HOUSTON (AP) - A U.S. Department of Justice report found the troubled-Harris County Jail has experienced an alarming number of inmate deaths due to poor medical care.

A diabetic inmate who had an infection collapsed and died in the clinic five days after she first sought treatment. Another inmate who had liver disease had waited weeks to be treated and died, while a third inmate was in a psychotic state for two weeks before his death. He did not get medication which had been prescribed, according to the Justice Department report, which cited 142 inmate deaths since 2001.

All three died while in the jail between 2007 and 2008.

The Harris County jail has come under scrutiny in recent years for the inmate deaths, including one last year that cost two deputies their jobs. It has also faced criticism for overcrowding, and poor mental health care.

Justice officials have declined to release the 24-page report, which was completed last week and obtained Monday by the Houston Chronicle.

The report is based on July and August inspections of the jail along with a review of documents provided by the Sheriff's office, which oversees the jail.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office was cited for jailers' excessive use of force against inmates. The jail has passed just four of its last six reviews by inspectors from the state Commission on Jail Standards.

Keir Murray, a spokesman for Sheriff Adrian Garcia, said that the report is based largely on an inspection that took place before Garcia took office in January.

"The report is based on a snapshot of what the jail was like then," Murray said. "Things are different now and they are going to continue to improve. The sheriff is committed to improving the jail."

Murray told the newspaper about improvements that were made in each area the Justice Department criticized.

Murray said that the report does not reflect some of the changes for the jail system, which houses more than 10,000 people.

If the recommended improvements are not implemented, the Justice Department could take legal action against Harris County.

The report praised the Sheriff's Office for its cooperation with the investigation.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)