When you sign the letter, you must end with «Respectful» or «Sincerely», followed by a typed and handwritten signature with your first and last name. Before writing the address on the envelope and on the letter itself, make sure you know the exact title of the judge, whether it is the Chief Justice, the Justice, the Chief Justice or the judge. If you are not sure, you can consult this information on the website of the Federal Judicial Centre. You must identify yourself by using your full name and home address in the upper left corner of the document you are working on. This area should be similar to an envelope and should contain your home address. Place your full name on the first line, your address on the second line, and your city/state/zip code on the third line Skip two lines, then enter today`s date. That is, the date you write this letter. In some cases, it`s a good idea to add a subject line. A simple indication of the name and/or file number of the hopeful parent/guardian is sufficient. Open the letter with a greeting to the recipient. For our purposes, it will be a judge.
Be sure to emphasize how long you have known the defendant and how close you are to the accused. A close and long relationship with someone allows you to provide reliable and credible insight into the person`s character and judgment. Give a brief summary of how you know the person, how long you`ve known each other, and how often you stay in touch. Are you a family member, employee, employer or friend? The longer you know the person, the more weight the dish can attach to your reference. First, the author of the letter must tell the judge how he knows the accused. Use the first paragraph to build credibility and answer the following questions: The introductory paragraph of this letter of recommendation serves a specific purpose. Indicate for whom you are writing this letter, how you know the person you are recommending, and how long you have known this person. When this task is completed, make a statement recommending that the person have custody of the minor or child in question. The next paragraph will be at the heart of the letter you write.
You should be sure to add observations that suggest that the hopeful parent or guardian will be a positive factor in the minor`s or child`s life. If there is something the parent or guardian is known for in their community that demonstrates effectiveness as a positive force (e.g., volunteering, memberships, etc.), mention this as well. There should be at least two or three statements here. Keep in mind that this part of the letter can be as long as you want. If you have any questions about this content and its length, you can contact the parent/guardian or their lawyer. The introduction should indicate who you are, how long you have known the person and why you feel the need to make this recommendation to the court. Sentences in federal criminal cases, whether they result from a plea or a verdict, are determined by the judge. Character letters, also known as «sentencing letters,» are written by the accused`s friends and family members to persuade the judge to impose a lighter sentence. It is a pillar of federal criminal matters. Indeed, most federal judges limit the number of living witnesses, but receive and consider almost any number of letters of support or character letters. Write in the language you speak fluently, whether English or not. This will help you communicate your ideas accurately and clearly, rather than writing in a language you don`t feel entirely comfortable with.
The judge will have someone at your disposal to translate your letter. The letter should be a simple 1-page document outlining your experience with the recommended person and why you feel the need to provide this reference. Depending on who you are and how the court sees you in relation to the case, they can get the judge to use the letter in their final assessment. Another reason someone might write a letter to a judge is custody of a child. Family members and friends of the parent and child may feel compelled to share their experiences with the adult and why or why they would not make a suitable parent. Other reasons for the letter include an application for early release of an inmate or a recommendation regarding a person`s legal status. Although the style and content of a character reference differ according to the procedure, i.e. between a serious criminal complaint and a minor traffic offence, all character references are intended to present to the court the true personality of the accused. Drunk Driving (DUI) – If you need a reference for an impaired driving (DUI) incident, it may be best to have someone like an employer or close family status about how important you are to them. Also, ask them to write down how you are needed and that any jail time or licence suspension puts more weight on the shoulders of others. In Kentucky, sentences in criminal cases are determined by a judge. If you are convicted of a crime by a jury, or if you plead guilty to a crime, a judge will consider the facts of the case and your criminal record to determine the sentence.
One element that can often be useful in sentencing is a letter of character. In general, letters should be typed on standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Remember that the goal is to get the court to read your letter, and the easier you make it easier for them to read, the better. The only exception is if the letter was written by a child. In this case, a handwritten letter may be more powerful. A character letter is intended to show support for a defendant in criminal proceedings. These letters have the potential to influence the court and can even influence the final verdict in a criminal case. For this reason, character letters must be carefully designed to maximize their usefulness.
The reference must be correctly addressed to the recipient. For example, a case before the Magistrates Court must be addressed to the «presiding magistrate» and indicate the place of jurisdiction. The letter must begin with «Your Honour» and be dated and signed by the author of the reference. A character letter is a letter written on behalf of a criminal accused by someone who knows the defendant. In a character letter, the author tries to convince a judge to impose a minimum sentence on the accused by vouching for the good character of the accused. A good character letter (or better yet, a series of good character letters) can convince a judge that, despite this criminal conviction, the defendant is a valued member of the community who deserves leniency in sentencing. The conclusion should summarize the purpose of the letter and he or she should write his or her contact information (phone and email) in case the court wishes to pursue any of the information proposed in the letter. If you are a victim or writing on behalf of a victim, you can write about how the crime affected the victim physically, emotionally, or socially. Explain how the victim`s life and life around them has changed. Character letters can be effective in some criminal cases. A family member, friend, employer or other party writes a letter to the judge to lessen the sentence. In cases where character witnesses are not allowed or restricted, character letters may be the only way for a judge to learn more about an accused`s personality before sentencing.
Child custody – If you`re in the middle of a custody battle or a general family hearing, it`s wise to choose someone who has seen you with your children. In recent years, it has been more common for a psychiatrist to supervise children around parents and ask them to write a formal recommendation to the court. In a family case, a letter from a psychiatrist has enormous appeal when it comes to the court`s decision in favour of the best interests of the child. This is considered official correspondence, regardless of the circumstances that led you to write this letter. It is important to keep in mind that you may need to sign additional documents or even make a physical statement to the court about the authenticity of these letters. Therefore, certain requirements will have to be met. The first of these will be a positive and clear identification of the author. This task should be done in the upper-left corner of the first page.
Enter your full name, home address, city, state, and zip code. This address must appear as a postal address on an envelope. Note: Do not use a P.O. Box number, it must be a physical address. The recipient of this letter should know when the letter was written. If this letter is written for an accused awaiting conviction, this is particularly important. Enter the current date by writing the month, then entering the two-digit calendar day and the four-digit year. In general, it is a good idea to note the subject of this letter immediately in the title.
The lawyer representing the subject of this letter may have preferences in this regard, so be sure to contact them. In some cases, the format may be last name, first name, file number, while in other cases, it may be the file number first and still others simply the file number or name. In our example, we use the full name. If you`re asked to write a character letter for someone, it may be helpful to keep the following tips in mind when creating your letter: Being involved in a lawsuit is a serious event, and therefore, the tone of a character reference should reflect this by being honest and formal.