When you write a letter on behalf of a loved one, the heading should include the date, your name, address, phone number and email address. Skip down two lines and insert your subject line. If you are the inmate, your subject line should include your name, DOC number, and hearing date.
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Be clear in your intentions. When you write an incarcerated individual, it is important to be clear about your reasons for writing the letter. If you are looking for friendship or to offer support you should state this in your letter. You should also state how often you will be able to correspond to the prisoner.
Speak with the defendant's defense attorney. He can suggest character traits to emphasize relevant to the defendant's charges. Address the judge by name and title at the top of your letter. Give your name and provide the case number or case name. Explain your relationship to the defendant.
Give your final argument for why your loved one should be paroled. Describe the changes and improvements you have witnessed. If the inmate has a job waiting for them when they get out, let them know. Advise them of educational opportunities, and let them know all about the support network the inmate will have.
By writing letters to family, friends, or even strangers who are incarcerated, you provide these individuals with a link to the outside world and the knowledge that despite the choices they have made, there are still people who care about them and support them.
Provide specific examples of situations in which your life was enriched by the defendant or how he helped you. Emphasize why the defendant should be released or given the minimum sentence. Express your belief that the defendant will not commit more offenses upon release. Sign and date the letter.
A letter to an attorney should be written in a formal letter format with the attorney's name, law firm and address at the top near the date, addressed using a salutation and signed off with a closing such as "Very Truly Yours" or "Sincerely."
What is the Goal of a Character Letter? The goal of a character letter is to cast the defendant in the most favorable light possible. A character letter to a judge should establish your credibility, paint a full picture of the defendant and be respectful, among other things.
Content of the referenceIntroduce yourself. State what your occupation is and any qualifications you hold.Outline your relationship with the person who is the subject of the legal proceedings. DO. ... Acknowledge the charges that have been brought against the person. DO. ... State your opinion of the person's general character. DO.
Address an attorney as "Mr." or "Ms." in most contexts. In the salutation for a letter or email, address an attorney the same way you would any other respected professional- using "Mr." or "Ms." followed by their surname. Generally, this is the best way to address an attorney if you've never spoken to them before.
Use a standard font like Times New Roman and black ink to make sure your letter is legible. Address the other party by name and use a courtesy title, Mr., Mrs. or Ms. If your letter is to a company or you don't know who will read it, begin the letter with "To Whom it May Concern" or "Dear Sir or Madam."
Sample Format for a Character LetterFirst Paragraph: Explain who you are. ... Second Paragraph: Explain why you are writing the letter. ... Third Paragraph: Thank the court, and make your “ask.” State that you are available to confirm the facts in this letter as necessary.
Writing a letter to the judge in a legal case can indeed influence the outcome of a case. The letter can offer the judge background information that will help him or her make the best possible decision and, in some cases, such letters can help victims and other affected parties make their voices heard.
Here are five elements all personal reference letters should include:Start by explaining your relationship to the candidate. ... Include long you've known the candidate. ... Add positive personal qualities with specific examples. ... Close with a statement of recommendation. ... Offer your contact information.
Good Moral Character Friend Immigration Reference Letter is a document that is provided to the immigration by the sender which is a friend of the applicant in order to verify his or her identity, attitude, behavior, and history.
What should I include in a character reference?Your relationship with the candidate.How long you've known them.Information and examples of their personality and work ethic.Your contact details.
Good character reference letters help the judge understand 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.
To write an appropriate letter to someone in jail or prison, start by checking the prison website for regulations regarding what a prisoner can receive in the mail. As a general rule, you should avoid writing about things like weapons, drugs, or violence.
Generally, prisons have specific rules regarding what a prisoner can receive in the mail. Before sending a letter to a prisoner, go online and see whether the prison has a website.
If you know someone in prison, writing that person a letter can help the prisoner to feel connected and supported by family members and friends. It is important to let the person in prison know how often you can write letters. This allows the incarcerated individual to maintain his or her expectations and allows you to manage your busy life.
Often, letters are the main way that a child can communicate with an incarcerated parent. Writing to a parent can help the child express his or her feelings, feel connected to an incarcerated parent or even lay the groundwork for a future relationship with the parent.
