Torture in the woods: The full, terrible story
But they could be back on the streets in five years. If the Parole Board believes then that they are no longer a danger to the public, they will be released.
Until they are thought to have reformed, they must stay locked up.
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Hide AdToday they have been returned to the secure children's home where they have been held since April last year and where a team of professionals are tasked with turning their lives around.
In his sentencing remarks Mr Justice Keith left no doubt as to the scale of the task confronting those staff.
He told the brothers they carried out the acts of sadistic violence "simply because you wanted to".
There is a "very high risk" of both boys committing more violent offences and causing other victims serious harm, he said.
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Hide AdHe described their home life as "toxic" - a mixture of neglect, and both physical and mental abuse. One of the boys was exposed to drugs, alcohol, and both to pornographic and violent films at a very young age.
Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were both held in secure children's homes after they killed James Bulger in 1993.
There are 14 such homes in England and Wales, with a total of 191 places. Such intensive treatment is expensive; per person they cost just shy of 250,000 a year.
Full story: Five year minimum for sadist brothers
Background: Even hardened police cried at boys' appalling injuries
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Hide AdIt could have been prevented, admits Doncaster review board
In full: What the judge told sadistic Edlington brothers
The cycle of violence authorities can't stop
Cameron: Torture case is part of what's wrong with our broken society
Police: Why we didn't act after sadist boys' previous attack
Judge: Why I threw out Doncaster Council's 'no publicity' plea
No remorse: Sadist brothers 'not even shaken' by their actions
More background and video coverage