By Jane Prendergast
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Debate over tougher sentencing of felons in a time of escalating Cincinnati violence left city and Hamilton County officials Tuesday pointing fingers in every direction.

City Councilman Pat DeWine criticized his own Republican Party for a lack of judicial accountability bred by too many judges running unopposed.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen said the real answer to curbing crime is hiring more police officers.

Mayor Charlie Luken prompted the discussion with a letter asking Mr. Allen, presiding Common Pleas Judge Steve Martin and presiding Municipal Judge Beth Mattingly to meet and talk about why some convicted drug felons don't do much time.

"I don't want to go in saying, `It's your fault,' " Mayor Luken said. "I want to have a conversation about the sentencing of repeat drug offenders and people who are violent."

The mayor's action comes after an Enquirer story Sunday showed that a third of 108 drug felons arrested last year by Cincinnati Police's District 4 Violent Crime Squad and convicted were sentenced to no time behind bars - even though most had prior criminal records. Another third were sentenced to six months or less.

Mr. Allen said sitting down to discuss it "won't hurt," but he said Cincinnati police's 1,000 officers are stretched too thin.

Enquirer reporters Sharon Turco and Gregory Korte contributed.

E-mail jprendergast@enquirer.com