Legal background Sentencing and release: Northern Ireland Indeterminate Custodial Sentences (ICS)
ICS were introduced in their current form for adult and child offenders by Article 13 of the 2008 Order. These are used in cases where a life sentence is not suitable for a person convicted of a serious sexual or violent offence, but an ECS is not considered sufficient to protect the public. No release date is given, rather they will be given a "tariff" date which is the earliest date that they may become eligible for consideration by the Parole Commissioners Northern Ireland (PCNI). The tariff must be a minimum of two years. A referral will be made to PCNI by the Department of Justice (DoJ) or the Secretary of State (where matters of national security are involved) to consider release around six months before the tariff expiry date.