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Employer character letter for court: sample from a manager

A manager writes for an employee facing a drug charge. Employer letters carry weight because they speak to reliability and to the job waiting after sentencing.

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The sample letter

All names and details below are fictional.

Dear Judge Ramirez,

My name is Karen Whitfield, and I am the operations manager at Northside Plumbing Supply in Aurora, Colorado. Jordan Ellis has worked on my team as a delivery driver and warehouse lead for four years, and I supervise him directly.

I am aware of the charge Jordan is facing and I take it seriously. Jordan came to me himself, before I heard about it from anyone else, and told me what had happened and that he was getting help.

In four years Jordan has missed two shifts, both for a family funeral, and he has trained six of our newer employees. Last winter, when a pipe burst at a customer’s home over a holiday weekend, he was the one who volunteered to drive the parts out at night so a family with a newborn would have heat.

Since his arrest Jordan has completed an outpatient treatment program, attends meetings twice a week, and has not missed a single day of work. His position remains open to him, and I would welcome him back.

I respectfully ask the Court to consider Jordan’s record as an employee and the steps he has taken. Please feel free to contact me directly.

Respectfully,

Karen Whitfield, Operations Manager, Northside Plumbing Supply
(303) 555-0119 · [email protected]

Why this letter works

  • Title and supervision. She states her role and that she supervises him directly — so the judge knows her view is first-hand.
  • Reliability in numbers. Two missed shifts in four years and six people trained are facts, not opinions.
  • He told her himself. Showing that the employee was honest with his employer is a quiet, powerful signal of accountability.
  • The job is still there. Stable employment after sentencing is something judges weigh. Only say it if it is true.

Tips for your own letter

  • Write on company letterhead if you can, and sign with your title.
  • Stick to what you have seen at work: attendance, trust, responsibility, how they treat coworkers and customers.
  • Only say the job will be held open if you have actually decided that.
  • Offer to be contacted — it shows you stand behind the letter.

What never to put in the letter

  • That the person is innocent, or anything about the evidence.
  • Blame for the victim, the police, or anyone else.
  • A request for a specific sentence, unless the attorney asks for it.
  • Private details: addresses, dates of birth, account numbers, children’s names.

More sample letters

Write yours in about 3 minutes

We start from this page’s situation — just check a few boxes and add one true story.

1 · About you
2 · Quick facts
3 · One story
4 · Your letter
Who are you to them?
What is the case about? (pick the closest — "Not sure" is fine)
What are they like? (we picked the most common — change freely)
What have they done since the arrest? (judges care about this)
About you — for the opening line and signature (optional, you can add it later)
How will you support them after release? (housing, a job, rides — the board looks for this)
Tell one short, true moment that shows who they are. (optional — this is what makes judges pay attention)
Please only write what really happened. Don't write about the case itself — we'll handle the wording.

What we did for you

    Full letter, Word + PDF download, 3 tone rewrites, and step-by-step instructions for sending it. Your private link: save this link.

    Questions people ask

    Does my company need to approve the letter?

    Check your company’s policy. Some employers ask managers to write as individuals rather than on behalf of the company.

    Should I mention the employee’s salary?

    No. Describe responsibilities and reliability instead.

    Last reviewed 2026-09-28. Based on published guidance from federal public defender offices, federal district courts and criminal defense attorneys. This page is general information, not legal advice.