Sample Court Reference Letter For Character In Pennsylvania
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FAQ
I have always found applicant to be trustworthy, hard working and intelligent. When we worked on example, applicant showed good communication skills and I could rely on them to take the initiative and to stay calm under pressure.
The reference should not include the following: the referee's opinion about the appropriate penalty. any irrelevant information. a statement that the offence is 'out of character' if you have committed other offences in the past. any statement that the referee knows is false, or does not agree with.
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.
How to structure a character reference: Introduce yourself, state what your occupation is and any qualifications you hold. In what capacity do you know them the defendant? Tell the court that you're aware of the proceedings. Give some background surrounding your relationship with the defendant.
During sentencing, a judge will typically only allow a certain number of live witnesses to testify as to a defendant's character but will accept almost any number of letters. Of course, a character letter is only effective if it is well-written and helps the judge understand a fuller picture of the defendant.
Provide Verifiable Facts: Your character reference letter should include verifiable facts which demonstrate the good character of an individual in question – this could involve specific incidents, dates, locations or examples which demonstrate their honesty, integrity or positive contributions to society.
