Title: Sykes v. Grantham
Citation: 567 So. 2d 200
Docket Number: 89-CA-0003
State: Mississippi
Issuer: Mississippi Supreme Court
Date: August 8, 1990

567 So. 2d 200 (1990) Ollie SYKES, James R. Figgs and Paul Carter v. Linda GRANTHAM and The Travelers Insurance Company. No. 89-CA-0003. Supreme Court of Mississippi. August 8, 1990. Robert L. Gibbs, Deputy Atty. Gen., Mike C. Moore, Atty. Gen. Jackson, for appellants. Alvin Binder, Lisa B. Milner, Binder Milner &amp; Milner, Gary K. Jones, Daniel Coker Horton &amp; Bell, Jackson, for appellees. En Banc. ROY NOBLE LEE, Chief Justice, for the Court: This case appears before the Court for the second time. On the first trial in the Circuit Court of Hinds County, Mississippi, the Honorable William F. Coleman dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted and an appeal was taken here. The judgment of the lower court was affirmed as to the Parole Board, Department of Corrections and Commissioner of Corrections. The judgment was reversed and remanded for trial as to the individual Parole Board Members. Grantham v. Dept. of Corrections, 522 So. 2d 219 (Miss. 1988). *201 After a second trial, the jury returned a verdict for Grantham in the sum of $2,500,000.00 actual damages and $500,000.00 punitive damages, and judgment was entered for those amounts. The Parole Board members have appealed to this Court. We consider one (1) issue and reverse and render the judgment of the lower court. HAWKINS, Presiding Justice, for the Court: Pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-5 (1984 Supp.), Ch. 471, Laws, 1984), in July, 1984, the following were appointed to the State Parole Board: Under the Act only the chairman was a full-time employee; the others were only paid a per diem and necessary expenses while attending board meetings. The board met three-to-four days each month. On Tuesday, December 18, 1984, in a meeting which began at 8:00 a.m. and concluded at 5:30 p.m., the board considered parole for sixty-three convicts, among whom was Clem V. Jimpson. Fifteen applicants, including Jimpson, were granted parole. None of the board members, other than Ruth, had any knowledge of Jimpson prior to this day. Ruth began working at Parchman on August 18, 1948, and worked there for a few years. Thereafter in 1960 he returned to Parchman as the records officer, where he remained until he became chairman of the Parole Board in July of 1984. He retired in July of 1988. Ruth's prior knowledge of Jimpson was limited to Jimpson's record. Ruth testified that he had to leave the Board meeting for "some reason", but did not recall whether Jimpson was present when he left, and also that prior to leaving the room, he told the other three Board members that he could not go along with paroling Jimpson. He gave no reason for his opinion. When Ruth returned to the meeting 10 to 20 minutes later, Jimpson was present and the decision had been made to grant his parole. Ruth stated that although it was not unusual for him not to go along with a decision of the other members to grant parole, he thought that the other Board members heard his comment concerning Jimpson's parole. He added, "At one point in time, Mr. Figgs in a conversation did say that he heard me say that." However, Figgs did not acknowledge the comment at the time it was made. Figgs and Carter in their testimony did not recall Ruth's expressing opposition to the parole of Jimpson, but testified he had for some reason or another left the room when Jimpson's parole was considered. Ruth admitted on cross-examination that he probably would have voted for Jimpson's parole had he not been privy to Jimpson's past record at Parchman as the records director. While administrative assistant Ruth signed a form denying Jimpson's parole on March 2, 1984. The form indicated that it was not in the best interest of society to parole Jimpson. Ruth gave Carter the chairman's parole file prior to leaving the room. He added that Figgs looked at the master file for several minutes, while he and the other two members talked with at least two other prisoners. Ruth stated that it was the duty of the Records Department at the Department of Corrections to forward the community acceptance forms to the proper judges and *202 district attorneys. He acknowledged that the Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Parole Board were separate entities. In any event, Ruth's views as to Jimpson were neither considered nor sought by the remaining board members. The board had available to it for study the entire prison records of each applicant, which frequently, as in Jimpson's case, consisted of a thick, voluminous file. There was also prepared by the staff of the department of corrections on each parole applicant a "chairman's file," consisting of copies of what was considered pertinent information: Because Ruth was not in the room when Jimpson's parole was considered, Carter, as acting chairman, reviewed the chairman's file. Some applicants were personally interviewed by the board. While the board was conducting the interview of one applicant, one of its members would review the complete prison file of the applicant to follow. Thus, Figgs, as Sykes put it, browsed, and as Carter put it, thumbed, skipped through and reviewed Jimpson's prison file while the other board members interviewed two other applicants. It was estimated that approximately fifteen to twenty minutes was spent by Figgs in examining