Download Article

Download Commodity

If your friend has been charged with a law-breaking or with an immigration criminal offense, then y'all may exist asked to write a character reference alphabetic character for court. The purpose of the letter is to convince the judge that the defendant's character warrants a lighter judgement or other relief. Character reference messages for criminal proceedings are particularly popular in Australia, whereas character reference letters in immigration proceedings are more common in the United states of america.

  1. one

    Understand the purpose. A grapheme reference letter of the alphabet is a way to show the court that the defendant is a person of good graphic symbol. In Australia, these letters are used during the penalty phase in society to help the approximate decide an advisable penalty.

    • In the United States, reference letters are often submitted to an immigration court when an alien seeks to accept his or her deportation cancelled. Character reference messages assistance the judge determine that the alien "deserves" to stay in the United States.[i]
    • Character reference messages are used much less frequently in criminal trials in the Usa. Instead, it is common practice to have a character witness come into court and testify as to the defendant's good character.

  2. 2

    Ask why you were chosen to write a letter. Before you tin write an effective letter of the alphabet, y'all should effort to understand why the requestor has asked you to write the letter. Oft, people asking messages strategically: they want the person requested to write almost something specific. You should feel free to enquire why yous were chosen and if there is an anecdote or something the requestor wants mentioned.

    Advertisement

  3. three

    Find samples. Y'all might desire to search on the spider web for sample letters that other people accept written. Y'all should use these as only very rough guides. Always be sure to use specifics from your own experience.

  4. 4

    Commit to being honest. The best letters will be in your vox, using your own language. You desire to be accurate. Commit to total honesty.

    • If you tin't write a positive character reference letter of the alphabet, then y'all should let the requestor know that. It is improve to let the person choose someone else than try to write a positive alphabetic character when your heart isn't in information technology.

  5. 5

    Brainstorm. To aid you lot write the letter of the alphabet, you should sit down for an hour and brainstorm ideas. Ask yourself the following, which can help y'all codify your alphabetic character:

    • How long and in what capacity you know the person.
    • How oftentimes you take kept in contact.
    • Whether yous have spoken to the person most the offense.
    • What you call up about the person'south character. What the person's reputation in the community is.
    • Whether you believe the offence committed was out of grapheme and why.
    • Whether or not the person has shown remorse for the offence.
    • What you know about the person's background, including family unit, pedagogy, and employment history.
    • Whether the person has drug, booze, or other issues.
    • The hardships the person has suffered for having been defenseless committing the offence.

    Advert

  1. i

    Insert the court'south address and the appointment. You should type your reference letter on regular white newspaper. At the elevation, on the left-mitt side, insert the address where you volition be sending the letter (e.g., the courtroom). Then move down two lines and insert the engagement.

    • If y'all have letterhead, then you lot should go alee and use it. Using letterhead will brand it look more official, and you should certainly use your letterhead if yous are writing in a professional capacity (such every bit a doctor, employer, professor, etc.)

  2. 2

    Add together the salutation. After the date, drop down two spaces and add together the salutation. You should begin the letter with "Your Honor."[2] And then space downwardly 2 more lines.

  3. 3

    Place yourself. In the start paragraph, y'all should explain who you are and why you are writing. Specifically, you lot should explain how you know the defendant and in what capacity. If yous are writing a grapheme alphabetic character for a criminal defendant, for case, you could land, "I have known Jess McGann for six years, ever since we met in our beginning year in college. Nosotros worked together every summer and connected to stay in close touch after graduation. I understand he has been arrested for burglary. I am writing this letter to attest to his skilful character, which I believe warrants a lenient sentence."[3]

    • If you are offering a character reference for immigration courtroom, and then be sure to include information nigh your ain immigration status.[four] You could state: "I am Catherine Steiner, the owner of Steiner'southward Floral boutique and a U.S. denizen. For the past two years I accept employed Abbey Rogers as a floral technician. Although I knew she had a green carte, I was surprised to learn recently that it has been cancelled because of an aggravated battery she committed. I am writing to explicate why I have ever found her to exist a person of integrity, and why I think the battery is out of graphic symbol."

  4. 4

    Depict the requestor'south grapheme. In the adjacent paragraph, y'all volition need to provide physical specifics that illustrate the defendant's character. Use specific examples or anecdotes. Doing and so will brand your writing more vivid and believable. Experience complimentary to use more than i paragraph, if necessary.

    • If yous know someone in a personal capacity, you can describe situations that illustrate that you trusted the person'southward character. For example, you might describe leaving your keys with the requestor to look after your pets while y'all were away: "I was surprised to learn of the offence Jess committed because I have always found him trustworthy. As an example, last yr my married woman and I visited friends in Europe. We gave Jess the key to our house so that he could option upwardly the mail, feed our pets, and tend to our garden. He gave me regular updates by e-mail, and when my family returned home the firm was in perfect shape. Nothing was missing."[five]
    • Alternately, if you know someone primarily through a professional chapters, and so you should write about your experiences with the requestor. You lot should still emphasize why you find the person trustworthy.[6] For case, you lot may be the person'southward boss. You could write, "In the two years I have employed Abbey, I have establish her to be a reliable employee. When she began, I had her only working on the flowers in a dorsum room, but I found her then capable that soon she was working at the counter, greeting customers. Within a calendar month, I trusted her enough to allow her to conduct transactions. After six months, I had given her a fundamental and allowed her to open and close the boutique. I accept never trusted another employee to perform these tasks, and I think information technology is a testament to her character that I never had a second thought of entrusting her to handle the greenbacks register or have a fundamental to the building."

  5. 5

    Conclude with a stiff recommendation. For example, you could state, "I share in Jess's embarrassment regarding the commission of this offence, but I am confident that he will accept responsibleness for his actions and not re-offend. I strongly recommend that he be given a fair sentence."[seven]

    • Too, if you are writing a grapheme reference letter of the alphabet to proceed someone from being deported, then you lot should close past stating, "For the foregoing reasons, I strongly encourage the court to cancel Ms. Rogers' removal" or words to that effect.[8]
    • In your conclusion, also include a phone number and email address (if you take one). This manner, the gauge can contact you if she or he wants. Also include a mailing accost if one is not included on the letterhead.

  6. 6

    Sign the alphabetic character. Messages should always exist signed past you. Besides insert the date near your signature as well.

    • If yous are providing a character reference letter for a deportation proceeding in the United States, and so you should brand sure that your letter is notarized.[9] Accordingly, you should hold off on signing the letter until you appear before the notary public.
    • Notary publics can be found in many courthouses. You can as well check at large banks. Be sure to bring sufficient personal identification to evidence the notary: a valid passport or driver'south license should be sufficient.

    Advertisement

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your e-mail address to get a bulletin when this question is answered.

Submit

Advert

  • Try to give yourself enough fourth dimension to write the letter so that you can share a draft with the requestor and ask for feedback.

Advertisement

  • You should non mislead the court, which is a serious criminal criminal offence in its own right. Always stay authentic and honest in your letter.

Advertisement

References

Nigh This Article

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 32,615 times.

Did this article help you?