Interesting given the backlash against the killers of James Bulger being released before they served time in an adult prison.
Jon Venables clearly was not fully rehabilitated as he went on to commit further appalling crimes, resulting in his recall to prison on more than one occasion.
On the other hand Robert Thompson (obviously I have not seen all the available evidence) has to a certain extent had a successful period of rehabilitation in that he has been in no further criminal trouble since his release 18 years ago. Whisper it very quietly but can he be seen as an example of a success of the criminal justice system. (Obviously I’m not defending the horrific murder of James Bulger and the heinous injuries they inflicted on his body)
I think this is something of a dilemma. It's certainly something I agonize over. I emphatically believe children should be given ONE second chance, but it doesn't mean they shouldn't receive some form of punishment for the crimes they commit. I understand that Norway has a completely different mindset regarding dealing with child crime but such requires the cooperation of the entire nation. I don't believe it would work here. Having said that, I'm not entirely certain of what would, but I think it could begin with education, as in educating adults in parenting.
It's a generalization, but it seems to me that parents are often guilty of instructing children to do as they say, whilst demonstrating a quite different code of behaviour. It may help if adults were taught to say "NO" with conviction and reinforce it. Parents have no right to expect good and disciplined behaviours from children when all they see demonstrated is poor and undisciplined behaviours. Mixed messages cause confusion.
It's not a cure all. It's not a quick fix but everything must have a beginning. Children don't understand consequences. Especially so if they've never been taught that for every action there is a consequence. They don't come into the world with a handbook of instructions. WE, as parents, owe it to them to teach them BEFORE they reach school age, NOT blame teachers for being unable to do the job which should have been done at home.