JV Parole History-- From what I've read, Jon Venables (JV) has only been released on parole twice before in 30 years, and has never committed another murder since he and Robert Thompson (RT) killed toddler James Patrick Bulger in 1993.
At age 18, JV was first released in 2001, but was recalled to prison nine years later when authorities found indecent images of children on his computer.
JV served three more years in prison before being released a second time in 2013.
However, after JV reoffended four years later in 2017 (indecent images), he was returned to prison in 2017 where he's been ever since.
Although JV had a parole hearing in Sept 2020, he was not granted release.
Clearly, being capable of helping torture and murder a toddler at only age 10, JV is not wired as a normal being. However, unlike RT, I've also long believed that JV has suffered and continues to struggle because he's felt remorse for killing young James from the very beginning. (Even with James blood on his shoes, RT wouldn't admit to his crime and blamed JV for the crime).
It's the law for juvenile offenders to be first assessed for release at age 18, and I'm actually quite surprised JV was able to function for 9 years (especially in his vulnerable 20's) without violating the law. IMO, I think JV likely had much family support during this period.
If my understanding of how indecent images are graded in UK is correct, being released in 2013 after only serving three years for the first indecent offense appears to me that the images possessed by JV were considered least severe.
We know that JV has been in prison since 2017 but due to privacy laws afforded him during the past 6 years, we don't know what treatment he's received, accepted, and/or how effective any rehabilitation has been for a man of his age and mental condition. In some ways, I think both JV and the public are safer if he remains in prison under consistent care and treatment.
IMO, RT was the leader and instigator to abduct the child, and also the defendant others identified as seen kicking and punching the toddler. RT might have assimilated and not had to return to prison but I think it's more likely he's just been lucky at not getting caught-- and not that he's some model citizen. MOO
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Photo Credit - JV seen holding the hand of victim JPB, both walking behind RT