In regard to Laurie Sawin's letter of March 11 ("Give kids, families their lives back"), it is amazing to me how Ms. Sawin's version of the drug deals that took place in Great Barrington differs so dramatically from that of the district attorney's office.

Ms. Sawin tries to downplay the role of these teenagers as if their offense was as minor as stealing a candy bar from the local convenience store. I believe that, according to the records in some of these cases, scales were used to measure the drugs before the drug deals were made. Use of scales to measure out drugs for a drug deal is something that serious drug dealers do, not something done by a "first time" petty marijuana seller. Just because they have only been caught selling drugs one time does not mean it is the first time they have ever sold drugs.

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