A push to change tack on youth crime has gained momentum with the release of a new report spotlighting the astronomical cost of detention.

Queensland has more children behind bars than anywhere else in the country, with youth prison populations ballooning by 30 per cent in the past seven years.

That’s according to a Justice Reform Initiative report released today, which also says almost nine in 10 of all children in detention are yet to be sentenced.

It said the growth was not a result of an increase in serious offending but “tough on crime” policy choices and a “revolving door” model.

Justice Reform Initiative executive director Mindy Sotiri told Sofie Formica more prison time “makes things worse”.

“Decades now of evidence have shown that not only doesn’t it work, it’s incredibly expensive,” she said.

A child in prison costs the state around $1880 a day, or $686,127 a year. With an average of 266 children in detention each day, taxpayers are forking out more than $182.5 million a year.

Dr Sotiri said plans to build another $500 million youth detention centre should be scrapped in favour of funding early intervention programs.

“What we have not had is the significant investment in those programs,” she continued.

“If you’re willing to spend $500 million, and that’s just on building something, … why would you not start looking at the evidence around what actually works?”

Press PLAY below to hear Dr Sotiri explain the alternatives to youth detention 

Image: Getty