The Government has introduced legislation extending the time under which prisoners are unable to claim compensation for human rights breaches.
A law change in 2005 blocked the ability of prisoners to seek such compensation.
It also allowed the victim of a prisoner to claim against any compensation awarded and receive the money themselves.
The restrictions on claiming compensation and the victims' claims process, are in effect only until July this year.
The new legislation extends that deadline to 1 July next year.
The Government says this will give it time to implement a new regime under which the victims' claims process will be permanent and any prisoner compensation used to fund victims' service and programmes.