Jimpson's file, and another fifteen minutes was spent by the board in the actual interview of Jimpson. No other member of the board examined the prison file on Jimpson, and the other board members' knowledge of Jimpson's record was limited to what Figgs reported was contained in this file. Carter did have the chairman's file to compare with what Figgs related, but he never testified what effect, if any, the information in the chairman's file had upon his decision. Mary Ruth Maxwell, assistant director of the alcohol and drug rehabilitation center at Parchman, accompanied Jimpson at his interview, and she recommended parole. She did not testify at trial. Carter did not recall whether the 1984 Early Release Risk Evaluation (also referred to as the Matrix Evaluation) was in the file. It is not clear from the trial record what Figgs related to Sykes and Carter as to Jimpson's prison record. Figgs testified repeatedly that he gave the other two all the "pertinent" information, but he never specified what he told them. Figgs did consider an Early Release Risk Evaluation prepared February 16, 1983. An Early Release Risk Evaluation is a form prepared by a member of the staff of the department of corrections following an interview with the prisoner and a guard acquainted with him. It takes into account prior convictions, prior parole or release violations, types of criminal convictions, RVRs, institutional training, personal relations and societal interactions, attitude, emotional and mental stability, preparations or plans following release, and a score is given on each of these categories. On the 1983 forms a low score is 0-13, 10-14 is low medium, 15-18 is high medium, and 19-38 is high. A low to low medium is favorable to a parole. A high medium or high score indicates the prisoner should remain until the completion of his sentence. The 1983 evaluation gives Jimpson a total score of 7. Figgs testified he told the members of this report. Figgs also considered that at the February 29, 1984, meeting of the previous parole *203 board, it had denied and continued Jimpson's application for nine months, which to him indicated that if in the ensuing interim his behavior was satisfactory, his application for parole should be favorably considered. Also in the file was a psychological assessment and profile made by a prison psychologist on March 21, 1979. This test indicated Jimpson should not be considered for parole. The examiner found psychotic thinking, an alienation from people, and a high susceptibility to alcohol or drug abuse. Figgs testified that he told the other board members of this report, but they denied it. Figgs also told the other board members that Jimpson had not had any rule violations in three and one-half years prior to their meeting. Figgs testified that the board considered a community comment form from Quitman County and the years Jimpson had been in prison. Figgs testified that he had told the other board members of Jimpson's convictions and prison record, but as above noted, he gave no specifics. The board also had before it a letter from an organization called "Friends of Alcoholics," or FOA, in Pocahontas, Hinds County, dated May 25, 1984, agreeing to sponsor Jimpson as an inmate for a four to six months' treatment, after which the organization would assist him in obtaining employment. Under the proposal Jimpson would have to remain at the facility for two months, following which he could have a pass to visit his immediate family only. The other two board members, Sykes and Carter, had no recollection of being told of an Early Release Risk Evaluation prepared January 25, 1984, in which Jimpson scored 18, with 18-29 on this evaluation form being considered a high score. It is not clear that Figgs saw or considered this report, himself. After stating that he informed Carter and Sykes of the 1984 Risk Evaluation form, Figgs said: Carter had no recollection of any discussion concerning Jimpson's high risk score on the 1984 Risk Evaluation. He admitted having relied upon the 1983 Risk Evaluation, which contained a low risk factor. In an attempt to explain why he relied upon the 1983 Risk Evaluation (evincing a low risk) rather than the 1984 Risk Evaluation, he stated a risk evaluation form is not done every time a prisoner is submitted for parole and that there is usually only one such form in a file. Carter stated that he did not recall whether the 1984 Early Release Risk Evaluation was in the file. Concerning the discussion of Jimpson's Risk Evaluations, Sykes stated that she discovered, after the deposition, that the psychological test referred to by Figgs during the meeting, was actually the 1983 Risk Evaluation form, which contained several errors. She admitted that had she seen the 1984 Risk Evaluation form, she would certainly have considered it. The 1984 evaluation would have been even higher if accurate information had been given, because it gave Jimpson a zero on use of alcohol, and a zero on parole violations, in both of which categories Jimpson, as will be noted below, should have significantly scored. Clem V. Jimpson was born on January 25, 1928, and had an eighth grade education. A summary of Jimpson's criminal record and prison record which was available in the prison file shows the following: The board members did not talk with any guard or supervisory personnel who were personally acquainted with Jimpson, and who knew something about