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When you have been arrested and charged with an offence there will usually be a time delay before your case is heard in court or you get a reprimand or a final warning. During this time you can be kept on remand in a secure institution or you may be given bail.

There are two types of bail:

Unconditional Bail this means you can go home and continue with your normal life until your case is heard in court or you get a reprimand or final warning.
Conditional Bail has specified conditions, these can include:

Having to stay indoors at certain times of the day or night (a curfew)
Reporting to the police station or court at specified times each week
You could be 'tagged' while you are on bail so you can be tracked and you have to be indoors at a certain time.
You may have to stay away from the victim and the witnesses
You can be told to live at home or with someone else during this time
There are also bail hostels that you may be sent to see below

Your solicitor will negotiate your bail; this will also include the Youth Offending Team if you aged between 11 and 18.
If you do not keep the bail conditions, you can be arrested and not allowed to go home until your case has concluded.

You have committed a crime whilst on bail before
It is thought that there is a need to protect property or persons from damage and injury
Your name and address are in doubt
It is thought that you will not turn up in court.

If you do not get bail you are held on remand
If you are 17 or under on remand, you will usually be held in a children's home or with foster parents. Exceptionally you might be held in a secure unit.
Remand can also be prison if you are 15 or over (if you are 15 or 16 this is usually in a special remand centre in a young offender's institution)
Remand can go until your case is finished.
This might be a few days or at the other extreme about 9 months.
This may seem unfair because at this stage you have not been found guilty of anything.
It is important that while you are waiting for your case that you try to remain positive, especially if you are innocent.
Being held somewhere can be difficult if you are young and not used to the restrictions on your freedom.

Bail hostels provide an 'enhanced' level of supervision for offenders and people on bail. They provide places for individuals at the various different stages of the criminal justice process including:

Hostels operate strict rules governing behaviour, curfews are enforced and work programmes are agreed in order to reduce offending.
Residents can also receive advice on personal issues, as well as employment training and help moving on into permanent accommodation.