Police data recorded between April 13 and August 24, shows 738 young people were arrested and held in custody with an objection to bail and produced to a court.

Figures regarding the legislated 'show cause' provision saw a number of young people return to custody after reoffending.

Police say 269 young people came before the court and were not subject to a show cause provision under a new section of Youth Justice Act.

Of those, 119 were refused bail and remanded in detention.

"They are some of the young people where we have certainly provided detailed material, in terms of their offending behaviour, but the court has seen to place those young people in detention to protect the community," Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon said.

Ms Scanlon says she is very pleased with the results thus far.

"In the perfect world I'd prefer no children in detention, as I've said from the beginning, but the community do need to be protected from some other serious criminal activity.

"And to be honest, some of the horrendous things we've seen in recent days - that's what this legislation is about."

"There is much more work to be done, but it is taking effect...but I absolutely am at this stage pleased with where we're tracking in terms of the work on that legislation."

The courts also have an option to impose electronic monitoring devices as a condition of bail for 16 and 17 year-olds as part of a trial.

Michael Drane from the Department of Children and Youth Justice says the trial is limited but recommendations will be evaluated once it's complete.

"It's only in five geographical locations and it's only for 12 months, so we're roughly three months into that trial, which will be evaluated at the end," he said.

He says research from across Australian jurisdictions is not clear on the efficacy of the GPS devices.

"It stands to reason that it needs to be trialled. It's a potential solution to a very complex problem," he said.

"Clearly what we've seen is where courts have considered whether young people are suitable for those conditions or not, and where they've clearly determined that they're not, they've remanded those young people in custody.

"So, the law is having the effect that it was designed for."

Three specialist bail lawyers were operating around the state prior to the taskforce, with that number now increased to nine filled positions.

Three more are set to be established across the jurisdictions of Mackay, Rockhampton and Mount Isa.

Police say the next stage is intensifying work undertaken for youths in custody and their transition to detention or back into the community.

"The work of the task force will over the next few months, be very heavily focused on the planning and the case management focus on what we do with that top 10% group, to bring other agencies in much closer," Ms Scanlon said.

"Education, health, housing, those sorts of things, alongside the police and youth justice to work more closely around those very, very complex issues these young people have.

Australian Associated Press