A letter of representation is usually a letter to your AGC that sets out explanation why they need to possibly not cost you, drop prices towards you or request a certain sentence in the court docket.
In concept, you are able to send out as several letters of illustration as you prefer, but typically an attorney would deliver concerning one–three, with regards to the strategic factors that may implement for your circumstance. Such a letter is usually sent at any phase of proceedings from your investigation phase on the sentencing phase.
A letter of representation differs from a mitigation plea. A letter of illustration is tackled on the AGC and seeks their agreement pertaining to some facet of your circumstance.
Alternatively, a mitigation plea is a authorized submission dealt with to and filed with a sentencing courtroom with the objective of supplying the court docket With all the lawful and factual bases for your sentence that you are searching for, in conditions where you have by now been discovered responsible.
What Goes inside a Letter of Illustration?
Subject reference
A letter of representation, if penned by a lawyer, ordinarily opens having a reference to the individual being represented while in the letter.
If charges have previously been introduced towards that man or woman, the letter might be captioned by reference to the situation number.
Final result remaining sought
The letter of representation will then commonly open with a short assertion that explains what final result to the situation the letter will seek out.
The doable outcomes That could be sought involve the charges currently being dropped, stern or conditional warnings being administered or certain sentences getting proposed towards the courtroom during the occasion of the responsible plea. These letters are sometimes also marked “with no prejudiceâ€.
Explanations for the outcome currently being sought
The letter should really then set out the specifics applicable to the case that assist the result being sought. With regards to the strategic criteria inside your situation, the letter may well refer to:
Any evidence that supports the info on which you rely to assist the result being sought. Copies of this sort of proof may perhaps even be attached for the letter, but the choice on whether to attach any evidence to your letter is finally a strategic 1 for being taken by an attorney, having into consideration all of the conditions within your case; or
The existence of witnesses who will corroborate Individuals facts. These witnesses may possibly even be discovered in your letter.
Ideally, the letter of representation need to make reference to very similar earlier cases which had resulted in outcomes just like All those that you are looking for, and clarify how People scenarios are analogous (i.e. factually related) to the case.
Your most likely up coming methods
The letter of illustration should really then briefly established out your likely subsequent measures, dependant upon no matter if AGC accedes towards your ask for. These steps might be to claim trial, plead guilty or make some pertinent submission to courtroom by way of example.
Presents (if correct)
The letter can, if correct, also include offers, with or with out an admission of guilt, to complete other items including publish an apology and/or shell out restitution to your sufferer, or to decide to voluntary Local community programmes for instance counselling or charitable get the job done.
Reservation within your legal rights
The letter, if drafted by an attorney, really should conclude by having an acknowledgement that the law firm has recommended you to the lawful outcomes of staying untruthful from the letter and an entire reservation within your legal rights.
You may additionally desire to incorporate an affordable deadline in which you assume to get a response, Though there's no ensure the AGC can have any regard to this.
The best way to Deliver the Letter of Representation and to Whom
These letters are typically sent in PDF structure by using a generic on line sort preserved with the AGC for this function.
When your situation is at a sophisticated stage of proceedings nevertheless, your lawyer may also mail it to a selected prosecutor(s) (or send out it to only these kinds of distinct prosecutor(s)).
What exactly are the Doable Results On Sending a Letter of Illustration?
In the event the AGC decides to accede in your request, they may generate again to tell you of the and record any situations for his or her agreement.
At times, They could mail a counter-give whereby they supply to suggest a specific sentence to the court docket, or fall a number of costs, in the event you agree to plead responsible to some or all of the costs, and/or comply with some other ask for for instance spending restitution for the victim.
If the AGC is struggling to accede to the request, you might receive a incredibly limited template response from the AGC stating that, owning thoroughly deemed your representations, They're unable to accede on your ask for.
Occasionally, no reaction is shipped, as well as the prosecutor will merely point out verbally to your courtroom that AGC received representations Which they will not accede towards the ask for(s) therein.
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It ought to be very clear from the above mentioned which the drafting of a letter of representation will not be an easy matter of sending a brief Singapore criminal lawyer letter requesting leniency or stating that you are sorry.
There are several requests to contemplate and a variety of permutations of all Those people requests, several of which may or may not be out there or acceptable to you depending upon the specifics of one's circumstance and also your personal profile.
Just a felony lawyer is ready to meaningfully advise you regarding how to ideal advance your pursuits within a prison investigation or prosecution.
That's why, If you're remaining investigated for a criminal offense in Singapore, you should generally seek out lawful tips from a felony lawyer for the earliest achievable opportunity.