How long can the police hold a child in jail?

A child can never be kept in a police lockup or regular jail. The police must bring you before the Board within 24 hours of apprehending/detaining you. If the police do not release you immediately on bail, you can only be kept in an Observation Home until you are taken to the Board (within 24 hours). The police are also supposed to inform a child welfare officer who is supposed to accompany you to the Board for the first hearing.