What parents and witnesses need to know about character reference letters to the court for child custody. Includes a downloadable sample and template.Introduce yourself in the opening paragraph. Writing a character letter for a judge can be a daunting task. Here are nine essential tips for writing an effective sentencing letter. To Whom It May Concern: My name is Stephanie Song, and I am the sister of (name of defendant). 433 character reference letter templates you can download and print for free. Include specific examples of how the person has helped you or someone else, or how he or she has been a leader or an inspiration. I am writing this letter to offer a more complete picture of who_____ is as a person. In this introductory portion of the character letter the author should indicate who they are, how they know the accused, and how long they've known them.