Independents for Canberra say an independent inquiry of the ACT's criminal justice system is needed and have promised to push for this if members of the group are elected.
The inquiry, which the government has long-resisted, would investigate rates of reoffending, youth offending, police resources, justice reinvestment, bail and Canberra's jail.
The push for the inquiry is being spearheaded by Murrumbidgee candidate Paula McGrady and Ginninderra candidate Mark Richardson.
Ms McGrady has worked in the crisis support sector, including at the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre. She is also the outgoing deputy chair of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body.
"Indigenous communities understand the trauma and hardship that lead to crime," she said.
"At every stage of the justice system, from diversion to detention to parole, there are opportunities to change the trajectory of a person's life and to help them heal.
"Our criminal justice system seems to fail people at every stage, which is why we are seeing a significant majority of offenders return to the system."
Mr Richardson is the head of ACT Road Policing but is currently on leave from his role while he campaigns. He said the system had declined over the 26 years he had been with the force.
"I think it's a pretty sad state when 26 years later things are not done better," he said.
"As police, you see the same people coming before us time and time again. I've called it the revolving door of the criminal justice system."
But the pair believe agencies outside of the criminal justice system need to be better supported.
"Why are young people or repeat offenders falling through those cracks? And those cracks could be other government agencies ... it could be other agencies in the community sector, such as mental health services, services that deal with family, domestic and sexual violence," Ms McGrady said.
Ms McGrady said the rehabilitation framework needed to be strengthened.
"The rehabilitation framework, those needs aren't being met so somebody could possibly go through the justice system without any rehabilitation, without any supports ... that's what's missing and that's what we need to strengthen," she said.
Mr Richardson said promising extra police was not enough and early intervention and better support agencies were also needed.
He said other agencies including health, education and housing should be considered.
"Police are not the panacea for everything that happens in this town. We have to go it with other agencies. They are just as under the pump," Mr Richardson said.
"Everyone knows if you address things early, you save money in the long run.
"It's great to say we need 200 more police or 300 more police but you can't get them overnight. We're competing with every jurisdiction in Australia for the same thing."
Independents for Canberra leader Thomas Emerson, who is also a candidate in Kurrajong, said the group backed the call from Ms McGrady and Mr Richardson.
This would mean the party would use any crossbench power to push for the inquiry if any of their candidates are elected.
The group have pledged to work together on certain commitments and have a series of principles they have agreed to but they can have differing positions on certain policies.
Mr Emerson said the Indigenous incarceration rate was particularly shameful.
"We should be deeply ashamed of the level of Indigenous over-representation in our criminal justice system," he said.
"When it comes to incarceration, it's worse for you to be Indigenous in Canberra than anywhere else in the country."