his personality or character traits (what Maxwell knew or did not know is conjecture). Another important factor which seems to have been ignored by the board was the length of time Jimpson was out of prison on previous releases until he was arrested upon a subsequent charge and returned to prison. Indeed, here the prison record leaves much to be desired. For example: What Figgs actually saw of this record or the weight he gave it is a matter of conjecture. Clearly, the vast bulk of this information was not revealed to the other board members. None of the other board members testified they sought advice or information from him as to Jimpson. Ruth was the only member of the board who knew something of Jimpson's record prior to that day, and he, of course, knew a good deal, having been an employee at Parchman as Director of Records for the Parole Board for a number of years. *208 Jimpson was released from Parchman on January 9, 1985, on a conditional parole on condition that he complete the six-month alcohol rehabilitation program at FOA, and he reported to Pocahontas on January 11. Richard C. Barth, a minister, was director of FOA. He testified FOA was on a 76-acre tract, operated on principles of Christianity, and parolees stayed with them four-to-six months. He accepted Jimpson as an inmate because of the entreaties of a woman he assumed was Jimpson's wife (he learned later she was not). His organization made no investigation of Jimpson, and knew nothing about whether or not he was a good parole risk. Jimpson was a model inmate for the first three and one-half weeks, according to Barth. Then, Barth got a call "from one of the news media" asking him if Jimpson was there. Barth would give no information. Because inmates could receive telephone calls, upon a restricted basis, a call to Jimpson was received by him. Barth said that following this Jimpson went downhill. All told he got three to four calls, and after each one he would become agitated. He became nervous and started having asthma attacks. Jimpson left without leave on February 9. Barth reported this to the sheriff's office and the parole office. FOA had no guards or security system. On February 12, in an attempt at the parking lot of the Raymond-Terry Road branch of the Deposit Guaranty National Bank to kidnap Linda Grantham, an employee at the bank, he shot her. The bullet entered the base of her skull, rendering her a quadriplegic. On March 25, 1985, Grantham filed suit in the circuit court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County against all five parole board members individually and in their official capacities, against Morris Thigpen, individually and as former official capacity as commissioner of the department of corrections. The action was dismissed as to all defendants under Rule 12(b) Motion to Dismiss, Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure (MRCP). Upon appeal, under the doctrine of sovereign immunity, we affirmed as to Thigpen and as to the parole board members in their official capacities. Grantham v. Department of Corrections, 522 So. 2d 219 (Miss. 1988). We reversed the dismissal as to the parole board members individually. Upon remand the cause was dismissed as to Ruth because he did not vote for Jimpson's release and was out of the room when the decision was made, and dismissed as to Kaelin because she was absent from the board meeting on December 18, 1984. The cause proceeded to trial, resulting in a jury verdict in favor of Grantham against Figgs, Sykes and Carter in the amount of $2.5 million actual damages, and $500,000 punitive damages. Travelers Insurance Company, as Grantham's workers' compensation carrier, is subrogated to the amount of $624,833.40. The defendants have appealed. ROY NOBLE LEE, Chief Justice, for the Court: The sole issue addressed in this discussion is whether or not the lower court erred in denying appellant's motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-17 (Supp. 1984) sets out the duties and responsibilities of the state parole board, which is composed of five (5) members. The section provides in part: Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-5 (Supp. 1984) contains the following provision: Parole board members were appointed for a period of four (4) years, the terms of office to begin July 1, 1976. Section 47-7-5 provided that only persons, who by knowledge and experience, are prepared to perform efficiently the duties of the board, as stated above, shall be eligible for appointment. The chairman of the parole board was paid an annual salary established by the legislature and each board member, other than the chairman, received only per diem, mileage and necessary expenses while attending meetings of the parole board. Of the five board members, at the time this action occurred, only James Russell Figgs, Ollie Vivian Sykes, and Paul Carter remain in the suit. Jo Ann Kaelin was absent on the day Jimpson's case was considered and Chairman B.C. Ruth, the only person knowledgeable about criminal and parole matters, for some unexplained reason, excused himself from the room at the time of the consideration. Figgs was a paralegal from Marks; Sykes was a media coordinator for the Meridian Public School Systems; and Paul Carter of Vancleave was assistant director of personnel and employee relations for the Singing River Hospital System of Jackson County. The board was appointed by the Governor on July 1, 1983, and