One area is in the size of the prison population. Reduction in the number of inmates would reduce the hazards to inmates and make staff monitoring of and services to inmates more effective. A second broad area involves making prisons and jails less dangerous places. This can be done through improved prison design, supervision, and medical services. The third and featured area for this article involves a system change that would ensure greater care and vigilance by custodians through an improved system of legal accountability. Some systemic reforms to increase custodians' accountability for inmate safety could include an enhanced role for ombudsmen in cases of custodial death and an expansion of the power of the State coroner to inquire into and report upon deaths. The investigation of custodial deaths should be conducted as soon as possible after they occur. Also, the dependents of a deceased should be granted legal aid for representation at death inquests. 9 notes.