Spit hoods will be banned in South Australia's youth detention facility with the state government saying they have no place in a modern justice system.
The hoods, designed to prevent young people in custody from spitting or biting others, have been used in SA since 2014, including 57 times between October 2016 and June this year.
Almost half the children held in detention in South Australia are Indigenous, according to government statistics.
Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink said it was unacceptable that South Australia remained the only jurisdiction in the country that still relied on the use of spit hoods for protecting staff from disease transmission.
"Spit hoods are a legacy policy that simply have no place in a modern, therapeutic environment," Ms Lensink said.
"That's why we are moving to ban this strategy in our youth training system, in favour of other more appropriate ways that balance the rights and welfare of young people with the safety of staff."
Ms Lensink said a transition period for the phasing out of spit hoods would be used to give authorities time to identify, source and implement alternative options.
The hoods will no longer be allowed from June 2020.
The state government has also agreed to a review of the use of force and restraints in the youth justice system.
Mr Lensink the use of force must be an "absolute last resort" for staff.
AAP