Ask open-ended questions. Writing letters may be one of the only ways that an incarcerated individual can talk about how he or she is managing in prison. In order to facilitate an open dialogue and let the person know that you are interested in hearing about his or her life, ask open-ended questions. The incarcerated person may or may not choose to respond to the questions. However, by asking the questions you are letting the person know that you are willing to listen. Some questions that you can ask in your letter may include:
You can find a prison website by searching the internet for the name of the prison and the words: send mail to a prisoner.
If your incarcerated partner is reading a particular book or watching a particular show, read or watch the same thing and discuss it in your letter. This provides you with a common interest while your partner is incarcerated.
The most convenient and best way to save the most money is with a local calling service like FedPhoneLine. With a FedPhoneLine number you can easily save money on expensive prison/jail phone calls. Click here for more details.
Writing letters is one of the most popular ways to keep in touch with incarcerated individuals. This blog will outline the general rules of sending letters to correctional facilities.
Contacting Correctional Institutions around your local area seems to be the best way to locate your incarcerated friend/loved one.
When addressing the envelope make sure you have your friend/loved one’s correct name on the envelope. Below the name, enter the correct address for the institution, click here for Institutional addresses.
Usually letters are not read, however there are circumstances when the warden (or institutional head) may authorize intercepting communications. There are many reasons a letter may be returned to the sender including: Anything written in code. Drugs. Tobacco and all related products (ie., pipes, lighters, matches, etc.)
Federal: According to CSC: For privacy reasons, CSC will not disclose the location of an inmate. If you do not know which penitentiary an inmate is located in, you may send your letter to one of our regional headquarters. They will then attempt to forward on the mail.
Express your belief that the defendant will not commit more offenses upon release. Sign and date the letter. Make at least five copies of the letter and give copies to the defense and prosecution as needed. Keep one for yourself. References.
Address the judge by name and title at the top of your letter.
He can suggest character traits to emphasize relevant to the defendant's charges. Address the judge by name and title at the top of your letter. Give your name and provide the case number or case name. Explain your relationship to the defendant.
A well-written letter speaking highly of the defendant can assist in persuading a judge to minimize a sentence or to release the defendant. The writing of this letter should be done in a precise and professional manner. Speak with the defendant's defense attorney. He can suggest character traits to emphasize relevant to the defendant's charges.
Along with the personal examples discussed above, the letter should include that the person has expressed remorse for their actions or suffered anxiety due to being charged with a crime. Instead of being generic, write how you observed or know these statements to be true. As an example, “he talks about how sorry he is for what happened every time I see him.” If you are aware of any personal circumstances or hardships that may have contributed to the commission of the crime, you should include this information in the letter. However, avoid being sensational or exaggerating. Be careful not to shift the blame to something or someone else. You can include the defendant’s problems or hardships, but do not be melodramatic or paint the defendant as the victim. The court will have an adverse reaction to any attempt to shift the blame.
Letters that give examples and demonstrate commendable character traits will be more persuasive. Use examples, illustrations, and stories from your relationship to help the sentencing judge learn about the “real” person. 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. Although brevity is important, enough details must be provided to help the judge appreciate the defendant’s good character traits.
Writing a persuasive character letter for sentencing where a defendant pleaded not guilty and was convicted at trial is challenging. It is often best to avoid reference to the charges and the victim (if there is one) when the defendant maintains a claim of innocence. Judges loathe attacks on victims following a trial.
A great character letter for sentencing is often beneficial when someone is sentenced for a misdemeanor or felony offense. Letters from people who know or work with the defendant can carry a substantial amount of weight with the judge determining the sentence. A letter will stand out if the author knows the defendant and the letter is credible and personal. The most influential letters will be concise, typed, and dated. Additionally, a character letter must be signed and contain the author’s address and phone number or email address. If there is no name or contact information, the origins of the letter will be questionable.
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. If the letter is from a professional or work associate, it should be on letterhead, if possible. The character letter for sentencing should include the author’s name, address, and telephone number. It should be no longer than one page and should be signed. When writing your letter, be sure to include how long you’ve known the defendant, when you met, and the nature of the relationship. Also, include that you are aware they are convicted of the specific crime. If you do not mention that you are aware of the offense, it will look as though the defendant hid it from you and is not taking responsibility. You want the judge to know that you are writing the letter and supporting the defendant, even knowing what they have done.