had been in office six months at the time the application of Jimpson was considered and action taken thereon, December 18, 1984. It is obvious from the record that these three appellants against whom judgment was entered in the lower court for $3,000,000 were unlearned, unskilled, not trained and un-knowledgeable about the complex and sensitive task, which the State of Mississippi had summarily thrown into their laps. They were required to perform that task to the best of their ability and judgment, using such tools as the State of Mississippi and the law had provided them. In Grantham v. Dept. of Corrections, 522 So. 2d 219 (Miss. 1988), [Hereinafter Grantham-I] we said: Grantham, 522 So. 2d at 220, 223. We review and reiterate the meanings of ministerial and discretionary functions and *210 qualified immunity arising to officers by virtue of them. In Poyner v. Gilmore, 171 Miss. 859, 158 So. 922 (1935), the Court stated: Poyner, 171 Miss. at 865, 158 So. at 923; quoting Mechem on Public Officers, § 657 at p. 442 (1890). Davis v. Little, 362 So. 2d 642 (Miss. 1978) discusses the question in the following language: Davis, 362 So. 2d at 643. In Hudson v. Rausa, 462 So. 2d 689 (Miss. 1984), the Court said: Hudson, 462 So. 2d at 696. Again we refer to Grantham-I where this court at page 226 said: Grantham, 522 So. 2d at 226. We now look to the facts of this case to determine whether or not the appellants have lost their qualified immunity, either by failure to perform their ministerial functions or by acting with reckless disregard in voting to parole Jimpson to the Friends of Alcoholics (FOA). We look to see whether they considered pertinent information and records and followed the statute covering their functions. Pertinent information regarding Jimpson was contained in his parole file and the master file. Both those files were secured by the appellants and were before them on December 18, 1984, when the Jimpson case was considered. Figgs testified that he reviewed Jimpson's criminal record, conduct and behavior while in prison, and employment in prison; that he reviewed the psychological evaluation in Jimpson's file. Appellant Carter testified that he reviewed another file on Jimpson, e.g., the "chairman's file"; that he reviewed the documents therein and that he relied on the 1983 risk evaluation rather than the 1984 evaluation. The 1983 evaluation showed the risk of releasing Jimpson to be low while the 1984 evaluation was high. The proof on whether or not the appellants complied with the statute, § 47-7-17, (Supp. 1984), or greatly or recklessly exceeded their authority came from them and from documents in Jimpson's file. The following important matters were not contradicted: In our opinion, the appellants substantially complied with the duties and requirements set forth in the statute for members of the State Parole Board, e.g., particularly Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-17 (Supp. 1984) and there was no violation of their ministerial duties. Therefore, no liability was imposed on the appellants under this prong of qualified immunity. We further conclude that, even though the appellants were laymen, untrained, unschooled, and inexperienced in the complex *212 and sensitive problems of probation and parole, and even though judgment and decision was deficient and lacking, they were exercising discretionary authority. Their decision was the result of personal deliberation and judgment. They did not commit wilful wrongs or malicious acts. Hudson, 462 So. 2d at 694. Further, they did not act with reckless disregard and did not exceed and pervert their discretionary authority theirs was an exercise of poor judgment. Grantham-I at page 226. The real culprit in this case is the State of Mississippi, which failed its citizens miserably in providing an outmoded, archaic parole system, loosely drawn, and with scant guidelines. It placed untrained and unknowledgeable laymen in a sensitive place of importance to perform the work of experts. Yet, when the finger of blame points to the State, absolute governmental immunity insulates and protects it. As a result of the tragic injury sustained by Mrs. Grantham, the State Legislature enacted a law providing for a full time parole board with members who are salaried employees of the State. The law further provided that "the board, its members and staff shall be immune from civil liability for any official acts taken in good faith and in exercise of the board's legitimate governmental authority". § 47-7-5(4) Supp. 1989). We hold that the lower court erred in declining to sustain the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Therefore, the judgment of the lower court is reversed and judgment is rendered here for the appellants. REVERSED AND RENDERED. All Justices concur as to Part I. Part II: DAN M. LEE, P.J., and PRATHER, ANDERSON and BLASS, JJ., concur. Part II: HAWKINS, P.J., and ROBERTSON and SULLIVAN, JJ., dissent with separate opinion. PITTMAN, J., not participating. HAWKINS, Presiding Justice, dissenting as to Part II: I can agree with the majority in its assessment of the dereliction of the State in the system of parole in effect December 18, 1984, the fateful date in which Jimpson's release was authorized. This, however, cannot relieve board members of their personal dereliction. Courts must bear in mind that having some system of parole of convicts is an absolute necessity, even though we