[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-279690-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-279690-en":126},{"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","references-for-court-court-sentencing-reference-guidance","References for Court - Court Sentencing Reference Guidance","","Guidance on writing and using court references for people facing sentencing for a criminal offence. Explains what a reference is, who can provide one, and how references can support character and sentencing outcomes, including applications for a Spent Conviction Order. Details practical requirements for content and format—addressing the Presiding Magistrate or Judge, keeping the letter accurate, current, signed, and tailored to the specific court appearance—while warning against misleading information or discussing legal issues, blame, excuses, or specific penalties.",{"@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/references-for-court-court-sentencing-reference-guidance/279690/",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/references-for-court-court-sentencing-reference-guidance/279690.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Berry Peter","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-25","2026-09-16",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",14,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is a court reference and what kinds of information can it include?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"A court reference is a written document, usually a letter, that helps the court know more about you. It may cover character, work, and specific life aspects such as medical treatment or disability.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Who can provide a reference for court, and whose references are generally more helpful?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"A reference may be provided by anyone, but it is better if it comes from a respected person in the community or someone who knows you well or has specific relevant knowledge.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What should a reference letter include, and what should it avoid?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"A reference should be addressed to the Presiding Magistrate/Judge, be typed or neatly handwritten, dated and signed, explain who is writing and how they know you, and be written for that court appearance. It should not comment on legal issues, suggest guilt, make excuses, blame others, or recommend a specific penalty.","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},279690,1790179527,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,98,103,108,113,117,122],{"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":55,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":95,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":97},"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":99,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":100,"show_sort_weight":101,"slug":102},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":104,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":105,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":107},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":109,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":110,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":114,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":115,"slug":116},18,30,"letters",{"id":118,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":119,"show_sort_weight":120,"slug":121},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":123,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":125},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":127},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":128,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":22,"category_id":114,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":33,"language":135,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":139,"read_time":26},1374402524268,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","References for court  \nThis information will help you if you are going to court for a criminal charge and you think the court should know more about you when it sentences you (gives you a penalty) .  \nIt will help you get appropriate references from people who know you, to give to the court.  \nWhat is a reference?  \nA reference for court is a written document, usually a letter, that helps the court know more about you. A reference may be about your character, your work or about a particular aspect of your life, such as medical treatment you are receiving, or a disability you live with.  \nReferences are helpful when you are being sentenced for a criminal offence. They can make a big difference to the sentence (penalty) the court gives you and can be important if you are applying for a Spent Conviction Order.  \nWho should provide a reference?  \nA reference may be provided by anyone. However, it is better if it comes from someone who is respected in the community and has known you for some time, or who knows something particular about you.  \nA reference might be from:  \n• a long-time family friend or neighbour  \n• a former teacher  \n• a past or present employer  \n• a person of special standing in the community  \n• your family doctor  \n• a leader from your religious group  \n• an official of a sporting or social club you are involved in  \n• a person treating you, caring for you or helping you manage your health and wellbeing.  \nReferences from family and friends may not be as useful as references from people who are more independent from you. However, sometimes family  \nand friends know important information about you and they are the best people to give this information to the court. For example, a family member may be able to tell the court about the particular difficulties that you, and perhaps others in the family, are facing. They may be able to point to something that gives hope about your future and the potential for you to stay out of trouble.  \nWhat should be in a reference?  \nA reference should:  \n• be addressed to the Presiding Magistrate (or Presiding Judge if you are in the District or Supreme Court)  \n• be typed or neatly handwritten  \n• be kept to one page if possible  \n• be written recently and be dated and signed  \n• say who is writing the reference and how they know you  \n• say that the writer is aware of the reason you are in court  \n• be written specifically for your court appearance (a reference written for another purpose, such as a job application, is not as useful) .  \nA refernce must be true and accurate. It is a serious criminal offence for a referee to mislead the court or for you to encourage them to mislead the court.  \nThe reference should not:  \n• comment on legal issues, such as a possible defence  \n• give an opinion about whether you committed or intended to commit the offence  \n• make excuses for what you did  \n• blame others for what happened  \n• suggest the specific penalty you should be given.  \nCharacter references  \nA character reference helps to show that people in your daily life think highly of you. It can help show that you are usually a person of good character and that what you have done is out of character.  \nAs with any reference, a character reference can help the court decide what sort of penalty to give you when you are being sentenced for an offence.  \nCharacter references can also be useful when you are trying to get a specific result. An example could be when you want to ask for a Spent Conviction Order (see below) .  \nIn addition to the general requirements for a reference, a character reference should say why the writer thinks you are a person of good character and why they believe that your behaviour in committing the offence was out of character for you.  \nIf you have pleaded not guilty  \nIf you have pleaded not guilty and are having atrial, a written character reference cannot be used to convince the court that you are innocent or that your evidence should be believed. Evide","cbCaisnIYcS9h1LS","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaisnIYcS9h1LS","pdf",228394,"English","# References for court\n## What is a reference?\n## Who should provide a reference?\n## What should be in a reference?\n## Character references\n## If you have pleaded not guilty\n## Spent Conviction Order\n## Do I need a reference from my employer?\n## Do I need a reference if I have a medical issue or disability?","[{\"question\":\"What is a court reference and what kinds of information can it include?\",\"answer\":\"A court reference is a written document, usually a letter, that helps the court know more about you. It may cover character, work, and specific life aspects such as medical treatment or disability.\"},{\"question\":\"Who can provide a reference for court, and whose references are generally more helpful?\",\"answer\":\"A reference may be provided by anyone, but it is better if it comes from a respected person in the community or someone who knows you well or has specific relevant knowledge.\"},{\"question\":\"What should a reference letter include, and what should it avoid?\",\"answer\":\"A reference should be addressed to the Presiding Magistrate/Judge, be typed or neatly handwritten, dated and signed, explain who is writing and how they know you, and be written for that court appearance. It should not comment on legal issues, suggest guilt, make excuses, blame others, or recommend a specific penalty.\"}]","References for Court - Court Sentencing Reference Guidance | PDF",1789525599]