This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
As the referee, outline your name, age, occupation and how you know the person you are writing this letter about (the offender). Express how long you have known the offender for, and how you got to know him/her. Briefly outline how often you and him/her contact or communicate with each other.
Tip Three: Avoid Undermining the Case It is often tempting for a person writing a character letter to discuss how the defendant isn't really guilty, how this “isn't like him,” how the defendant only pleaded guilty to the crime to get a better sentence, or even how the jury got it wrong.
Tip Three: Avoid Undermining the Case It is often tempting for a person writing a character letter to discuss how the defendant isn't really guilty, how this “isn't like him,” how the defendant only pleaded guilty to the crime to get a better sentence, or even how the jury got it wrong.
Contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for support from a criminal defense attorney. Start with a Clear Introduction. Introduce Yourself and Establish Credibility. Provide Reasons for Leniency. Tell a Story or Give Specific Examples. Provide Your Contact Information. Not the Same as a Motion to Modify a Sentence.
Not all courts will accept a letter. Instead, the court might grant a continuance over the phone, or the court could require that you have a representative appear before the judge in your place.
Treat the judge's staff with impeccable courtesy. Be prompt. Be prepared and organized. Nothing irritates a judge as much as a lawyer fumbling for papers. Speak loudly and clearly. Respect any time limits set by the judge. Answer a judge's question directly. Don't evade. If you don't know an answer, say so.
Here are five things all defendants will want to avoid saying to a criminal judge: 'I Did It. ' ... 'They Didn't Tell Me...' ... Expletives. Lies, Lies, Lies. 'I Will Represent Myself.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness, respect, and fairness throughout my trial. I was convicted of shoplifting, and I plan to own up to my actions and make amends for my mistakes. While I can't go back in time and reverse what I did, you can rest assured that this will never happen again.
For individuals writing character letters, the goal should be to first establish your credibility as a reference for the defendant. Next, the letter should describe the defendant, in order to help the judge better understand him or her beyond the offense committed.