A letter will stand out if the author knows the defendant and the letter is credible and personal. The most influential letters will be concise, typed, and dated. Additionally, a character letter must be signed and contain the author’s address and phone number or email address. If there is no name or contact information, ...
The defense lawyer will provide the letters to the court in the appropriate and best way. For example, providing a letter the day before the sentencing hearing or on the day of the court hearing is not helpful and will probably mean that your letter will not be read or, worse, it will irritate the judge.
Everyone in an inmate’s life who has anything positive to say about them can write a parole support letter . This includes family members, friends, former co-workers, and bosses. Teachers, counselors, mentors, and coaches are also great sources for support letters.
In the second paragraph, you can go into detail about your relationship with the inmate. You can discuss positive experiences you’ve had with them, and share their positive traits that you’ve witnessed. You can even include examples.
In the third paragraph, tell the parole board that your inmate is a good person, and you are confident they are not a threat to re-offend. Show your support for your loved one, and explain how you and others in your community are prepared to help.
One of the biggest concerns the parole board will have is that the inmate will return to their old life with their old circle of friends and influences. Telling them that the inmate has a supportive group in their corner can help address this concern.
However, if your incarcerated loved one has the chance for parole, you will get the opportunity to speak up and help them regain their freedom. When an inmate goes in front of the parole board, there are a lot of factors to consider. One thing that can have a big influence is letters of support from people on the outside.
As you write your letter, each line should be single-spaced. There should also be a blank line between paragraphs. There is no need to indent your paragraphs, just start them from the left side of the page. When your letter is finished, close it with “Sincerely” followed by your name typed four lines below.
When someone is paroled, it means they are technically still in the custody of the state, but they are serving the remainder of their sentence outside of prison walls.
The rules vary from institution to institution. In general, you shouldn’t include: 1 Any decorations (e.g. stickers) 2 Any perfume on the letter or envelope 3 Any items with your letter, apart from a photo (check for size restrictions on the photo) 4 Anything sexually explicit – either in writing or as a photo or drawing 5 Anything related to a criminal offense 6 Anything racist or homophobic
This should be included on the envelope and at the top of your letter itself. To find their inmate ID number, you can simply run an online search.
Ask open-ended questions, like “How are things going?”, “How are you spending your time?” or “Is there anything I can send for you?” Sending money is almost certain to be helpful.
The rules vary from institution to institution. In general, you shouldn’t include: The letter will be examined by prison officials before it’s passed on to the inmate. Make sure you check the specific rules for the jail or prison where your friend is being held, to ensure you’re sticking to those.
You can do this by county, if you’re not sure what institution they’re in – for instance, you could search for prisoners in Utah with the same first name and last name as your friend . If you know where your friend has been incarcerated, you can search that specific institution.
Writing to a friend in prison might take a little time – but it will mean a huge amount to your friend.
There’s no “right” or “wrong” about how to write a letter to an inmate. You can type the letter on a computer and print it, or you can handwrite it, whichever you prefer.
Letters to jail are inspected by prison staff before they make their way to an inmate’s hands. If they find any mention of escapes, drugs, or sneaking in contraband (even jokingly), your boyfriend could find himself in hot waters.
With nothing better to do, prisoners are in great need of mental stimulation. Play a game in your letters. You can write a few lines which he needs to complete or write a puzzle which he needs to solve. Just make sure it won’t the warden won’t mistake it for a coded message or it won’t ever reach him.
You might even be asked to pay for compensation to the victim. In Florida, jail time for assaulting an officer can range from six months to as long as thirty years.
Guns are common denominators though some states allow certain types of firearms. Felony cases for possession of illegal weapons are punishable of up to 10 years in jail along with steep penalties.
Inmates like to feel special too. Sending him a personalized card on his birthday or special occasions can make them feel that they’re not forgotten.
US Federal law provides that anyone caught bribing a public official including jail officers shall be fined and or imprisoned for not more than two years.
You can often see it in Hollywood movies: a jail official accepts money in return for a “favor.” In real life, this happens a lot too. But that doesn’t mean you should do it. Not all officers would happily take your cash and turn a blind eye. To others, it can be construed as an insult and will instead put you in handcuffs.