Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said a review of the circumstances of every child in Ashley should be undertaken to determine whether it was possible to release them early.

"Certainly, for most of those kids, it should be possible to give them day release, so they can spend time with their families over Christmas and New Year."

"We've got all the capacity and the machinery of government here which can assess whether or not it's appropriate to let those kids out on day release."

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Greens Senator David Shoebridge said many of the children in Ashley had not been convicted of a crime, but "broken" state remand laws meant they could not be given day release.

"These are kids who have not been convicted. They're spending Christmas in jail without ever coming before a magistrate and being found guilty of a crime. That doubles the abusive nature of what's happening."

However, Mr Shoebridge said the decision to release children for Christmas should be made by the state Attorney General and bail authorities in Tasmania and be subject to conditions and oversight.

"It's not simply putting them out the front gate. It's releasing them subject to conditions ... so that we know that they'll be far better-taken care of than they will be in an abusive institution spending 23 of 24 hours locked in a cell by themselves."

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A Department for Education, Children and Young People spokesperson said the centre had returned to normal scheduling and would provide a range of activities, including Christmas celebrations and contact with family over the holidays.

The spokesperson said young people placed in remand and detention was an option of last resort "reserved for the most serious crimes and in the interest of community safety".

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