Letter: Prison sentence for murder seems excessive
The Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead is seen here on Feb, 2, 2006. Credit: Newsday / Daniel Goodrich
The prison sentence of 17 years given a man for killing his mother is excessive in the extreme ["Prison for strangling," News, Dec. 2].
No caregiver or anyone involved in treating the elderly, especially people with dementia, would consider this sentence to be appropriate. Of course, no one should commit homicide, but the sentence should have been mitigated by the circumstances of his elderly mother.
At a time when states are looking to reduce the expense of a large prison population, the release of this man would not seem to pose a threat to society.
Lawrence Donohue, West Islip
