of custody; and before making an order remanding or committing a child in custody, the court shall ascertain that there is a place readily available. (5) (a) (b) Remand in custody shall not exceed— six months in the case of an offence punishable by death; or three months in the case of any other offence. (6) No child shall be remanded in custody in an adult prison. (7) A child who escapes from a remand home or other place of safe custody in which he or she is detained may be arrested with or without warrant and returned to that place. (8) Pending the establishment of remand homes, the Minister may declare any establishment as a remand home. (9) Whenever possible, the court shall consider alternatives to remand such as close supervision or placement with a fit person determined by the court on the recommendation of a probation and social welfare officer. Role of the executive committee courts. 92. Role of executive committee courts. (1) Subject to this Act, all causes and matters of a civil nature concerning children shall be dealt with by the village executive committee court where the child resides or where the cause of action arises. (2) A village executive committee court shall have the criminal jurisdiction set out in the Third Schedule to this Act in a case involving a child. (3) A village executive committee court shall be the court of first instance in respect of the criminal offences referred to in subsection (2) involving children. (4) A village executive committee court may, notwithstanding any penalty prescribed by the Penal Code Act in respect of the offences stated in subsection (2), make an order for any of the following reliefs in respect of a child against whom the offence is proved— (a) reconciliation;