LEE, Mass. — Criminal defense attorney Judith Knight has formally announced her candidacy for Berkshire district attorney. 

 

Knight, a former assistant district attorney, has more than 30 years of experience in the criminal justice system prosecuting cases and defending individuals charged with crimes. 

 

She is an advocate of criminal justice reform promoting alternative sentencing for first-time non-violent offenders by imposing a stint of community service, restorative justice, or inpatient treatment for addicts instead of incarceration. Knight wants to end the school to prison pipeline and is committed to fighting the opioid crisis at all levels. 

 

"The DA of any community has to make tough decisions every day. Having tried numerous criminal cases on both sides of the criminal justice system, I have the depth and experience to make good, sound decisions that will keep our community safe and moving forward," Knight said in a statement. "I will enforce the law to keep dangerous criminals behind bars and I will create a comprehensive community outreach task force whose sole purpose is to stop the revolving door at the jail for low-level drug-related and non-violent crimes."

 

Knight said she is committed to increasing racial diversity in the district attorney’s office. She intends to raise awareness on racial bias and will require every staff person at the DA's office to be trained on implicit racial bias. 

 

"This is how change starts," Knight said. "In order to prevent further racial profiling and discrimination for communities of color, individuals at every level of the criminal justice system must educated about these issues." 

 

She said she has seen firsthand that people who are marginalized in society suffer unfairly in the criminal justice system. 

 

Knight plans to be all-inclusive working with low-income populations, the elderly, LGBTQIA, women and children who are victims of domestic abuse and sex trafficking. She will be the District Attorney that changes the way the community experiences the criminal justice system; people will know that they are being treated fairly." 

 

For more information: www.electJudithknight.com and Facebook: Judith Knight for Berkshire District Attorney