The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

Extended custodial sentence for certain violent or sexual offences

14.—(1) This Article applies where—

(a) a person is convicted on indictment of a specified offence committed after the commencement of this Article; and

(b) the court is of the opinion—

(i) that there is a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm occasioned by the commission by the offender of further specified offences; and

(ii) where the specified offence is a serious offence, that the case is not one in which the court is required by Article 13 to impose a life sentence or an indeterminate custodial sentence.

(2) The court shall impose on the offender an extended custodial sentence.

(3) Where the offender is aged 21 or over, an extended custodial sentence is a sentence of imprisonment the term of which is equal to the aggregate of

(a) the appropriate custodial term; and

(b) a further period (“the extension period”) for which the offender is to be subject to a licence and which is of such length as the court considers necessary for the purpose of protecting members of the public from serious harm occasioned by the commission by the offender of further specified offences.

(4) In paragraph (3)(a) “the appropriate custodial term” means a term (not exceeding the maximum term) which—

(a) is the term that would (apart from this Article) be imposed in compliance with Article 7 (length of custodial sentences); or

(b) where the term that would be so imposed is a term of less than 12 months, is a term of 12 months.

(5) Where the offender is under the age of 21, an extended custodial sentence is a sentence of detention at such place and under such conditions as the Secretary of State may direct for a term which is equal to the aggregate of—

(a) the appropriate custodial term; and

(b) a further period (“the extension period”) for which the offender is to be subject to a licence and which is of such length as the court considers necessary for the purpose of protecting members of the public from serious harm occasioned by the commission by the offender of further specified offences.

(6) In paragraph (5)(a) “the appropriate custodial term” means such term (not exceeding the maximum term) as the court considers appropriate, not being a term of less than 12 months.

(7) A person detained pursuant to the directions of the Secretary of State under paragraph (5) shall while so detained be in legal custody.

(8) The extension period under paragraph (3)(b) or (5)(b) shall not exceed—

(a) five years in the case of a specified violent offence; and

(b) eight years in the case of a specified sexual offence.

(9) The term of an extended custodial sentence in respect of an offence shall not exceed the maximum term.

(10) In this Article “maximum term” means the maximum term of imprisonment that is, apart from Article 13, permitted for the offence where the offender is aged 21 or over.

(11) A court which imposes an extended custodial sentence shall not make an order under section 18 of the Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 29) (suspended sentences) in relation to that sentence.

(12) Remission shall not be granted under prison rules to the offender in respect of a sentence imposed under this Article.