Advocates have written an open letter to the Queensland Government calling for a smarter approach to youth crime instead of a tougher one.
A coalition of organisations and youth justice experts have penned the letter to the Queensland Parliament calling for an end to political point scoring through tough on crime approaches.
Executive Director of PeakCare Queensland, Lindsay Wegener says communities deserve to feel safe and children need to be held accountable for their behaviours in ways that actually work.
It follows youth crime measures announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in December which includes the construction of two new detention centres.
With First Nations youth overrepresented in juvenile detention, the letter also calls for the Government to step aside and let First Nations organisations take the lead.
Other signatories to the open letter include Sisters Inside, Queensland Council of Social Services and the Youth Advocacy Centre.
