Do not send the letters directly to the judge, the court, the prosecutor, or anyone else. Send the letters ONLY TO THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY. You want the judge to know that you are writing the letter and supporting the defendant, even knowing what they have done. If you do not mention that you are aware of the offense, it will look like the defendant hid it from you and is not taking responsibility. When writing your letter, include the following:Īlso, include that you are aware of the conviction. It should be no longer than one page and should be signed. The character letter for sentencing should include the author’s name, address, and telephone number. A letter from a professional or work associate should be on company letterhead. If you write a character or sentencing letter to a Court, address the letter to “The Honorable John Smith” or “Judge Smith.” The body of the letter should start with “Dear Judge Smith.” You should type the letter if possible. Make the Character Letter Attractive, Respectful, and Easy to Read Although brevity is essential, someone writing a character letter must provide sufficient details to help the judge or prosecutor appreciate the defendant’s good character traits. For example, “She volunteers her time with underprivileged children teaching them to read,” or “A few years ago, I recall she bought a sandwich for a child in line at McDonald’s that didn’t have enough money to pay his bill.” These are examples of things that can bring the person you are writing about to life and impact the sentencing Court. Use examples, illustrations, and stories from your relationship to help the sentencing judge learn about the “real” person. Letters that give examples and demonstrate commendable character traits will be more persuasive. Anyone can say someone has great qualities, but one or two brief examples are necessary to paint a credible picture. General comments like “hard-working, energetic, loyal, or generous” carry little impact if not backed up by objective facts. Make the Person’s Character Come to Life with Personal Examples The letter’s authenticity will be questionable if no name or contact information exists. A character letter must also be signed and contain the author’s address and phone number or email address. The most influential letters will be concise, typed, and dated. A letter will stand out if the author knows the defendant and the letter is credible and personal. Letters from people who know or work with the defendant can carry substantial weight with the judge determining the sentence. Writing a Persuasive Character Letter or Sentencing RecommendationĪ great character letter for sentencing is often beneficial when someone faces sentencing for a misdemeanor or felony offense. A Few Steps to Writing a Great Character or Support Letter Writing a great character letter for sentencing or supporting a plea bargain request is easy if you follow a few simple rules.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |