New Groups Launches Campaign for Change in Sentencing Laws
       Launching a new campaign aimed at changing the state’s sentencing laws, Concerned Citizens for Appropriate Justice (CCAJ) holds a press conference Tuesday to condemn examples of “misguided and rigid” application of the law in Berkshire County.
       The new coalition plans to launch an educational campaign calling for further "discretion” when applying criminal sentences, more alternatives to jail, such as community service, probation and education for drug abuse cases, and examining criminal history and the health and safety of the community more closely during sentencing. The coalition includes former Berkshire County Deputy District Attorney Ira Kaplan, parents from Great Barrington, and other community and business leader