A magistrate has sent four young offenders to an adult jail after they were charged over a disturbance at the Malmsbury youth justice centre last week.

The group has been sent to an adult prison after they were charged with causing criminal damage during a riot at the Malmsbury facility.

The court heard up to 50 police were called to resolve the disturbance on Thursday and further charges could be laid.

The lawyers for the men, aged 18 and 19, argued there were no injuries to staff and they could be placed under behavioural management plans.

But they lost their bid on Monday when the court found they could not be properly controlled in youth custody and had threatened the centre's safety.

The operations manager at Malmsbury told the court the centre was facing bed pressures and capacity issues because of a flow-on effect from problems at Parkville.

"The adult system has more access to behavioural management units," Rick Madigan said.

But one of the lawyers for the accused argued the systemic issues facing the youth justice sector were not the fault of the men.

Teens subject to 23-hour lockdowns

The court heard the teenagers spent the weekend under an approved 72-hour safety management plan.

The teens were subject to 23-hour lockdowns, but the magistrate stressed this was not a long-term solution.

"Isolation cannot be used as a punishment, only a safety scenario," Magistrate Sarah Leighfield said

Police prosecutor Cherree Blair told the court each of the accused had acted with bravado and indicated they would not be unhappy about being in an adult prison.

"This is the result of their actions, rioting for four-and-a-half hours," Senior Constable Blair said.

The matter will return to court in February.