James Bulger's killers, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, were both convicted in 1993 when they were 10 years old. They were sentenced to indefinite detention at Her Majesty's pleasure and were released on life licenses with new identities in 2001 after serving eight years

. Since their release:

• Jon Venables has been repeatedly recalled to prison for breaching his parole conditions, specifically for possessing indecent images of children. He was returned to prison in 2010, released again in 2013, and recalled once more in 2017 for similar offenses

• As of late 2023 and early 2024, Venables remains in prison. His most recent parole bid was rejected in December 2023, with the Parole Board concluding that he still poses a risk to children and could reoffend. The Board noted his long-term sexual interest in children and breaches of licence conditions, including drug use and internet violations

• Robert Thompson, in contrast, has maintained a lower profile since release. He was released on licence in 2001 with a new identity, and there have been no public reports of reoffending or parole recalls like those involving Venables

Both killers were given new identities protected by court orders to ensure their anonymity for life

. In summary, Robert Thompson is living under a new identity in the community, while Jon Venables is currently incarcerated due to repeated breaches of parole related to child sexual offenses