statistically know there will be occasions when a member of the public will be injured as a result of some prisoner's parole. Parole is a necessity because the greatest inducement for good behavior by prisoners is hope of parole. Without hope the cost of keeping prisoners in a penitentiary would be prohibitively expensive. Also, parole based upon good behavior is humane. It is, therefore, societally necessary that some sort of immunity be given to parole board members; otherwise, good men and women would be unwilling to serve, or members of a parole board would take no risk whatever in their parole decisions. Absolute immunity, on the other hand, is bad law in the absence of showing some absolute necessity therefor. Absolute immunity removes any inducement, from a personal liability risk, to exercise some degree of reflection and study in releasing a prisoner. This case affords a good example of woeful lack of study and reflection. Somewhere between these extremes can we fashion a rule which avoids the calloused indifference encouraged by absolute immunity, and at the same time afford enough protection to parole board members that they can feel free to render conscientious, deliberative service? Also, Grantham v. Dept. of Corrections, 522 So. 2d 219, 223-224, 226 (Miss. 1988). We can all recognize by hindsight that releasing Jimpson was a mistake. Yet this alone is insufficient to assess liability. Rather than becoming bogged down in abstractions or legal definitions, let us first examine what these board members failed to do which caused them to authorize Jimpson's release. *213 Had the board members taken the time to first meaningfully examine Jimpson's file, or to personally interview guards or other personnel at the prison who had personal knowledge of his personality and habits, and then decided to release Jimpson, I could agree that they should be granted immunity while acting in a discretionary capacity. For clearly, the decision to grant or deny parole was discretionary. Preliminary to this discretionary act, however, was the absolute non-delegable duty of the board members under Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-17 (1984) to "consider all pertinent information regarding" Jimpson, "including the circumstances of his offense, his previous social history and criminal record, his conduct, employment and attitude while in custody of the department, and the reports of such physical and mental examinations as have been made," i.e., to consider his full record. It is farcical to pretend they complied with the statute. Not a single member of the board (excluding Ruth) spent any meaningful time studying Jimpson's record. Had any of them done so, it is impossible to believe he/she would have been so devoid of judgment that he/she would vote to release Jimpson. Moreover, no member of the board interviewed any individual who had personal knowledge of Jimpson's behavior. When these board members voted to release Jimpson, a man repeatedly guilty of dangerous crimes, their knowledge of his habits, behavior and personality in prison was quite near an absolute zero. Yet such information was available to each member. It was this failure to read, to consider Jimpson's record, which triggered the chain of events encompassing the ruination of Grantham's life. While the board members had the discretionary authority to parole, a condition precedent to its exercise was the absolute duty to comply with this statute. They should not be permitted to contend they had the discretion to fail to comply with Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-17. In Grantham, supra, 522 So. 2d at 225, we held: You may take your pick of dictionaries of the English language. All will state that the word "consider" means to think carefully about a matter prior to making a decision, to contemplate. These board members were charged with the duty to think carefully about Jimpson's record, and of course they could not think carefully about his record unless they had read it, studied it. And, whether one terms their failure to consider Jimpson's record or interview personnel who knew Jimpson a "ministerial" failure, or that the failure to study his record prior to parole was a "great" and "substantial excess of authority" matters little. A jury issue was clearly made on one or the other. It would make a joke out of the statute to claim it gave the board members the "discretionary" authority to be almost totally ignorant of his record. Liability should not be imposed because of a mistake. Neither should immunity be granted when the very precaution which bestows immunity has been ignored. In Grimm v. Arizona Bd. of Pardons and Paroles, 115 Ariz. 260, 564 P.2d 1227, 5 A.L.R.4th 757 (1977), the parole board released an inmate who committed murder, and the heirs sued. In holding the individual members held only a qualified immunity, the Arizona Supreme Court stated: 115 Ariz. at 266-268, 564 P.2d at 1233-1235, 5 A.L.R.4th at 766-768. Many courts have grappled with this question, endeavoring to fashion an appropriate test to determine when a jury issue is made on liability. Von Hoene v. State Dept. of Rehabilitation, 20 Ohio App.3rd 363, 486 N.E.2d 868 (1985); Doe v. Arguelles, 716 P.2d 279 (Utah 1985); Allentown State Hosp. v. Gill, 88 Pa.Cmwlth. 