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Remand or committal to custody in a place of detention 8 Edw. 7, c. 67, s. 97.
Procedure in juvenile courts.
Juvenile Offenders.
(1) A court on remanding or committing for trial a child or young person who is not released on bail, shall, instead of committing him to prison, commit him to custody in a place of detention provided under this Ordinance and named in the commitment, to be there detained for the period for which he is remanded or until he is thence delivered in due course of law. Provided that in the case of a young person it shall not be obligatory on the court so to commit him if the court certifies that he is of so unruly a character that he cannot be safely so committed, or that he is of so depraved a character that he is not a fit person to be so detained.
(2) A commitment under this section may be varied, or, in the case of a young person who proves to be of so unruly a character that he cannot be safely detained in such custody, or to be of so depraved a character that he is not a fit person to be so detained, revoked by any court, and if it is revoked the young person may be committed to prison.
8. (a) Where a child or young person is brought before a juvenile court for any offence it shall be the duty of the court as soon as possible to explain to him in simple language the substance of the alleged offence.
(b) If the court is satisfied that the child or young person understands the nature of the alleged offence it shall (unless the alleged offence is homicide) ask the child or young person whether he admits the offence.
(c) If the court is not satisfied that the child or young person understands the nature of the alleged offence, or if the child or young person does not admit the offence the court shall then hear the evidence of the witnesses in support of the complaint or information. At the close of the evidence in chief of each such witness, the court shall ask the child or young person, or, if it sees fit, the parent or guardian of the child or young person, whether he wishes to put any questions to the witness. If the child or young person instead of asking questions wishes to make a statement he shall be allowed to do so.
(d) If it appears to the court that a prima facie case is made out, the evidence of any witnesses for the
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