How in the world could they be?
County jails are not liable for crimes committed by inmates after they are out of custody, according to a split ruling by the Washington state Supreme Court.
Thursday’s 5-4 ruling came in the case of Isaac Zamora. He was held in the Skagit County Jail in 2008 and released a month later.
In September 2008, Zamora had a psychotic episode and went on a shooting spree that left six dead.
Families of the victims sued Skagit County, claiming the jail failed to evaluate and treat Zamora’s mental illness.
The trial judge ruled against the families, saying they failed to show the county’s negligence caused Zamora’s crimes. The appeals court reversed that ruling, but the Supreme Court agreed with the trial judge.
The majority said jails must control violent inmates while incarcerated but can’t prevent crimes once they’re out. The dissenting justices said the jail knew that Zamora was potentially dangerous.