Statute Details
- Title: Remand Home
- Act Code: CYPA1993-S204-2006
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Children and Young Persons Act (Chapter 38)
- Authorising Provision: Section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act
- Instrument No.: S 204
- Commencement / Effective Date: 1 April 2006 (appointment of the remand home)
- Cancellation of prior notification: 14 April 2006 (cancels Children and Young Persons (Remand Homes) (Consolidation) Notification (N 5))
- Current Version Reference: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal extract)
- Key Legal Effect: Appointment of a specific institution as a “remand home” for purposes of the Children and Young Persons Act
What Is This Legislation About?
The “Remand Home” instrument is a Singapore subsidiary legislation made under the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA). In plain terms, it is an official notification that designates a particular institution—here, the Singapore Girls’ Home at 1 Defu Avenue 1, Singapore 359540—as a remand home for the purposes of the CYPA.
Remand homes are part of the broader youth justice and child welfare framework. They are typically used to hold or accommodate children and young persons who are subject to legal processes (for example, while awaiting further court directions or while under specific statutory arrangements). The designation of a remand home is therefore not merely administrative: it determines where the statutory remand regime can be carried out lawfully.
This instrument also tidies the regulatory landscape by cancelling an earlier “consolidation” notification (N 5). The cancellation ensures that the list of remand homes remains accurate and that the legal basis for remand home operations reflects the updated appointment.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Appointment of the Singapore Girls’ Home as a remand home (effective 1 April 2006). The core provision is the Minister’s appointment, made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act.” The Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports appoints the Singapore Girls’ Home as a remand home for the purposes of the Act, with effect from 1 April 2006.
For practitioners, the practical significance is that once an institution is appointed, it becomes the legally recognised facility through which the CYPA’s remand-related processes may be implemented. This can matter in proceedings where questions arise about the lawful placement of a young person, the legitimacy of the facility used, and compliance with the statutory scheme.
2. Cancellation of the earlier consolidation notification (effective 14 April 2006). The instrument further provides that the Children and Young Persons (Remand Homes) (Consolidation) Notification (N 5) is cancelled, with effect from 14 April 2006. This is a classic legislative housekeeping mechanism: it prevents overlapping or inconsistent designations and ensures that the regulatory instrument governing remand homes is updated.
In legal work, cancellation provisions can be important when determining which version of the remand-home list applied at a particular time. If a placement occurred between 1 April 2006 and 14 April 2006, counsel may need to consider the interaction between the new appointment and the cancellation timing, depending on how the earlier notification was structured.
3. The instrument’s legal character: a targeted designation notification. Unlike a comprehensive Act or a detailed regulation setting out operational standards, this instrument is narrow in scope. It does not, in the extract provided, set out detailed rules on custody, procedure, discipline, or welfare standards. Instead, it performs a specific statutory function: it designates a facility as a remand home under the CYPA.
Accordingly, the “requirements” imposed by this instrument are primarily those that flow from the CYPA itself. The instrument supplies the “where” (the named institution) while the CYPA supplies the “how” (the legal framework for remand and related powers). Practitioners should therefore read this notification together with the CYPA provisions governing remand homes and the Minister’s powers under section 53.
4. Reliance on section 53 of the CYPA. The enacting formula (as reflected in the extract) makes clear that the appointment is grounded in section 53. This matters for statutory interpretation and legality. Where an appointment is challenged, the key question is whether the Minister acted within the scope of section 53 and whether the appointment was properly made in the form required by law.
For compliance and litigation risk management, it is generally advisable to verify that the appointment instrument is valid, properly gazetted, and effective on the relevant dates. The instrument’s clear commencement date and cancellation date support that evidential need.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short notification with numbered paragraphs. In the extract, it contains:
(a) A statement of the Minister’s appointment power and the specific appointment of the Singapore Girls’ Home as a remand home, including the effective date (1 April 2006); and
(b) A cancellation paragraph that cancels the earlier consolidation notification (N 5), including the effective date (14 April 2006).
There are no “Parts” or detailed “sections” within the instrument itself, reflecting its function as a designation notice. The legal architecture therefore depends on the CYPA (the authorising Act) for substantive rules, while this instrument supplies the administrative designation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The instrument applies to the institution appointed as a remand home—here, the Singapore Girls’ Home—and to the children and young persons who may be placed there under the CYPA’s remand framework. It also affects the relevant public authorities and decision-makers who must ensure that placements comply with the statutory designation of remand homes.
In practical terms, the notification is relevant wherever the CYPA contemplates remand home placement. It does not, by itself, create rights or obligations for the general public in the way a regulatory code might. Instead, it operates as a legal gateway: it identifies the facility that can lawfully be used for remand purposes under the CYPA.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the instrument is brief, it is legally significant because it determines the lawfulness of the facility used for remand purposes. In youth justice and child welfare contexts, the statutory basis for placement is fundamental. If a young person is placed in a facility that is not properly designated, it can raise serious issues about compliance with the CYPA and the legality of the placement.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the appointment supports operational certainty for the youth justice system. It ensures that there is an officially recognised remand home capable of receiving young persons under the CYPA framework. It also helps maintain an auditable record of which institutions were designated at particular times—an important consideration for internal governance, reporting, and any subsequent review or litigation.
For practitioners, the cancellation of the earlier consolidation notification is equally important. When advising clients or preparing submissions, counsel often needs to establish the correct legal instrument and effective dates. The instrument’s explicit cancellation date (14 April 2006) can be crucial when reconstructing the regulatory position for a period of time, especially if events occurred around the transition.
Related Legislation
- Children and Young Persons Act (Chapter 38) — in particular, section 53 (power to appoint remand homes)
- Children and Young Persons (Remand Homes) (Consolidation) Notification (N 5) — cancelled by this instrument with effect from 14 April 2006
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Remand Home for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.