Don Dale: A timeline of scandal

NT YOUTH DETENTION: A TIMELINE

2016

* July 26 - Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announces royal commission into mistreatment of offenders in Northern Territory juvenile detention centres. NT Corrections Minister John Elferink is sacked and NT government pledges a new centre if re-elected.

* July 25 - The ABC airs footage showing indigenous boys stripped naked, tear-gassed and held in solitary confinement for weeks at Don Dale Detention Youth Detention Centre and old Berrimah adult prison in 2014 and 2015.

2015

* September - Former Don Dale inmate says detention officers encouraged them to fight for junk food and eat bird faeces.

* August - NT Children's Commissioner's review of alleged 2014 riot at Don Dale uncovers use of spit hoods, inappropriate handcuffing and excessive solitary confinement.

* June - Two escapees ram stolen car into Berrimah after vandalising the centre and leading police on a chase.

* May - Police begin investigating claims about Don Dale.

* February - The NT government blames old centre's problems on poor infrastructure and new breed of violent young people.

* February - A territory government-commissioned review of youth detention points to inadequate staff training and says the system needs complete overhaul.

* January - Inmates riot at Berrimah, smashing rooms, assaulting a guard and starting two fires.

2014

* August - Don Dale detainees escape, sparking "a riot". Authorities say a dog squad was bought in and one boy tear-gassed.

2007

* May - Three boys escape and one is badly injured in a stolen car crash.

2000

* February - 15-year-old boy found hanged while serving a 28-day mandatory sentence for stealing stationary. A coroner says the boy need not have been locked up.

1997

* November - Girl, 15, says she was held by herself in a cell after she could not pay a fine for failing to wear her bike helmet.

(Source: AAP)