After 26 years, inmate seeks second chance

In January, 1981, Timothy Caffrey of Martin put a .25-caliber handgun to the side of his father's head and pulled the trigger.

[Judy Bristow]

What Tim did in 1981 was awful, granted. Tim has never denied that what he did was wrong. He was very young at the time of the crime. He was in fact only a child, a very scared child. Children like adults re-act out of fear. Has anyone ever taken into consideration that he may have been in fear of receiving a beating or even possibly worse? He has since matured and I don't care what anyone says, he has changed. He deserves another chance at his freedom. Remember we live in the United States of America where it is suppose to be Liberty and Justice for all...or is that just for non Native Americans.

I am very proud to call Tim Caffrey "friend".

Sincerely,

Judy Bristow
Proud member of the Cherokee Nation

[Judy Bristow]

What Tim did in 1981 was awful, granted. Tim has never denied that what he did was wrong. He was very young at the time of the crime. He was in fact only a child, a very scared child. Children like adults re-act out of fear. Has anyone ever taken into consideration that he may have been in fear of receiving a beating or even possibly worse? He has since matured and I don't care what anyone says, he has changed. He deserves another chance at his freedom. Remember we live in the United States of America where it is suppose to be Liberty and Justice for all...or is that just for non Native Americans.

I am very proud to call Tim Caffrey "friend".

Sincerely,

Judy Bristow
Proud member of the Cherokee Nation

[SNJ Norway]

Judy Bristow wrote:

What Tim did in 1981 was awful, granted. Tim has never denied that what he did was wrong. He was very young at the time of the crime. He was in fact only a child, a very scared child. Children like adults re-act out of fear. Has anyone ever taken into consideration that he may have been in fear of receiving a beating or even possibly worse? He has since matured and I don't care what anyone says, he has changed. He deserves another chance at his freedom. Remember we live in the United States of America where it is suppose to be Liberty and Justice for all...or is that just for non Native Americans.
I am very proud to call Tim Caffrey "friend".
Sincerely,
Judy Bristow
Proud member of the Cherokee Nation

Judy Bristow: I just coincidentally read this forum/post. I do not know anything about Tim Caffrey's case and what took place back in 1981. His age or the circumstances that made him kill his father. I sense, however, tragic circumstances ??!
In our country "life-time" is maximum 21 years in prison. And a "prison-year" is 9 months only. Under "normal" circumstances, with " good behaviour" and
no fear of the inmate being considered likely to get out and pick up criminal activities, they get out in half time. Years in prison may destroy a person's ability to adopt positively to the society again. Especially very young people.We have a scheme caring for inmates preparing them during time in prison for the subsequent life outside
after the sentence is served. Do you have such schemes?
How old was Tim Caffrey at the time and how long was
his sentence? Having now served 26 years, what is left?

[SNJ Norway]

Judy Bristow:
I found Tim's Log on the internet.
Got the replies to my questions above.
Lifetime with no parole at age of 17(!!!!)
In my view such a sentence (to an immature
human being) is almost a crime in itself.
But what he did must have shocked everyone of course. Nevertheless, your administration of justice seems awfully cruel to us where a "lifetime
sentence" means most cases you are
back into society no later than 10-12
years in most cases.(And we abolished capital punishment long ago).
Tim Caffrey does not seem to me being a man who will be a risk to the society at a mature age
of 44. Hope my gut feeling is right and thatall will show mercy and see a possibility to give him the chance to prove he's worthy of the confidence behind a parole now.
I wish him all the Best of Luck in his struggle for
a second chance now.

[SNJ Norway]

Judy Bristow wrote:

What Tim did in 1981 was awful, granted. Tim has never denied that what he did was wrong. He was very young at the time of the crime. He was in fact only a child, a very scared child. Children like adults re-act out of fear. Has anyone ever taken into consideration that he may have been in fear of receiving a beating or even possibly worse? He has since matured and I don't care what anyone says, he has changed. He deserves another chance at his freedom. Remember we live in the United States of America where it is suppose to be Liberty and Justice for all...or is that just for non Native Americans.
I am very proud to call Tim Caffrey "friend".
Sincerely,
Judy Bristow
Proud member of the Cherokee Nation

Judy Bristow:
What happened to you after you posted above?
Complete silence.....?Why?

