The Minnesota Competency Attainment Board (MNCAB) was established by legislative action in 2022 and 2023. MNCAB is charged with creating and administering a statewide, independent competency attainment system as required by Minn. Stat. 611.40 through 611.59. This includes establishing a system that uses forensic navigators to support individuals in the competency process and certifies competency attainment programs.
The forensic navigator program soft launched in April 2024, and there are currently 29 forensic navigators employed throughout the state and 10 certified competency attainment programs. Forensic navigators connect with defendants and justice and behavioral health system partners in each of their assigned cases to coordinate services aimed at helping individuals attain competency. The soft launch approach gave MNCAB time to learn more about the needs of the defendants and partners while also acknowledging the complexity of establishing the operational infrastructure needed to hire and employ forensic navigators.
