The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners voted on Oct. 7 to terminate remaining local awards tied to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) and to end related contracts, while directing staff to seek ways to continue select programs and preserve staff where possible.

County public safety director Stephanie Shane Hahn and Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) staff presented an overview of the SJC awards and the county’s relationship with MacArthur. Hahn said the county had received multiple rounds of SJC funding beginning with planning awards in 2015 and that the program period would have run through December 2026. As of Aug. 1, 2025, staff reported an approximate balance of $428,857 in the SJC sustainability grant and about $229,000 in a capstone award; staff said final accounting figures would be slightly lower once year‑end closing activity is completed.

Hahn and CJC staff said the county had been working to restore participation from law enforcement after some agencies had reduced engagement with the CJC in prior years. According to staff, one reason for the change in approach was to rebuild law‑enforcement confidence and ensure the CJC’s agenda included broader participation from key criminal‑justice stakeholders.

Commissioners debated the move. Supporters said resetting the CJC’s priorities and reengaging law enforcement were necessary and that some SJC funds had prompted controversy elsewhere. Commissioner Joel Flores, who sits on the CJC, said the board should reclaim governance of priorities and ensure local stakeholders drive the agenda. Opponents, including a number of current and former CJC members and community partners who spoke during public comment, argued the county should not relinquish remaining philanthropic dollars and warned terminating the grants would damage ongoing programs that have reduced jail bookings and improved court appearance rates.

Public commenters voiced concern that ending SJC funding would dismantle successful programs; several cited the automated text reminder system that notifies people of court dates. "Before the safety and justice challenge, missing a court date often meant jail time. Now, thanks to automated text reminders, thousands have stayed out of jail and their communities," said Barbara Cheeves, a former CJC chair.

After discussion, Mayor Marino moved — and Commissioner Maria Woodward seconded — a package of actions: receive and file the grant accounting reconciliation; terminate the two SJC grants listed on the agenda and end three SJC‑related agreements; discontinue two Urban Institute studies (case processing and mobile probation‑unit evaluation); and delete two CJC‑funded positions tied to the grants. The motion included direction to county staff to continue the court‑text reminder service (by finding alternative funding or reassigning costs) and to attempt to retain affected employees by placing them in other county positions where possible.

The motion passed 5-2. The board and staff agreed to return to the commission with a full accounting of programs the county intends to continue and with data on program performance so the board can make informed follow‑up funding decisions.

Next steps: staff will provide the board with a detailed report on which SJC‑funded programs staff recommend continuing, the data supporting program effectiveness, and plans to identify alternate funding sources; staff will also work on personnel placement for affected county employees.