The correctional services minister warned Yots at the annual Youth Justice Board conference in London that a failure to consider custodial placements for young offenders undermined their whole credibility.
Goggins insisted that prison should remain a last resort, but he said some Yots were over-using community sentences.
Despite a reduction in the numbers of children in custody towards the end of last year, there was a 10 per cent increase in the number of children being held in prison in the first three months of this year.
At the time, chair of the YJB Rod Morgan attributed the rise to breaches of antisocial behaviour orders.
Consultation on information sharing proposals launched
21 September 2006
Ofsted head looks to allay school fears
26 May 2005
Young people trapped in gang culture envisage violent end to lives
26 May 2005
Round up of the week
13 May 2005
Jersey: Simon Bellwood 'unfairly sacked' inquiry finds
Councils failing to implement government guidance issued in 2002, study says
Lone parents, disabled and drug users face tougher benefits regime
Children's homes and disabled people's services exempt from strike
Government Legislation
17 July 2008
Private Member Bills
17 July 2008
Details of government consultations
11 July 2008
