"Harsh sentencing rules cost millions without cutting crime," July 2).
In a letter to the editor, he writes in the Free Press:
The truth is that a large percentage of crime is disproportionately committed by a small but very dangerous group of individuals who break the law over and over again. These violent individuals require sentences that are longer, not shorter.
Schuetter cites the murder of Livonia cop Larry Nehasil, who was shot five times in January 2011 while trying to apprehend a suspect, who was later found guilty in the murder. That suspect, Schuette, pointed out had a rap sheet that included six felonies and nine misdemeanors.
He also writes:
A recent analysis by the Michigan Department of Corrections found that repeat violent offenders whose fourth felony is a serious violent crime like assault, rape or second-degree murder faced an average sentence of 13.2 years in 2011. In sharp contrast, the wounds and scars left on victims, families and communities last a lifetime.
And he concludes:
I make no apologies for calling for more police officers and tougher sentences.
