An increasing number of young people are being kept in watch houses for a week or more due to insufficient room in youth detention, says Youth Advocacy Chairman barrister Damien Atkinson.
He said children are being subjected to harm by mixing with adult prisoners and being placed under supervision of officers who lack youth training.
Queensland Child Safety Minister Di Farmer said the placing of young people in youth detention rather than adult prisons has been delayed due to rising numbers of youth detainees.
She also said the government is focusing on reducing the need to place young people in custody by reducing offending.