331, 488 A.2d 1211 (1985); Bellavance v. State, 390 So. 2d 422 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1980), cert. denied, 399 So. 2d 1145 (Fla. 1981); DuBree v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 481 Pa. 540, 393 A.2d 293 (1978). In my view Grimm, supra, gives the best, and simplest stated test. Regardless of terminology, in the final analysis no board member should have his liability submitted to a jury on a discretionary decision because of a mistake, or even bad judgment. Such potential liability should go to a jury only if a court has first determined that the official was grossly negligent, or acted through bad faith, corruption or malice. Trial judges are able to make such determination based upon the facts of each case. It goes without saying that scrupulous care should be used by the court in making the determination. This test likewise meets the "substantial excess of authority" criterion we announced in Grantham I. In holding that the circuit judge erred in submitting this case to the jury, I fear we are only giving lip service to the very standard we recently announced in Grantham I for such cases. A release of an inmate not in keeping with standards imposed by statute is a non-discretionary act. I would affirm. ROBERTSON and SULLIVAN, JJ., join this opinion. [1] A matrix evaluation was explained by Carter as follows: [T]he evaluation is there are two evaluations. There's one evaluation that is done, as I understand it, that's determined by a review of the record as to the risk in regards to whether the inmate would be susceptible to committing additional crimes. The other evaluation is how difficult this inmate would be in adjusting to society and how high the risk would be in adjusting to society and how high the risk would be for this person to commit a violation of the parole and have to be returned as a parole violater [sic]. [2] Although the record is not clear as to the definitions or levels of custody or class, it is clear that "A" custody indicates the least restrictive status, while the lower custody classifications indicate more restrictions and less privileges. Class 1 is the least restrictive class. [3] Figgs admitted that the form was based upon the following errors: a.) Jimpson received a Risk score of zero on previous probation or parole violations; however, the score would have been two points, which indicated one or more revocations. b.) Jimpson received a Risk score of zero on rule violation reports (RVR's); however, the score would have been five points, which indicated 11 or more RVR's or any one RVR for escape. Jimpson had several escapes. c.) Jimpson received a Needs score of zero on "evidence of problems related to substance abuse (alcohol or drugs)"; however, the score would have been either four or seven. A score of four indicated "evidence of a pattern of substance abuse indicates a counseling/monitoring and/or referral need required." A score of seven indicated "evidence of serious substance abuse problems intensive casework services." Had the factors been correct, Jimpson would have had a total Risk score on the 1983 Early Release Risk Evaluation of 14, which would have placed him in a Low Medium Risk Level. He would have had a total Needs score of at least five and at most eight, which would have been a Low Needs Level. Nevertheless, Jimpson would have achieved a Matrix Level of Low Medium. [4] Parker testified that his recommendation on the evaluation was that Jimpson not be paroled. Jefferson gave no recommendation for parole at trial or on the evaluation form, but indicated on the evaluation form that Jimpson's environmental support was questionable. [5] Parker testified that the scores would have been higher had the factors been correct. He acknowledged the following errors: a.) Jimpson received a Risk score of zero on probation or parole violations or escapes, an obvious error from his record. b.) Jimpson received a Risk score of zero on history of drug or alcohol abuse; however, the score would have been either one, two, or three. A score of one indicated a "history of drug or alcohol problems, but no history of narcotics, hallucinogen or glue use." A score of two indicated "history of narcotics use." A score of three indicated "history of problem use of hallucinogens or glue or narcotics." c.) Jimpson received a Needs score of zero on "evidence of problems related to substance abuse (alcohol or drugs)"; however, the score should have been either four or seven. A score of four indicated "evidence of a pattern of substance abuse indicates a counseling/monitoring and/or referral need required." A score of seven indicated "evidence of serious substance abuse problems intensive casework services." If the factors had been correct, Jimpson would have had a total Risk score on the 1984 Early Release Risk Evaluation of at least 21 and at most 23, which would have remained a High risk. He would have had a total Needs score of at least 15 and at most 18, which would have been a High Medium Needs score. Nevertheless, Jimpson would have achieved a Matrix Level of High Risk. These classification errors could be easily seen by comparison of this report with his record. [6] By Ch. 413, § 103, Law 1989, Miss. Code Ann. § 47-7-5 (Supp. 1989), the parole board members now devote full time to their duties, and are salaried employees of the State. Subparagraph (4) also grants immunity from civil liability to the board and its staff for "official acts taken in good faith and in the exercise of the board's legitimate governmental authority."