remand home: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Legal, Historical (UK)
Quick answer
What does “remand home” mean?
A residential institution for young offenders who are awaiting trial or have been sentenced to short-term detention.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A residential institution for young offenders who are awaiting trial or have been sentenced to short-term detention.
Historically, a type of juvenile detention centre or secure children's home in the UK used to hold minors under the authority of a court. The term is now largely obsolete or replaced by modern terminology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'remand home' is exclusively British (and Commonwealth) legal/historical terminology. American English has no direct equivalent term; the concept is covered by 'juvenile detention center', 'juvenile hall', or 'youth detention facility'.
Connotations
In the UK, it is an outdated term associated with a past era of child welfare and justice. It may evoke images of Dickensian or mid-20th century institutions.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary British English, found mainly in historical, legal, or sociological texts. Virtually non-existent in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “remand home” in a Sentence
The court ordered the youth to be sent to a [remand home].He spent six months in a [remand home].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, legal, criminological, or sociological texts discussing the evolution of juvenile justice systems, particularly in the UK.
Everyday
Virtually never used in contemporary everyday conversation.
Technical
A dated technical term in UK law and social work, now superseded by more specific modern classifications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “remand home”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “remand home”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “remand home”
- Using it to refer to a modern prison for adults.
- Confusing it with a 'foster home' or 'children's home' that is not custodial.
- Assuming it is a current, active term in modern law.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, historically it was a specific type of custodial institution for juveniles, which was separate from the adult prison system, though it shared some punitive characteristics.
No, the term is largely obsolete. Using it to describe contemporary facilities would be anachronistic. Use terms like 'secure children's home' or 'youth detention centre' instead.
Yes, it comes from the same legal root. 'Remand' means to send a person back into custody or to place them on bail to await trial or further court proceedings.
Not exclusively. It could hold minors who were awaiting trial (on remand) as well as those who had been convicted and given a short custodial sentence.
A residential institution for young offenders who are awaiting trial or have been sentenced to short-term detention.
Remand home is usually formal, legal, historical (uk) in register.
Remand home: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈmɑːnd ˌhəʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈmænd ˌhoʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE (back) + MAND (order) + HOME -> A place you are ordered back to (by the court) as a temporary 'home'.
Conceptual Metaphor
INSTITUTION AS A HOME (A euphemistic metaphor where a restrictive, punitive environment is labelled as a 'home').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of a 'remand home' in its historical context?