Victoria’s growing prison population and criminal recidivism rates will be investigated by an inquiry into the justice system.

However, the parliamentary inquiry won’t be broad enough to cover Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody.

Both the Andrews government and opposition helped Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party MP Tania Maxwell pass a motion on Wednesday for the legal and social issues committee investigation.

The review will primarily look at the factors influencing Victoria’s growing remand and prison populations and strategies to reduce criminal recidivism.

It will also examine judicial appointment processes and the best ways to ensure judges and magistrates have appropriate sentencing expertise.

The committee will need to deliver a report by February 2022.

Victoria’s prison population increased by 86.2 per cent between mid-2009 and mid-2019, from 4350 to 8101.