A character reference is a note or letter that validates the great character of an individual tangled in a legal process. It’s inscribed by the person who knows the suspect well and is eager to swear for her/him.
When writing down a character reference for court proceedings, one should take care of the content and tone of the reference. It’s vital to keep the reference specific and clear to enable the judge, registrar or magistrate to consider the references properly.
Depending on the legal proceedings, the content and style of the character references will differ greatly. Since, this means the character reference for small road traffic offences differs from a serious criminal offence.
When one has decided to write a character reference for court
According to experienced defence lawyers, there are certain things one must not include when creating a Character Reference. These are:
The professional and skilled criminal lawyer Perth says that writing a “Character Reference” is not that difficult.
One doesn’t have to follow a set of rules to create the reference, but there are some general guidelines that do apply. Here are some points that he/she must follow to write a Character Reference:
Individuals must utilize letterheads. When a person has their official letterhead because they operate a business or work at the organization, they can place the reference on the letterhead if they are allowed to do so. However, letterheads provide courts with a proper understanding of the writer, who he/she is and what position they hold in the community.
Typing the letter instead of writing it will make it easier for the court to understand and read without much difficulty.
The writer must address the letter to the right person. Since, it will inform the judge or the magistrate that the writer knows it’s not a general reference and is pointed towards the court directly.
When the legal matter occurs at the “Magistrate’s Court”, the letter should be addressed to the “Sentencing Magistrate”. But if it’s at the district court, the letter should be addressed to the “Sentencing Judge”.
Other references towards the judge or magistrate must read “Your Lordship” or “Your Honor”.
One must state that he/she is aware of all the charges and also the facts on the offence. But this should not point towards specific allegations. One can state something like this:
“I am aware that Mr./Ms XYZ is charged for breaking the traffic rules“. The judge will then know that the writer has knowledge about the reference and what it’s for. No need to tender a reference that doesn’t do this.
If the suspect or accused individual has a similar type of offence, the writer should state that he/she is aware of it. However, the writer must also state if the accused person has taken any steps to lessen the chances of the offence taking place and whether.
If the writer believes that the offence was an incident that might take place again, then he/she should mention it in the reference.
Character references must contain reliable and correct information about the person and their address. The writer is to mention all the necessary information about the person, including their relationship, the person’s offence, etc.
Therefore, it’s crucial to gain some knowledge on how to write such a reference from the criminal defence lawyer. They can provide some unique advice, tips and ideas on how to properly write the letter without making any errors. associate with solicitors from Criminal Defence Lawyers Perth WA for the best support.