Sen. Tomes’ SB 322 would provide tort claim immunity for governmental entities as to claims for injury to persons or property under the supervision of the governmental entity while the person is on parole. Tort claim immunity is also extended to Department of Correction employees or contractors who are providing monitoring services for parolees or sex offenders.
This sort of immunity is already in place with respect to probationers.
I’m generally biased toward these kinds of immunity. There are a number of areas, particularly pertaining to crime, where the immediate financial incentive of law enforcement and government is to sit on its hands and do nothing. (As Tom Thumb’s Blues puts it, “the cops don’t need us and, man, they expect the same.”) Various immunities help mitigate the incentive to steer clear of dealing with people who are going to be mad about government involvement and have nothing to lose by filing a lawsuit.
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