PALM BEACH COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION
FULL COMMISSION MEETING
CareerSource, 3400 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Monday, April 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM
MEETING MINUTES
Members Present:
Alexcia Cox, State Attorney, 15th Judicial Circuit
Cesar Daniel Arbolaez, Pastor, Passion Church
Daniel Eisinger, Public Defender, 15th Judicial Circuit
Darcy Davis, Chief Executive Officer, HealthCare District
Demetrios Thomas, Special Agent Supervisor at Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Eric Coleman for Ric Bradshaw, Palm Beach County Sheriff, PBSO
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
Lawrence Gordon, Palm Beach County League of Cities
Michael Coleman, President, Palm Beach County Association of Chiefs of Police
Michelle Suskauer, CJC Chair
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
Antonio Araujo, Chief, West Palm Beach Police Department
Derek Gibson, Circuit Administrator, Florida Department of Corrections
Jervonte Edmonds, Florida State Representative, District 88 and PBC Legislative Delegate
Kathleen Kroll, Administrative Judge, Juvenile Division
Maria S. Antuña, CJC Vice Chair
Mike Caruso, Clerk of the PBC Circuit Court & Comptroller
Nellie L. King, Attorney, the Law Offices of Nellie L. King, P.A.
Guests Present:
Anna Marie Lipsig, Justice Leadership Academy
Barbara Gerlock, C15 JJAB/PBCCAC
Captain Randy Foley, PBSO
Chekevia Cox, Florida Department of Corrections
Chief Javarro Sims, CJC Community Engagement Chair
Gina Fraga, Economic Council
Gwen Brown, Florida Department of Corrections
Jessica Hidalgo, Reentry Services, Palm Beach County Public Safety Department
Joana Reid-Enoise, CSD
Joel Rosales, Health Care District PBC
Mavis Pettway, Inner City Innovators
Nassar Allen, Inner City Innovators
Randi Taylor, Palm Beach County Public Safety Department
Ricky Aiken, Inner City Innovators
Sean Brammer, FAU Police Department
Shacoya Key, Inner City Innovators
Sherri Resnick, Economic Council
Steven Sedana, Health Care District PBC
William Freeman, People of Purpose
Zachary Ives, PBC Clerk and Comptroller
CJC Staff Present:
Taruna Malhotra Executive Director
Akil Taylor, Data Analyst
Christopher Slydell, Criminal Justice Analyst
Dawn Caveness-Davenport, Senior Criminal Justice Analyst
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
Stephanie Sejnoha, Director, Palm Beach County Public Safety Department
Tom Nadler, Deputy County Administrator
I. Call to Order
- Chair Michelle Suskauer called the meeting to order.
II. Roll Call
· Stephanie Moliere, CJC Staff completed roll call of the members and determined there was quorum.
III. Approval and/or corrections to the Agenda
· Passed unanimously
IV. Approval and/or Corrections to the March 23, 2026, Meeting Minutes
· Karen Hansen made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by State Attorney Alexcia Cox and passed unanimously.
V. Chair Comments
A. The members observed a moment of silence in honor of member Leontyne Brown's recent passing.
B. Recommendations were made to add Monday, August 24, 2026, to the CJC Full Committee meeting dates
· Jorge Garrido made a motion to add August 24, 2026, to the CJC meeting schedule and seconded by Chief Michael Coleman, passed unanimously.
C. CJC Newsletter Discussion
The members reviewed and approved of the CJC newsletter included in the packet and made recommendations to modify the formatting and to distribute/publish every other month.
Erica Whitfield made a motion, seconded by Jorge Garrido, passed unanimously.
D. Bail Bond Fraud Discussion
The members discussed the bail bond fraud that targets families and practices public record exploitation. The members agreed there is a need for educational campaigns to educate the public, so they do not become victims.
Chief Coleman made a motion to approve, seconded by Erica Whitfield and approved unanimously.
VI. Executive Director Updates
A. A special invitation to the Grand Opening of the People of Purpose Inc celebration was extended to the CJC members and guests. The grand opening will be on Thursday April 30,2026 at 11:00am at 1079 Main Street, Belle Glade, FL 33430.
B. The Criminal Justice Commission Annual Plan presentation to the Board of County Commissioners scheduled for July 14, 2026.
C. The CJC Website is currently being updated. The goal is to make the website more interactive and to add additional functions that include a mailing list and a form for data requests.
D. CJC Board Appointments scheduled for May 5, 2026, for BCC approval
The onboarding for the new members is tentatively scheduled for May 2026.
E. CJC Staffing Updates
The CJC has four new employees that include Akil Taylor, Data Analyst, Sonja Holbrook, Strategic planner (temporary staff), Shivang Jadvani Data and Reporting Analyst (temporary staff), and the Research and Planning Manager that was selected after the interview process the previous week.
F. The PBC Main Court Tour tentatively scheduled for May 2026
G. The 2026 NACO Award application was submitted by the CJC for the Justice Leadership Academy
VII. Presentations were moved to Chair comments
A. The 2026 Judge Marvin Mounts Annual Prison tour recap was provided by Judge Jonathan Gerber. The honorable judge thanked the CJC for their continuous support over the years and hopes to continue this partnership.
B. The Law Enforcement Spotlight highlighted The Behavioral Services Division, PBC Sheriff's Office's Captain Randy Foley
Captain Foley discussed some of the key programs that include:
- Crisis Response Unit which took 1,100 calls away from traditional patrol, using mental health providers and specially trained deputies
- Target Violence Unit that handles threat management and investigations into possible mass shootings.
State Attorney Alexcia Cox recognized Captain Foley and PBSO for their amazing work as Palm Beach County is known as the lead task force for threat management in the United States.
Dr. Anders from the Health Care District presented the data on micro-mobility injuries, particularly e-bikes and e-scooters. The E-bike and e-scooter injuries show a strong upward trend over the past five years.
Old Business
Received approval for the FDLE Grant Allocation for Reentry services
Executive Director Taruna Malhotra discussed the master meeting action items included in the packet.
Executive Director Taruna Malhotra reviewed the 2026 Criminal Justice Commission work plan
Recommendations for the Behavioral Health Task Force top priorities
Recommendations for the Courts Systems Task Force top priorities
Recommendations for the Justice Data Task Force top priorities
Executive Director Taruna Malhotra discussed the CJC Task Forces current priorities which include
Communications subcommittee objectives and membership recommendations
Vaping Campaign Discussion
E-Bike Campaign Discussion
Juvenile Justice Advisory Board Representative Recommendations
Justice Data Task Force Objectives and Membership list recommendations
Building a data warehouse
New Business
Executive Director Taruna Malhotra discussed the County-wide E-Bike Regulations
E-bike Ordinance
2. E-bike Communications Plan
B. Executive Director Taruna Malhotra discussed the application for the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) FY 25 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Local Formula grant which is due 04/28/2026, for the PBC Reentry program in the amount of $134,210 with a project period of 10/01/2024 to 09/30/2028.
- State Attorney Alexcia Cox made a motion to approve the application, seconded by Chief Coleman and passed unanimously.
X. Discussion Items/Updates (pushed to May meeting)
A. Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission Member Report outs
- Palm Beach County School Board – Erica Whitfield, District
- Health Care District of Palm Beach County – Darcy Davis, CEO
XI. Task Force Reports (pushed to May meeting)
A. Community Engagement Task Force
- Why'd You Stop Me School Presentation – Stephanie Moliere
XII. Member Comments
XIII. Guest Comments
XIV. Adjournment
Next Meeting: Monday, May 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM
CareerSource, 3400 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406