Media Advisory: Reporting Guidelines for Cases Heard in the Youth Courts

          The Singapore Courts would like to remind media representatives of the reporting guidelines that apply when covering cases heard in the Youth Courts.

2        The Youth Courts operate under legislation designed to protect and rehabilitate youth offenders, such as the Children and Young Persons Act 1993 (“CYPA”), and media reporting must comply with the following requirements:

• Youth offenders are not "convicted" of offences. Youth offenders are "found guilty". (See section 46 of the CYPA.)
• Court orders for cases involving youth offenders who are found guilty by the Youth Courts are referred to as “orders made upon findings of guilt” (or “dispositional orders”), instead of "sentences". (See section 46 of the CYPA.)
• All youth arrest hearings are closed to the public, with only court-authorised persons permitted to attend. (See section 40(2) of the CYPA.)
• Information that may reveal a youth offender's identity must not be published. This includes names, photographs, addresses, schools, or any other identifying details that could lead to the youth being recognised. (See sections 111 and 112 of the CYPA.)

3        Effective 30 December 2025, when the expansion of the Youth Courts’ jurisdiction to hear cases involving youth offenders aged 16 years to below 18 years comes into force, these guidelines will also apply to cases involving youth offenders that are transferred from the State Courts to the Youth Courts. Media professionals are reminded to adhere strictly to these provisions when reporting on such cases. (Please refer to the Children and Young Persons (Amendment) Act 2019 (Commencement) Notification 2025 No. S812/2025 issued by Ministry of Social and Family Development). 

Issued by: Singapore Courts