For a person appearing before the courts, a character reference is able to provide the magistrate with a unique and personal character perspective on the accused.
If you have been asked to write a character reference for someone you know who is appearing before the court, we have prepared a handy guide to assist you.
A character reference may be written by anyone who knows you (the defendant) well including:
- A current or ex- employer
- An old family friend
- A family member (in which case the relationship should be disclosed)
- A priest or other religious or social leader
- A teacher or guidance councillor
You might have watched plenty of tv, but what happens in real life when you plead guilty to a charge?
In this article, we walk you through all the steps of a guilty plea including what happens before, at and after sentencing as well as recording a conviction and possible sentencing outcomes.