Amid figures showing that the state's crime rate continues to rise, Ombudsman Deborah Glass has called for a dramatic law-and-order rethink, but added that political will is needed to change the community's prison-centric approach to justice.

"We're spending more money on more people going to prison, and they're coming back more often. That is a compelling picture of something not working," she said. "I think it is about rethinking the view of crime and offending, and taking a long-term view rather than a short-term headline-grabbing view of crime."

Ms Glass' comments come as law-and-order becomes an increasingly sensitive issue for the Andrews government, with pressure mounting on the Premier to take a tougher stance, particularly on youth offenders, following a recent spike in car jackings, home invasions and other violent offences.

But the Ombudsman's views have been echoed by former Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls, who last week described the current policy approach to justice as lazy and short-sighted.

In a strongly worded speech at Flinders University, Mr Hulls – who spent 11 years as Victoria's chief law maker and also served as Mr Andrews' deputy before quitting politics – called on the community to stop viewing jail as the "default response" to crime.

Such a position, he said, often entrenched criminal behaviour, and failed to question "the poverty to prison pipeline which sees the vulnerable, marginalised or disadvantaged sectors of our population disproportionately locked up to shameful extents".

"We have taken the lazy, short-term and short-sighted option – the 'remind me later' button on our policy screens because we don't have time to update our response," said Mr Hulls, who is now the director for RMIT's Centre for Innovative Justice.

"We need to question why we offer boundless compassion to those who have been wronged until their resulting dysfunction trips them over into wrongdoer – until they become 'offenders' and we suddenly experience a compassion bypass."

The push to rethink law and order is likely to be met with a mixed response in view of the recent spate of violent offences, particularly in outer growth suburbs where police say they are severely under-resourced.

The issue will be the focus of a community rally at Caroline Springs on Saturday, with Victorian Police Association secretary Ron Iddles expected to highlight the lack of police on the beat and concerns that some criminals are deliberately targeting suburbs where they know officers are stretched.

Figures released last week also found that more than 130 people have been arrested since May as of Operation Cosmas, which is targeting home invasions and carjackings.

This year's state budget funded another 300 police, but opposition police spokesman Ed O'Donohue argues this is "a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed".

Ms Glass said there was no "quick fix" to the state's crime problem, "but you actually have to have the kind of sustained political will that goes beyond a political cycle".

An Ombudsman's report into the prison system handed down last year made 25 recommendations, including a whole-of-government response, along with greater investment and new types of courts.