How to Write a Character Reference for Federal Court for a Family Member

Thinking through an effective sentencing strategy includes thoughts well-nigh the character reference messages. Every defendant has an opportunity to submit graphic symbol reference letters that may make an impression on the judge. Just what makes a proficient graphic symbol reference letter of the alphabet for the court?

In the fall of 2016, I interviewed Estimate Mark Bennett and he spoke specifically about Character Reference Letters. Gauge Bennett said that he has read somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 character reference letters. He based his guess on the fact that he has sentenced more than 4,000 people. On boilerplate, Judge Bennett said that defendants submit between seven and nine character reference letters. Some defendants, nevertheless, become overboard. He spoke about ane defendant who submitted 100 grapheme reference letters.

Elsewhere, I wrote well-nigh the study on allocution that Gauge Bennett orchestrated. In the findings published in the Alabama Law Journal that described Judges' Views on Prelection in Sentencing, he spoke well-nigh what he learned from a survey he distributed to more than than 900 federal judges. All of them, it would seem, consider character reference letters as a useful resource when deliberating over the appropriate judgement.

Bad Character Reference Letters

Before thinking well-nigh a strategy on character reference letters, I encourage readers to watch the excerpt from the interview I conducted with Judge Bennett. He tells a story about the married woman of a defendant who sent out a template on ideal graphic symbol reference letters. Many of the people that received the template followed it verbatim. Equally a consequence, the judge received scores of grapheme reference letters that had the same phrasing. He dismissed those letters as being insincere, which did non help the defendant get the event he desired.

Judges likewise decline an amateurish strategy that many defendants endeavor: they seek character reference letters from people of loftier status. Withal Judge Bennett said that he doesn't pay whatsoever attention to letters from "senators" or and so forth unless there is truth. All as well often, he said, people of high stature may write character reference letters out of a sense of obligation, but not because they know anything almost the defendant.

The worst grapheme reference letters imply an appropriate sentence length. Judges do not desire anyone to tell them how to exercise their jobs. Many judges take resisted the federal sentencing guidelines because they believed that Congress should non influence a sentence length, because members of Congress do not know the facts virtually an private defendant. Besides, judges exercise non want friends and family members telling him well-nigh an appropriate sentence. Those people do not know all of the facts of the instance, the law, or what constitutes an advisable sentence.

When thinking virtually graphic symbol reference letters, start from the premise of what to avoid:

• Submitting more than letters than necessary does not always help.
• Letters from high-status people fail unless writer truly speaks about the accused's character.
• Form or template letters may practice more harm than good.
• Never submit character reference letters that tell the judge how to exercise his or her job, past recommending an appropriate judgement.

All-time Grapheme Reference Letters

When character reference letters avert the flaws above, they get a long ways toward improving the outcomes for a accused at sentencing. Equally Estimate Bennett said, he wants to hear nearly the defendant's character. He would rather hear from a janitor or a street sweeper who speaks about knowing the defendant for 10 years. That person should write about what he has seen, or what he knows about the defendant. There isn't whatever demand to write about the crime, and there isn't whatever need to write most the sentence.

Proficient grapheme reference letters aid the judge sympathize the defendant as an individual. Ideally, the writer should express how he or she knows the defendant. If the writer has known the defendant for decades, the writer may share personal stories or experiences. For example, the writer may recall when he saw the accused tutoring others so they could accelerate their career. Another example of good graphic symbol may reveal how the defendant volunteered with vulnerable populations, like the elderly or at-take a chance children. Whatever personal examples or experiences with the accused can reveal that the writer truly knows most the accused's character. Such insight may influence the approximate to meet the accused differently from what the prosecution is presenting.

The length of the letter isn't as relevant as providing crucial details about the graphic symbol and integrity of the defendant. Good character reference letters may be every bit short as a few paragraphs, or they may span a few pages. Most chiefly, they should exist personal, and they should non be construed as being dictated or orchestrated by the defendant'southward advocacy grouping.

With a pledge to assist more defendants who struggle with character reference messages, we encourage them to draft a personal letter to friends and family members. Explain how a graphic symbol-reference letter should be in the writer's own words and non follow any sort of template. In fact, explain that a template tin can backlash. A sample asking for character reference letters may follow this sample:

Write on Your letterhead

Love Friends and Family unit:

As you lot know, I'm going through some challenging times. I'm about to be sentenced for a federal offense. The judge that volition determine the appropriate sentence doesn't know anything about my personal life. He only knows that I've been convicted of a federal crime.

The sentencing procedure isn't the fourth dimension to speak any more about my guilt or innocence. I am reaching out to you for aid because I need the approximate to know me as a human existence. For that reason, I'm asking you to write a character reference letter.

