Legal background Sentencing and release: Northern Ireland Detention in a Young Offenders Centre
Detention in a Young Offenders Centre is provided for by section 5 of the Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968. This sentence is available for offenders aged 16 to 20 where they have been convicted of an offence which is punishable with imprisonment in the case of someone aged 21 years or over. The sentence will either be the maximum term of imprisonment which the court could impose for the offence in the case of a person aged 21 years or over, or 4 years, whichever is the lesser. Up to half of the sentence is served in custody, with the rest served on licence.