Director of Victim Witness Advocates for the District Attorney’s Office Acknowledged

08:00AM / Sunday, April 02, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — District Attorney Shugrue announced that Jane Kibby-Peirce, Director of Victim Witness Advocates for the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office, has been named the 2023 Gerard D. Downing Advocate of the Year by the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association (MDAA).

According to the Massachusetts District Attorney Association, this statewide, lifetime achievement award, "…recognizes the special combination of talents embodied in a truly outstanding advocate: a deep compassion for and empathetic understanding of the needs of crime victims and their families; outstanding skill in anticipating and providing advice, counseling and services; an ability to instill in victims a sense of dignity and confidence; and the ability to reach and touch victims that makes them feel, regardless of the prosecution outcome, that their voice has been heard."

Director Kibby-Peirce was hired in 1992 by Berkshire County's first District Attorney, Gerard D. Downing. Kibby-Peirce has served as an advocate, mentor, and trainer during her 30-year tenure. As an advocate Jane was a member of the office's Special Victims Unit working with adults, elder and disabled survivors of sexual assault. As a mentor and trainer Kibby-Peirce has supported assistant district attorneys, fellow victim witness advocates and community members to better understand and support victims.

DA Shugrue described Director Kibby-Peirce: "A tireless and passionate advocate, Jane rose to the challenge the system to be more responsive to and accepting of the needs of victims and their children by making judges, probation officers, and law enforcement see the survivors' humanity while demanding that they as practitioners protect this vulnerable population."

Jane Kibby-Peirce joins the company of four other Berkshire County District Attorney's Office staff who have won state-wide MDAA awards. Elizabeth Keegan was awarded the MDAA Gerard D. Downing Advocate of the Year Award in 2007. Additionally, Assistant District Attorneys David Capeless (1996- ADA during that time), Paul Caccaviello (2008- ADA during that time) and Joseph Pieropan (2016) received the William C. O'Malley Prosecutor of the Year Award by the MDAA.

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Neal's Office Among Those Targeted by Suspicious Mailings

Staff Reports12:28PM / Wednesday, October 21, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal was among congressmen apparently targeted by someone mailing suspicious envelopes.

According to a report in The Berkshire Eagle, an envelope containing a powdery substance was discovered by postal inspectors before reaching Neal's Pittsfield office in the Silvio O. Conte Federal Building.

Nearly 40 members of Congress have received envelopes containing white powder, according to The Guardian. More than 100 letters are thought to be in the U.S. mail system and the FBI, Capitol Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were investigating the mailings that have also been sent to elections officials in various states.

The mailings have been sent to both Republican and Democrat officeholders and several congressional district offices had to be evacuated in the last week or so after envelopes were opened in them.

Earlier today, my Bronx district office received an envelope delivered by mail that contained a suspicious substance. Local law enforcement responded swiftly and, after investigating, determined the substance to be non-hazardous.
— Rep. Ritchie Torres (@repritchie.bsky.social) October 16, 2026 at 3:10 PM

The Guardian reported that the FBI is warning officials to look for envelopes processed through a north Texas center and that carry a postmark or stamp stating "Thinking of You."

The Eagle states that Neal's office was alerted on Saturday that it might be getting a suspicious package; inspectors seized the envelope at the Fenn Street post office on Monday.

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