[COT]

I went to school with Tim. He did not seem like he was a bad kid at all. I think that abuse he was recieving was enough of a punishment he recieved from his non native father. I am sorry that I lost contact with you. I am sure you are more then mature enough to be able to live out in the real world again. If I see the petition they have for you out there I would circulate it and so you can get what is right for you. To get out of that place you are in. I know that Larry Long is against you getting out because he prosecuted you I believe. I think that they should make him step down in the decision for you. He already let a white man out for killing a native down in Martin. You are native and killed a white man so it will be hard for you but I hope and pray you get out of that place.

[SNJ Norway]

COT wrote:

I went to school with Tim. He did not seem like he was a bad kid at all. I think that abuse he was recieving was enough of a punishment he recieved from his non native father. I am sorry that I lost contact with you. I am sure you are more then mature enough to be able to live out in the real world again. If I see the petition they have for you out there I would circulate it and so you can get what is right for you. To get out of that place you are in. I know that Larry Long is against you getting out because he prosecuted you I believe. I think that they should make him step down in the decision for you. He already let a white man out for killing a native down in Martin. You are native and killed a white man so it will be hard for you but I hope and pray you get out of that place.

THIS IS HEARTBREAKING READING. WE KNOW TODAY THAT A CHILD (17 YRS OLD YOU ARE A"CHILD" IN THIS CONTEXT)
IS NOT EMOTIONALLY DEVELOPED LIKE ADULTS AND THEY NORMALLY REACT OUT OF IMMATURE EMOTIONS AND OR FRIGHT
AND DISPEAR. WHAT KIND OF A PERSON IS INSIDE A lARRY lONG. IF ONE PERSON, WHOEVER, ALONE CAN DECIDE OVER ANOTHER HUMAN BEING'S DESTINY THIS BADLY YOU NEED TO GATHER A LOT OF PEOPLE AND CREATE AN OPINION AND OPPOSITION. THE SENTENCES IN THE U.S. LIKE THIS ONE WHEN PUNISHING A PRESUMABLY SANE, BASICALLY GOOD TEEN-AGER - WHO BECAME VICTIM OF SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS BEYOND THE KID'S CONTROL - KILLINGLY HARSH, REMOVING ALL HOPES THE COUNTRY PLACES ITSELF 100-200 YEARS BACK IN TIME COMPARED TO US.
MANY GOOD AMERICANS SHOULD GO TOGETHER AND MAKE HIS CASE KNOWN WORLD -WIDE TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON THE RIGHT AUTHORITIES. TODAY THEY SEEMINGLY ARE ABLE TO DO EXACTLY AS THEY WISH BECAUSE PUBLIC ATTENTION IS ELSEWHERE.

[Richard Iron Cloud]

There is currently an online petition for Tim at Ipetitions.com there are currently over 300 signatures on his petition of support, we want to make over a 1000 before we send it to Govornor Rounds.

[marijane]

Agreed.

[dontbesuchapussy]

SNJ Norway wrote:

<quoted text>
THIS IS HEARTBREAKING READING. WE KNOW TODAY THAT A CHILD (17 YRS OLD YOU ARE A"CHILD" IN THIS CONTEXT)
IS NOT EMOTIONALLY DEVELOPED LIKE ADULTS AND THEY NORMALLY REACT OUT OF IMMATURE EMOTIONS AND OR FRIGHT
AND DISPEAR. WHAT KIND OF A PERSON IS INSIDE A lARRY lONG. IF ONE PERSON, WHOEVER, ALONE CAN DECIDE OVER ANOTHER HUMAN BEING'S DESTINY THIS BADLY YOU NEED TO GATHER A LOT OF PEOPLE AND CREATE AN OPINION AND OPPOSITION. THE SENTENCES IN THE U.S. LIKE THIS ONE WHEN PUNISHING A PRESUMABLY SANE, BASICALLY GOOD TEEN-AGER - WHO BECAME VICTIM OF SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS BEYOND THE KID'S CONTROL - KILLINGLY HARSH, REMOVING ALL HOPES THE COUNTRY PLACES ITSELF 100-200 YEARS BACK IN TIME COMPARED TO US.
MANY GOOD AMERICANS SHOULD GO TOGETHER AND MAKE HIS CASE KNOWN WORLD -WIDE TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON THE RIGHT AUTHORITIES. TODAY THEY SEEMINGLY ARE ABLE TO DO EXACTLY AS THEY WISH BECAUSE PUBLIC ATTENTION IS ELSEWHERE.

Dude was 17 when he slaughtered his dad huh? What is heartbreaking is that hey didn't blow his brains out too.......eye for an eye...