HOW TO WRITE A CHARACTER REFERENCE FOR COURT – TRAFFIC OFFENCES
If a person is charged with a criminal or traffic offence, they may need to attend court to have their case heard. This
means that they will be the defendant in the case.
Although this can be daunting, there are some really important things that can be done to try and reduce any
sentence that the court may impose. For example, getting character references. They can make a significant
difference to the way the court decides the case.
What is a character reference?
A character reference is a letter that is written about the defendant by someone who knows them well (a referee). It
is written to the court and is used to give an idea of what kind of person they are and whether the offences are part
of their normal behaviour or conduct.
A character reference can be written by anyone who knows the defendant, for example:
An employer or work colleague.
A friend.
A family member.
A community member who can write about the defendant’s involvement in the community.
As a referee, it’s important that you know the defendant well. This means that you may have known them for many
years, or you may have had significant contact with them over a shorter period of time.
What to say in a character reference:
A character reference should help to paint a picture about the defendant’s unique personal circumstances. It should
be fairly short and be based on your knowledge of them. It should also provide examples of their character.
An effective character reference should:
Say who you are – describe your job and give any qualifications.
Say how long you have known the person and in what capacity (for example, “I have known John for 20
years. We have been close friends for most of that time”).
State the charge(s) against the defendant (the defendant will have pleaded guilty or been found guilty of
these charges).
Say that you are aware of what they have done.
Say whether the defendant has expressed remorse or has suffered psychologically as a result of the
offending. Set out what they have said or done that confirms these things.
Say whether you think their conduct was out of character and if so, why.
Detail any contributions the person has made to the community, for example charity or volunteer work.
Say whether the defendant was suffering any hardship at the time of the offending (financially, medically,
psychologically of otherwise) and if so, say whether the person has addressed those issues.