This page provides updates on the rollout and maintenance of the Minnesota Pretrial Evaluation Form and Assessment Tool (MNPAT).
The Minnesota Judicial Council approved a revised pretrial risk assessment tool and form at the January 2023 meeting based on the validation study’s results and recommendation from the MNPAT Validation Committee. The new tool will become effective January 1, 2024. An Implementation Committee will coordinate the education, training, and rollout of the new tool. Updates will continue to be posted to this site as new information becomes available.
On May 24, 2023, the MNPAT Validation Study Report was added to the Validation Study tab.
Updates were made to the Pretrial Release Initiative website on August 10, 2021:
- Fast Facts - MNPAT Validation Study was added to the Resources tab.
- Updates were made to the Judicial Bench Card on the Resources tab.
On October 31, 2019, the Main Charge Scoring Guide and MNPAT Pretrial User Guide were updated. The Main Charge Scoring Guide was revised to clarify the wording on the 6 point 609.2231 offense.
The following were updates to the MNPAT Pretrial User Guide in the 10/31/2019 update:
- Language was added to the “Refused/Unknown Fields” section instructing agents to indicate in the collateral comments text when a scored MNPAT variable could not be scored. The name of the variable followed by “could not be scored” should be the only description provided. Reasons why a variable is not scored should not be included. Including this language on the form will encourage judges to ask questions from the bench about the particular areas in question. This change creates alignment and consistent data with anticipated future changes to the CSTS pretrial module.
- The age at first delinquency adjudication section was further revised to clarify that offenses used to score this section can also be used to score criminal conviction history, if they meet the parameters outlined in the criminal conviction history definitions.
The following were updates to the MNPAT Pretrial User Guide in the June 13, 2019 update:
- The bench warrants table was updated to clarify that juvenile failure to appear bench warrants should not be counted.
- Language was added to the county of residence field to refine how to enter the location of defendants who do not reside in Minnesota (enter the county followed by “Non-Minnesota County”). If the client’s county of residence is not known, enter “Unknown.”
The following were updates to the MNPAT Pretrial User Guide in the April 4, 2019 update:
- Language was added to the processing and overview section clarifying the purpose of completing the MNPAT and outlining scenarios outside of a typical arrest in which the MNPAT should be completed.
- Language was added to the collateral contacts and victim sources section clarifying that information from the collateral or the victim can change the score for the current problematic chemical use section or the additional questions for validation. All other discrepancies should be noted in the comments.
- Tribal stipends and unemployment benefits were added to the list of public income assistance examples which should be scored as 0 points.
- The age at first delinquency adjudication section was updated to state that offenses used to score this section "may or may not" be used to score the criminal conviction history section.
- The criminal conviction history section was updated to indicate that cases pending sentencing (e.g. pleaded guilty, sentencing hearing upcoming) should not be counted in the score.
- The failure to appear bench warrant status of "Recalled Inactive" was changed to "Count," as this is the new court standard to use when inactivating warrants.
- The bench warrants section was updated to clarify that generic bench warrants should not be counted.
- The failure to appear bench warrants notes were updated to indicate that failure to appear bench warrants that come from family court should be counted.
- The pending case field description was updated with a definition of targeted misdemeanors.
In December 2018, modifications were made to MNPAT resources found on the
Resources tab. Specifically, the MNPAT User Guide, Main Charge Scoring Guide, Offenses Requiring an Pretrial Evaluation, and Person-related Convictions List have been updated.
The following were updates to the Pretrial User Guide in the 12/11/18 update:
- A new section titled “Updating the CSTS Pretrial Module” was added to clarify what information needs to be added to the module. This includes information that may be added to the form during or before the hearing (e.g. main charged offense, case number, etc.).
- The criminal history section added a bullet indicating that all juvenile adjudications (except EJJ) should not be scored or listed. This was moved out of the table to be clear this direction applies to all criminal conviction history.
- A sentence was added to the No Modification to the MNPAT section clarifying that narrative information, including description why a field is scored, should not be included on the MNPAT.
- The “Bench Warrants – Fail to Appear at a Hearing” section was updated to clarify what FTA bench warrants should be counted:
- Issued Active/Served FTA bench warrants should be counted
- Do not count FTA warrants that are issued as a result of a missed initial hearing from a summons.
- Do not count FTA warrants if the defendant failed to appear as a result of being held in custody in anther jurisdiction, including ICE custody.
- The “Refused/Unknown Fields” section was updated with direction to not include information about a client refusing to answer questions on the MNPAT.
- The collateral comments section was updated to provide clarity about what information can be used to verify the client’s responses.
- The “Homeless or Three or More Address Changes in Past Year” section was edited, changing “has been” to “is” for describing if a client is in custody in a correctional facility or living in a temporary situation.
The Implementation Steering Committee began meeting in March 2018 and met for the last time in November 2018. The committee made the following decisions and recommendations:
- The Court Services Tracking System (CSTS) was selected as the case management system where data from the Minnesota Pretrial Release Evaluation Form will be entered and stored for use in the validation study.
- The modifications needed to the CSTS system to ensure data is entered and stored properly will be available in February 2019, but a mail-merge form can be created in CSTS until that time. The form can be found on the Resources tab.
- The Minnesota Pretrial Evaluation Form (the Minnesota Pretrial Assessment Tool (MNPAT) is part of the form) will be implemented in each county by December 1, 2018. Counties can implement the MNPAT any time after October 5, 2018 and before December 1, 2018. Before using the MNPAT, all stakeholders must receive training. Training materials, including an implementation training guide, can be found on the Resources tab.
- The Committee acknowledged that each county may have unique implementation issues. To ensure a smooth rollout of the MNPAT, each county should have a "County Leader" who leads the rollout. That County Leader can use training materials to assist in the rollout, including an implementation training guide, found on the Resources tab.
- Judge and Probation district champions have also been identified to help the County Leaders.