# Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, Section 12: Interpretation: prisoners and sentences.

Extent: N.I.

(1) This section has effect for the purposes of this Act.
(2) A fixed term prisoner is a prisoner serving a sentence of imprisonment for a fixed term.
(3) A life prisoner is a prisoner serving a sentence of imprisonment for life.
(4) References to a sentence of imprisonment for life include references to a sentence of detention at the Secretary of State’s pleasure.
(5) Two or more consecutive sentences being served by a prisoner shall be treated as a single sentence if they were passed on the same occasion and each—
(a) is for at least five years, and
(b) was passed in Northern Ireland for a qualifying offence (within the meaning of section 3).

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/35/section/12 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/northern-ireland-sentences-act-1998/section-12
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.