Jon Venables Jailed For Possessing Over 1,000 Abuse Images

[naomi24]

The mother of murdered toddler James Bulger has accused the authorities of "colluding" to cover up his killer's behaviour and has branded his 40 months sentence ‘a farce’. There are also calls for his anonymity to be lifted before he strikes again. This is the second time since his initial release he’s been jailed for possessing such images, described by the judge as "vile" and "heartbreaking", so the question is are we too lenient on people like him and does there come a time when we should decide to throw away the key?

https://news.sky.com/story/james-bulgers-killer-jon-venables-jailed-for-possessing-over-1000-abuse-images-11239900

[anneasquith]

Ab normal gene? Both these boys were evil, it appears one maybe slightly less evil than the other, but don't be fooled into thinking the other lad was still a torturer and murderer. Rehabilitation/ punishment does not work in some people......... How do we deal/ manage evil people ?

[Islay]

There is an excellant case study on a very similar case in one of the Scandi countries where 2 6 year old boys beat a 4 year girl to death a few months after the Bulger murder. These boys were not locked up did not have their names changed and went to normal school. These boys have not reoffended and the victims mother does not demand to know where they are every second of the day.

[youngmafbog]

Absolute scum who can never be rehabilitated. He has had enough chances so now should be locked up for good.

The original sentence was derisory, they should have been moved to an adult jail and stayed there.

Trying to blame society is a nonsense. There are so many people in a much worse position that dont torture and murder toddlers.

[jackthehat]

I haven't watched any recent programmes, I am basing my opinions on what I have seen and read in the past.

I mean that his incarceration will have further twisted what was already an abnormal mindset. And because of that he should never have been released.

[ummmm]

Yeah...abnormal gene. He's a paedophile, as well as a murderer and torturer.

[naomi24]

Islay at 10:16, do you have a link to that?

[youngmafbog]

JTH, you do have a point. Unfortunately people can be further influenced by others incarcerated for similar offences, particularly in the NONCE wing where they are separated from other 'normal' prisoners.

[Islay]

No naomi as it was covered on the program - they interviewed the police chief and carers of the town. It was very interesting

[youngmafbog]

Hmmm, interesting it may be but it is playing with peoples lives.

If I was a parent of a young child I would certainly be very uncomfortable knowing there was someone like that in my midst. At the very least it would make me even more edgy of letting my kids do things and if they got out of my sight I am sure I would panic. (Did loose one of ours once for 45 mins, I have never experienced anything like it and hope never to again).

[Islay]

Well I used it as an education tool and decided not to get emotionally involved. I have seen worse in my work life and have studied worse during my degree studies.
That may sound cold but that is the way it is.

[pastafreak]

This is the program islay is referring to...

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-bulger-killers-was-justice-done

[Islay]

Thank you Pasta - did you watch it?

[sunny-dave]

Islay, with your academic hat on then , do you agree that :

1. Society has a duty of care for every citizen whilst they are a child - that duty is absolute and nothing the child does (however repugnant) can allow Society to abdicate that responsibility - Society may choose to punish/control the child to prevent abnormal and/or criminal behaviour, but cannot just wash its hands of someone.

2. Once a citizen is an adult the contract becomes two-way - Society has a duty of care to the citizen , but the citizen has a duty of care to Society (which, let's remember, is composed of individuals as well as being an amorphous entity).

If the above statements are accepted as true, then the argument is reduced quite simply to an evaluation of whether the citizen has abdicated his responsibility to Society?

I think Venables has undoubtedly done that, so what should Society do to protect itself (given that it no longer has any duty of care for the miscreant)?

[Islay]

Dave, I agree that Venables is back in prison correctly, I don't however believe that the interviews, trial and subsequent prison term was the correct course of action.

[pastafreak]

Yes, I did islay. I too found it fascinating.
Unfortunately I didnt see it working here. I think the scandi countries work from a premise of forgiveness for children. They also have a different mindset about so many of modern societies issues.

[Islay]

Pasta, your right I cannot see it working here as forgiveness does not take priority over revenge and bitterness.
Shame - almost identical cases but no one has reoffended in that case and no name changes and they still lived in the community.

[sunny-dave]

I agree with much of the principle of redemption that is applied in Scandinavia - but (possibly for the cultural reasons that you Prudie and Islay allude to) I also have a point at which the horror is too great and redemption for the perpetrator has to be put to one side - for me the Bulger case was well past that point.

[sunny-dave]

Sorry - mis-edited - I intended to say "Pasta and Islay"

[anneasquith]

Scandi children were 6 years old, I can't quite remember but I don't recall any mention of torture being used .?

[horselady]

No Anne, there wasn't. It started as a fight over a game and the two boys beat the girl and she died, not the same at all IMO.