If yous choose to write a grapheme reference alphabetic character, please know that yous can help me most if limit your thoughts to what you know near me as an private. The sentencing procedure is a formal proceeding, and federal judges have their responsibilities very seriously. If you'd like to acquire more than about it, please watch this 3-infinitesimal video where a federal judge speaks virtually character reference letters:

Judge Bennett Speaks Virtually Character Reference Letters:

Judge Bennett advised that character reference letters should not indicate an appropriate sentence length, simply they should reveal how long the author has known the defendant, and what the writer knows about the accused'due south character. The alphabetic character should besides reveal that I have been honest nearly my complications with the criminal justice organisation. Finally, the letter may assistance me more if you pledge to remain with me every bit a source of back up even though I am facing these challenges ahead.

In your ain words, I'k hopeful that you will write about our history, well-nigh how you know I strive to live as a practiced person, well-nigh annihilation adept you've seen in my graphic symbol.

Please address your letter to (name of your judge), simply please transport your letter to me or my defense attorney at the post-obit address: (insert accost where you lot want letter sent).

Thanks very much for your help. I will work hard to prove worthy of your back up.

Sincerely,

(your name)

Finally, against everything we've mentioned above, I'm providing content from an fantabulous character reference letter that proved influential at sentencing for a customer we represented in our sentence-mitigation piece of work. We suggest that yous practise your all-time to submit between 8 and 12 such letters with your sentencing parcel.

Letterhead of the writer

Date

The Honorable (Approximate's total name)

Usa Commune Court Guess

Name of District Court

Street Accost of Commune Courtroom

City, State, Zero

Regarding: U.Southward. v. (Your Final Proper noun)

Dear Judge (approximate's last proper name):

I have represented Tom Smith since 1995 and I write this character reference letter to limited my support. I have advised Tom that, every bit his attorney, our communications are protected from disclosure. All the same Tom has asked that I be open up virtually his troubles and he has waived the chaser-client privilege for this purpose.

I accept done legal work on behalf of Tom for the past 21 years. Nosotros've worked together in a diversity of areas related to his business ventures and his estate planning. I first started representing Tom soon later on he relocated to Newport Embankment from New York. Throughout this continuous (and continuing) attorney-client relationship, I take not only developed a great respect for Tom as a man of affairs, as an employer, merely besides as a human being existence. I consider Tom a close personal friend.

Tom discussed his troubles with me almost immediately after he became aware of the criminal investigation. I tried to help him secure competent counsel, every bit I practice not exercise criminal constabulary. From the commencement, Tom expressed groovy remorse for his action. He showed genuine regret non but for the criminal or ceremonious liabilities he faced, but for the wrong to which he contributed.

Tom confided in me that he had a sincere understanding that his actions were immoral and wrong. In our many conversations about his troubles, he has never once tried to defend, minimize, or explain away his activities. Nor did he ever try to shift moral blame on others. As surprised as I was that Tom had engaged in behavior that was completely out of grapheme for the man I knew him to exist, the ane who I believe was more surprised than me was Tom himself. Tom knew he was above such behavior and was, and remains, ashamed that he had fallen and so far below his own standards for himself.

Tom is a man that frequently volunteers and strives to contribute to our customs. I am forever grateful to Tom for inviting me to accompany him one Saturday for an afternoon of fun. He didn't tell me his plans or where we were going, so I was somewhat surprised to drive into a community center in Santa Ana; I expected that we would be enjoying his box seats at a professional baseball game.

When I asked Tom what we were doing in Santa Ana, he told me that we would spend the day education homeless people how to ready for job interviews. Next, we saturday at a table for six hours, counseling people who wanted to transition into the labor market. While Tom offered guidance from the perspective of a successful employer, I sabbatum in awe of his ability to inspire and guide people, offering whatever insight I could. By the end of the solar day, Tom gave his direct contact information to 4 people that he pledged to hire. I walked away from that twenty-four hour period, grateful for the experience. Tom told me that he not but funded the program anonymously, but that he spent ane twenty-four hours each month volunteering his time.

Tom is a good person. Since I've known him for decades, I truly believe his wrongful deportment stand for an aberration that he volition never echo. He has demonstrated honesty, integrity, and fairness in more than than 100 transactions in which I have been direct involved. Tom is a loving male parent, grandfather, and conscientious citizen.

Thank y'all, Your Honour, for taking these thoughts into consideration as you lot deliberate on the advisable sentence. I stand set up to offer further support to Tom as he may require.

Respectfully,

Name and signature

Notice that the sample letter higher up is very personal. It reveals how the writer knows Tom. The letter shows that Tom was truthful about his bug with the criminal justice organization, suggesting that he truly learned from the experience. The writer does not suggest a sentence to the judge, merely focused exclusively on what he knew about Tom's personal graphic symbol, and revealing a story. It'due south clearly not a form alphabetic character, simply a heartfelt alphabetic character that expresses Tom'due south skillful graphic symbol.

Consider e this example of excellence in your quest to find character reference letters that tin assistance your cause.

If you have resource for one-on-1 assistance, call or text me at 415-419-1728 / email:[electronic mail protected]

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Source: https://prisonprofessors.com/character-reference-letters-influence-sentencing/

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