[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-279343-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-279343-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","crafting-an-effective-letter-of-reference-for-an-individual-with-a-conviction-record-reference-letter-template","Crafting an Effective Letter of Reference for an Individual with a Conviction Record - Reference Letter Template","","A structured reference-letter guide for writing persuasive evidence of rehabilitation for job, licensing, clearance, record sealing, or rehabilitation certificates. The template helps the writer explain how they know the candidate, summarize independent work or trusted experiences, and address concerns by describing successful performance despite prior convictions. It includes clear letter sections, bracketed placeholders for customization, guidance on letterhead usage, and sending instructions for New York residents, with the publication disclaimer and copyright notice.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/","Letters",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/crafting-an-effective-letter-of-reference-for-an-individual-with-a-conviction-record-reference-letter-template/279343/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/crafting-an-effective-letter-of-reference-for-an-individual-with-a-conviction-record-reference-letter-template/279343.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Jiven","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-18","2026-09-16",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",7,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the purpose of a reference letter when the candidate has a conviction record?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"The letter provides evidence of rehabilitation by highlighting positive change and showing the candidate’s strengths. It aims to ensure the decisionmaker understands the conviction record should not block the requested opportunity.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Who can write the reference letter and what should they describe?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The reference can be written by someone who supervised or taught the candidate, such as an employer, teacher, or internship/volunteer supervisor. The writer should explain their relationship, describe duties the candidate completed successfully, and—if applicable—why they hired or worked with the candidate despite the conviction.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How should the letter address the conviction(s) without defining the candidate?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The template suggests explaining the writer’s knowledge of the conviction and providing examples of strong performance in work, studies, or trusted, independent responsibilities. It also recommends summarizing top qualities or affirming willingness to hire again.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},279343,1789519198,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,118,123],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":115,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":124,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":126},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":128},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":129,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":22,"category_id":115,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":136,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":80,"read_time":22},1099513958607,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/100002390cf8733938c?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1778829742770036399","Crafting an Effective Letter of Reference  \nfor an Individual with a Conviction Record  \nWhen an individual with a conviction record is applying for a job, license, clearance to work, record sealing, or certificate of rehabilitation, they are often asked to present “evidence of rehabilitation.” This means documentation – like reference letters – highlighting positive change in a candidate’s life since their arrest or conviction. The goal is to show the decisionmaker that the candidate has many strengths, that their conviction record does not define them, and that the conviction(s) should not be a barrier to them obtaining the job, license, clearance, record sealing, or certificate.  \nThis template can be used by someone writing a reference (e.g., employer, teacher, internship/volunteer supervisor, etc.) to describe their experience with the candidate in a way that addresses concerns that others may have about the candidate’s conviction(s) . The template provides an outline for writing your letter, with suggestions of what to emphasize and how to do so.  \nThe purpose of the letter is to:  \n• Explain how you know the candidate;  \n• Convey that the candidate has had a job, or had volunteer, educational, or other experiences where they worked independently, were trusted, and performed outstandingly; and  \n• State what makes the individual a strong candidate for the opportunity.  \nWrite the letter on company letterhead if you work for the entity where you supervised or taught the candidate.  \nRemember to change any text within brackets to fit the specific candidate.  \nDon’t forget to delete the suggested language and brackets before sending the letter!  \nFor help with letters about New York residents, feel free to call the Legal Action Center.  \nA staff member may be available to review the letter and make suggestions.  \nCall [212-243-1313 Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm or visit us anytime at ](212-243-1313 Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm or visit us anytime at www.lac.org)[www.lac.org](212-243-1313 Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm or visit us anytime at www.lac.org).  \nThank you to the New York City Council for funding this publication.  \n© 2021 Legal Action Center  \nThis document is for information only. It does not constitute legal advice.  \n[Date]  \n[Recipient Name]  \n[Recipient Address/Email]  \n[Dear Recipient Name/To Whom It May Concern]:  \nI am writing a reference for [name of candidate] in regard to their application for [fill in application type here – e.g., security guard; social worker license; sealing their record] .  \n[Provide a brief overview of your relationship with candidate. Explain where you know them from and for how long.]  \n[Describe the work the candidate was doing when you knew them. Give details about the duties the candidate had and explain that they completed those duties successfully. If you knew them inan educational setting, describe the nature of the program. For a job or employment license application, it helps to emphasize duties the individual has successfully completed that will also be required in the new job or under a license.]  \n[If applicable, explain that you knew about the conviction and hired/worked with the candidate anyway and describe why. Provide examples that show the candidate has performed well in work or studies that required them to interact with others, required initiative, where they were independently responsible, where they were unsupervised and still did the work with no issues, or where they had gained a level of trust to be given the assignment. You don’t need to have examples of each of these but describing at least one or two will help the reader see more than the candidate’s conviction(s) .]  \n[Explain that given your relationship to the candidate, you believe they are an excellent candidate. Consider summarizing their top three qualities, or saying that you would hire them again, or describing the dedication and work that they have put into moving past their conviction and creating po","cbCaibuEEakUk0SP","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibuEEakUk0SP","pdf",178769,"English","# Crafting an Effective Letter of Reference\n## Purpose and expected outcomes\n## Who the reference can be for\n## Letter structure and key content to include\n## Customization and sending guidance","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of a reference letter when the candidate has a conviction record?\",\"answer\":\"The letter provides evidence of rehabilitation by highlighting positive change and showing the candidate’s strengths. It aims to ensure the decisionmaker understands the conviction record should not block the requested opportunity.\"},{\"question\":\"Who can write the reference letter and what should they describe?\",\"answer\":\"The reference can be written by someone who supervised or taught the candidate, such as an employer, teacher, or internship/volunteer supervisor. The writer should explain their relationship, describe duties the candidate completed successfully, and—if applicable—why they hired or worked with the candidate despite the conviction.\"},{\"question\":\"How should the letter address the conviction(s) without defining the candidate?\",\"answer\":\"The template suggests explaining the writer’s knowledge of the conviction and providing examples of strong performance in work, studies, or trusted, independent responsibilities. It also recommends summarizing top qualities or affirming willingness to hire again.\"}]","Crafting an Effective Letter of Reference for an Individual with a Conviction Record - Reference Letter Template | PDF"]