Address:

            Honorable Judge XYZ
            Division #
            22nd Judicial Circuit

            Re: State vs. defendant’s name, Cause No. 

            Dear Judge XYZ:

Content:

• Basic rules:
  • Always respectful to the Court
  • No insults to a particular defendant
  • No insults to a particular defense attorney
  • Can never tell a judge what to do, can only tell them how a crime has impacted you or your neighborhood
  • Do not have to give your address
  • Some judges may require signed letters (if so try to get a petition form)

• Sample ideas (consider one or more of these):
  • Citizen of Forest Park Southeast
  • How long you lived or worked in FPSE
  • How drug dealing impacts FPSE:
    • people leave area rather than deal with traffic
    • vandalism
    • constant foot/vehicle traffic
    • trash
    • fear of threats
    • fear of robbery
    • loss of businesses
    • loss of confidence in system and police
  • personal stories of drug deals or use you’ve witnessed

• Ending:
  • Ask judge to consider impact of drug use/dealing in FPSE in his/her sentence
  • Thank judge for allowing you to speak or reading your letter
  • Close with "Respectfully yours".