department
Dr. Rachel Docekal, Chief Executive Officer, Hanley Foundation, and Past CJC Chair (ex-officio)
Edward Rufus, Florida Department of Corrections
Gilbert Morales, Deputy Director of Public Safety Department
Jessica Hidalgo, Reentry Services, Palm Beach County Public Safety Department
Shirlon St Amour, Palm Beach County Public Safety Department
Taruna Malhotra, Community Services Director & CJC Executive Director Candidate
Staff Present:
Christopher Slydell, Criminal Justice Analyst
Dawn Caveness-Davenport, Senior Criminal Justice Analyst
Gilbert Morales, Deputy Director of Public Safety Department
Jessica Bober-Rosenthal, Assistant County Attorney, Palm Beach County
Katherine Hatos, Criminal Justice Systems Manager
Margo Smith, Administrative Assistant III
Stephanie Molière, Senior Criminal Justice Analyst
Tom Nadler, PBC Deputy County Administrator
I. Call to Order
- Chair, Michelle Suskauer called the meeting to order.
II. Roll Call
· Gilberto Morales completed roll call of the members and determined there was quorum.
III. Approval and/or corrections to the Agenda
· Commissioner Flores made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Chief Coleman and passed unanimously.
IV. Approval and/or Corrections to the January 26, 2026, Meeting Minutes
· Jorge Garrido made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Vanessa Klein and passed unanimously.
· Judge Kroll made a motion to correct Judge Gillen's name, seconded by Julia Dattolo and passed unanimously.
V. Chair Comments
A. Executive Committee Recommendation for Executive Director position
· The CJC Executive Committee conducted an informal interview and made a motion to approve Taruan Malhotra for the Executive Director position. Taruna has 20 years of experience with the county and extensive experience working on criminal justice related programs, including grants for substance use disorder clients released from jail, behavioral health interventions, and reentry services.
Several members expressed concerns about the selection process. Vice Mayor Gordon questioned not interviewing multiple candidates and noted Taruna's limited direct criminal justice experience. Nelly King supported Taruna but was uncomfortable with the rapid decision-making process without multiple candidates. However, Public Defender Dan Eisinger and Commissioner Flores strongly supported Taruna, citing her knowledge of local players and ability to hit the ground running.
The board ultimately approved Taruna's appointment as the new Executive Director pending the required approval at the BCC meeting.
Commissioner Flores made a motion to approve Taruna Malhotra as the CJC Executive Director; seconded by Chief Michael Coleman. Opposed by Vice Mayor Lawrence Gordon and Nellie King. Motion passed.
VI. Executive Director Updates
A. Deputy Director Gilbert Morales announced the upcoming 2026 Judge Marvin Mounts Annual Prison Tour scheduled for March 24, 2026.
VII. Presentations
A. Law Enforcement Spotlight
· Chief Dominick Pape from Palm Beach Gardens Police Department presented E-Bike safety concerns, showing PSA videos and advocating for a county wide ordinance. Commissioner Flores discussed the county's plans for developing safety requirements like helmet use and speed limits.
VIII. Old Business
A. Deputy Director Gilbert Morales announced the January 26, 2026, action items have been consolidated into the Master Action Item List.
B. Deputy Director Gilbert Morales announced the CJC Ordinance revisions are scheduled to be approved by the BCC at the May 5, 2026, meeting.
IX. New Business
A. The new Economic Council members
- Chair Michelle Suskauer reported the Economic Council nominated 4 new board members for approval of the CJC Board. Those new members include Jerry Richmond, Heather DeStefano, Gina Fraga, and Sherry Resnick.
Jorge Garrido made a motion approved, seconded by Daniel Eisinger and passed unanimously.
B. Annual Planning Meeting Report
a. Annual Planning Meeting Recommended Priorities
The members reviewed the annual planning report and voted on the four recommended priorities that include Legislative, Juvenile Justice, Courts Systems, and Behavioral/Mental health.
Jorge Garrido made a motion to approve; seconded by State Attorney Alexcia Cox and passed unanimously.
b. Changes for Consideration
The members discussed the proposed changes for consideration which include recommending communications to be integrated within Community Engagement Task Force; discussions on Juvenile Justice Task Force versus Juvenile Justice Advisory Board; Creation of a Justice Data Task Force and Deleting STRIDE Task Force.
Maria Antuna made a motion to approve changes; seconded by State Attorney Alexcia Cox and passed unanimously.
C. The members approved the Criminal Justice Commission's Letter of Support for PBSO -USDOJ Annual Crime Gun Intelligence Center Grant
Chief Coleman made a motion to approve; seconded by Maria Antuna; passed unanimously.
D. The request for the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission to serve as System Quarterback was moved to the next scheduled CJC Executive Committee meeting
X. Discussion Items/Updates
A. Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission Member Report Outs was rescheduled for the next meeting.
XI. Member Comments
Chief Coleman discussed the $300,000 in FDLE grant funding currently supporting reentry services for approximately 1,200 people released from Florida Department of Corrections annually. The funding requires 51% population support letters, which proved challenging to obtain the previous year. CJC staff were directed to work on a presentation to the League of Cities to obtain support.
XII. Guest Comments
Nicole Bishop from Victim Services announced extensive programming for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Victim's Rights Week in April, including fields of hope, walks, and educational events.
XIII. Adjournment – Meeting Adjourned
Next Meeting: Monday, April 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Career Source Board Room
3400 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406